A former army colonel, Tony Nyiam revealed that President Muhammadu Buhari once said “he is not a Nigerian”.

According to Nyiam, the President was from Niger Republic.

Niger Republic is bordered by Libya to the North East, Chad to the East, Nigeria to the South, Benin and Burkina Faso to the South West, Mali to the West, and Algeria to the North West.

He clearly stated this, during an interview on TV with ‘Arise’ a long time ago, which snippet was shared by former Presidential aide, Reno Omokiri.

The retired colonel noted that president Buhari was his boss, Buhari claimed that most of his family members were from Niger even though he owes allegiance to Nigeria.

He said, “General Muhammad Buhari was my boss, the General officer commander, while I command a unit under him. He went against Shagari to defend Nigerian interest against Chadians.

“In one of the briefings, when he was briefing us, he openly told us that most of his family are from Niger; (and) that he is a Nigerian officer, and he [Buhari] owes allegiance to Nigeria.

“I admired Buhari then, that a man whose family is partially from Niger Republic and yet is loyal to Nigeria, this was against all the pressures given by other people that Shagari should pull out and allow the Chadians have their way, but General Buhari refused.

“So why is Buhari now different? Maybe his wife may (sic) answer it. The wife has been battling those who had been holding the President hostage. The President is no more General Muhammadu Buhari, some of us knew who was a patriot,” he added.

Lolo Ijeoma Njoku reporting, Obinwannem News