Reno Omokri, a former aide to ex-President Goodluck Jonathan, has suggested why President Muhammadu Buhari has refused to reopen the Nigeria-Benin Republic border.
Omokri claimed that Buhari was trying to pressure the Benin Republic government to hand over Yoruba nation agitator, Sunday Igboho to his administration.
He said the claim by the Nigerian government that the border was closed to tackle smuggling of goods and weapons and to tackle the menace of banditry is a lie.
In a tweet on Thursday, Omokri wrote: “Buhari claims he closed the Benin Republic-Nigeria border because of banditry.
“That is a lie from the mouth of Lai Mohammed. The real reason behind the closure is to pressure the Beninese government to hand over Igboho to him.”
Beninese security operatives currently locked up Igboho after he was arrested in Cotonou.
The Yoruba Nation agitator was arrested at an airport in Cotonou while trying to travel to Germany.
The separatist had fled Nigeria to Cotonou after he was declared wanted by the Department of State Services, DSS.
DSS had declared him wanted after weapons were found in his house in the Soka area of Ibadan, Oyo State.
He had denied ownership of the weapons found in his house.