Tinubu Mourns Niger Junta Leader’s Father at 110

​ABUJA — President Bola Tinubu has formally expressed condolences to the government and people of the Niger Republic following the passing of Elhadji Tiani Hassane, the father of the country’s military leader, General Abdourahamane Tiani.

​The elder Tiani passed away on Thursday in Niamey at the remarkable age of 110. In a condolence message issued on Saturday by his Special Adviser on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, President Tinubu described the loss of a patriarch as a profound and deeply personal grief.

​A Message of Solace and Solidarity

​President Tinubu urged General Tiani to find comfort in his father’s extraordinary longevity and the enduring legacy he established during his lifetime.

• ​Legacy of Integrity: The President highlighted the values of faith, honor, and integrity left behind by the centenarian.

• ​A Life of Blessing: Tinubu noted that the elder Tiani’s long and fulfilled life served as a blessing to everyone who crossed his path.

• ​National Solidarity: Emphasizing shared regional ties, the Nigerian leader stated that the country stands firmly with Niger during its time of mourning.

​The message concluded with a prayer that Almighty Allah grant the deceased Al-Jannah Firdaus and comfort the grieving family and nation.

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​Diplomatic Backdrop

​This diplomatic gesture comes against the background of complex bilateral relations between Nigeria and the Niger Republic following the political events of July 2023, when General Tiani led a military takeover that removed elected President Mohamed Bazoum.

​In the wake of the coup, Nigeria—under President Tinubu, who was then serving as the Chairman of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS)—spearheaded regional diplomatic pressures and economic measures aimed at restoring constitutional order. These actions contributed to heightened bilateral tensions, which saw Niamey subsequently withdraw from ECOWAS alongside Burkina Faso and Mali to establish the Alliance of Sahel States.

​Despite these geopolitical strains, the presidential condolence message underscores a gesture of humanitarian diplomacy across West Africa.