Political activist and lawyer, Deji Adeyanju, has raised alarm over alleged payments by Burkina Faso’s military leader, President Ibrahim Traoré, to Nigerian social media influencers to improve his image online.
In a tweet that has sparked widespread discussion, Adeyanju claimed: “They are marketing a Burkina Faso dictator on Nigeria Twitter. I hear the dictator is paying Nigerian influencers very well. If you live long enough, there’s no rubbish you won’t see.”
The controversial statement suggests Traoré’s government may be running a coordinated campaign to sway Nigerian public opinion amid growing international criticism of his military regime.
Since seizing power in a 2022 coup, the 36-year-old leader has faced sever accusations.
While Adeyanju provided no specific evidence of payments, his allegation taps into growing concerns about foreign governments exploiting Africa’s vibrant influencer economy for geopolitical purposes. Several Nigerian commentators with large followings have recently posted content praising Traoré’s “strong leadership” and “anti-colonial stance.”
Digital marketing experts note such campaigns typically involve:
- Paid tweets and Instagram posts
- Sponsored video content
- Hashtag amplification
- “Opinion leader” engagements
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