From Nigeria To Russia:#EndBadGovernance Protests And The Call For Putin’s Intervention
The ongoing #EndBadGovernance protests in Nigeria have taken an unexpected turn as some demonstrators mostly underaged in the Northern states have been flying Russian flags and calling military takeover.
The flying of the Russian flag started in Kano on the third day of the #EndBadGovernance protest, with some of the protesting residents urging President Vladimir Putin to intervene in the hunger crisis in the country.
In a viral video, three underaged boys were seen holding the Russian flag and calling for the help of the Russian president.
By the 4th day of the protest, other Northen states have also joined in the use of the Russian flag during their demonstration.
Prominent among the states that also flied the Russian flags is Kaduna and Zamfara.
In a viral video, three underaged boys were seen holding the Russian flag and calling for the help of the Russian president.
This development has sparked widespread debate and controversy both within Nigeria and on the international stage.
The Genesis of the Call
The #EndBadGovernance protests, which started as a grassroots movement against corruption, poor governance, and economic hardship, have been gaining momentum across Nigeria.
Demonstrators have been demanding transparency, accountability, and better living conditions. As the government’s response has been perceived as slow and inadequate, frustration among the protesters has grown.
In this atmosphere of discontent, hundreds of youth mostly underaged took to the streets of Kano on the third day of the #EndBadGovernance protest, flying Russian flags and urging President Vladimir Putin to intervene in the hunger crisis in the country.
Despite the 24-Curfew imposed by the Kano State Government, protesters trooped out to streets of Kano, voicing displeasure over hunger, high cost of living, insecurity and bad governance.
The demonstrators, expressed a desperate and urgent need for change, saying that the current situation is unsustainable and that they would rather risk death from violence than continue to suffer from hunger and deprivation.
In an interview by Arise TV with one of the protesters, Auwalu Idi, he said, “We rather die of bullet than to die of hunger, we cannot stay at home and die of hunger.
“We cannot stay at home because we don’t have anything to feed our family, no water no food, this curfew, that’s why we are out to protest again.
“We are raising Russian flag because we believe Tinubu is playing his imperial master’s scripts, the World Bank, International Monetary Fund (IMF) and the United States of America,” Idi stated.
Other states from the north soon followed suit in the use of the Russian flag during their protests.
Mixed Reactions
The call for Putin’s intervention has elicited mixed reactions.
Human rights lawyer, Femi Falana, on Tuesday, cautioned protesters to avoid “undemocratic forces” using the nationwide hunger protest to call for a military coup in the country, Channels Television reports.
Falana’s comment follows the waving of Russian flags by some protesters in Kano State on Sunday, as they chanted in Hausa, “We don’t want bad government.
Falana, who emphasised the rights of Nigerians to peaceful protests as outlined in sections 39 and 40 of the constitution, stated, “While we support the right of the #EndBadGovernance protesters, we have a patriotic duty to call on them to distance themselves from undemocratic forces who have taken advantage of the peaceful protests to engage in violence or campaign for a military coup in the country.
“It has become necessary to point out that calling for a military coup or waving the flag of Russia, a country known for supporting unconstitutional changes of government in Africa, constitutes a gross abuse of the constitutional right to protest against the Government of Nigeria.
The legitimate protests against hardship in the land should not be turned into a campaign for an unconstitutional change of government.”
The legal practitioner further warned “those involved in the illegal campaign for another military rule,” adding that “they may be accused of engaging in the offence of treasonable felony in contravention of section 41 of the Criminal Code Act.”
Falana urged the President Bola Tinubu-led administration to “review the neoliberal policies promoting poverty and hardship in the country,” which he said would “make any form of unconstitutional change of government unattractive” to Nigerians.
Meanwhile, former presidential aspirant and activist, Omoyele Sowore has stated that it is not a crime for #Endbadgovernance protesters to fly the Russian flag.
Reacting to the development via his X handle, Sowore argued that if Christians can fly Israeli flags in churches, then the protesters have done nothing wrong by also flying Russian flags.
He claimed that the government was trying to introduce diversionary tactics.
According to him, “There is no crime flying Russian flags during protests, it is not TREASON. Christian leaders fly Israeli flags in churches, and lots of people fly Palestinian flags in solidarity with the Palestinians struggle.
“This is completely diversionary so that Nigerians would forget the reason there is an #EndBadGovernancelnNigeria revolt against the @officialABAT regime.
“This is completely diversionary so that Nigerians would forget the reason there is an #EndBadGovernancelnNigeria revolt against the @officialABAT regime.
“You’re all acting like you care about the Nigerian flag, if so why did you ask the same @HQNigerianArmy to murder young Nigerians waving Flags and singing national anthem during the #EndSARS uprising in 2020? Bunch of liars! #RevolutionNow”
Russia Distances Self
The Russian Federation has distanced itself from Nigerian protesters holding its flags and other symbols of the Russian state to show their anger against the policies of President Bola Tinubu amid the ongoing #EndBadGovernance protests that hit Nigerian cities from August 1.
A statement issued on Monday by the Russian Embassy in Abuja, denied involvement in the use of those symbols, stressing that Russia does not interfere in the internal affairs of any country.
Part of the statement read: “The Embassy has noted the reports in Nigerian media and the circulation of videos and images in digital media depicting protesters in northern states of the country carrying Russian flags and chanting slogans to Russian President Vladimir Putin.
“The Government of the Russian Federation as well as any Russian officials are not involved in these activities and do not coordinate them in any way.
“As always, we emphasize that Russia does not interfere in the domestic affairs of foreign states, including Nigeria. These intentions of some protesters to wave Russian flags are personal choices of individuals, and they do not reflect any official position or policy of the Russian Government in the issue.
“We respect Nigerian democracy and believe that peaceful demonstrations in conformity with the Nigerian law are a manifestation of democracy. However, should these events lead to any disruptions or acts of violence we strictly condemn them.”
Police Arrest 76 Suspects
The Police Command in Kano State has arrested 76 persons in connection with 25 Russian flags recently held by protesters in various parts of Kano.
Also arrested was a Nigerien national believed to be responsible for sewing the Russian flags.
“The suspects were found with 25 Russian flags and their arrest has been linked to a case of sedition,” Commissioner of Police in the north-western state, Salma Dogo, told the News Agency of Nigeria(NAN), on Tuesday in Jos.
“The suspects were apprehended at different locations across the metropolis and have been transferred to Abuja for further investigation,” he said.
Tinubu Orders Crackdown
President Bola Tinubu has ordered the nation’s security chiefs to go after sponsors of individuals flying Russian flags and coup mongers.
Chief of Defence Staff, Gen. Christopher Musa, made the disclosure after the nation’s military security apparatchik briefed the President on the ongoing #EndBadGovernance protests at the State House, Abuja.
Briefing State House Correspondents, Musa said the military would not tolerate flying of foreign flags within the country during the protests. He emphasised that the act is considered treasonable and would be treated as such by the authorities.
“Initially, when the protest started they said it was a peaceful protest but we have realised that there are individuals that are willing to take advantage of it to cause mayhem.And we can see clearly what has happened since it commenced. Criminals have taken over with a lot of looting, stealing and all sorts of things happening.”
