Thousands of Nigerians who joined the #EndBadGovernance protest are waving foreign flags, especially Russian flags in different parts of the country.
The trend started last week in a few places where protests were held, but by Monday, the number of those waving the flags increased by a wide margin.
The nationwide protest, which commenced on Thursday, August 1, was in response to the hardship experienced by citizens in the country.
No fewer than 17 people were reportedly killed by security agents, who also arrested many protesters across the country.
On Saturday, photos and videos of protesters in Kano waving the Russian flag went viral as the demonstrators chanted in Hausa, “We don’t want bad government.”They also called for Vladimir Putin’s intervention in the country.This is not the first instance of Russian involvement in the country’s affairs. During the Civil War, the USSR played a prominent role by supplying arms to the federal government.
Prior to the #EndHunger protests, the Department of State Services (DSS) revealed that foreign influence was behind the unrest, with claims that the protesters were aiming for regime change.
This suggests a troubling new trend: the promotion of instability in Nigeria, potentially linked to an expansion of Russian influence.
In the Sahel region, Russian presence is already notable, with Russia actively involved in Sudan, Mali, Niger, Burkina Faso, and the Central African Republic. This growing influence in Africa is reflected in recent events in Kano.
Although Sub-Saharan Africa was ranked low on Russia’s strategic priorities in 2019, the country’s activities have proven more significant than initially anticipated. The emergence of the Wagner Group in Congo and recent regime changes in Burkina Faso, Mali, and Niger—countries that have distanced themselves from ECOWAS under President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s leadership—highlight Russia’s opportunistic approach.
Russia has been implicated in the coup d’états across West Africa. With anti-American sentiment rising in many African nations and countries withdrawing from ECOWAS, there is a growing search for alternative security arrangements, posing threats to African sovereignty.
A foreign relations expert suggested that the display of the Russian flag in Kano might offer “credible leadership” for the protests and potentially prolong them until regime change is achieved, as indicated by the DSS. The expert expressed concern that the protests could become more spontaneous and escalate dangerously if not managed properly.
What are the implications?
The sight of protesters in Kano and other parts of Nigeria, waving Russian flags and calling for President Vladimir Putin’s intervention during the #EndBadGovernance protests carries significant implications both domestically and internationally.
Domestically, this gesture reflects deep frustration and disillusionment with the Nigerian government, suggesting that protesters feel their concerns are inadequately addressed by local leaders and are seeking external support.
The use of Russian flags may also symbolize a desire for stronger leadership, as President Putin is often seen as a decisive and authoritative figure. This could indicate a segment of the population yearning for more robust governance in Nigeria. Additionally, this move might signal a portion of the populace open to foreign influence or intervention, raising concerns about national sovereignty and unity.
Internationally, this development could be interpreted as an invitation for Russia to increase its influence in Nigeria, a nation traditionally within the sphere of Western influence, particularly that of the United States and the United Kingdom.
Such actions might strain Nigeria’s relationships with Western countries, potentially affecting international aid, trade, and diplomatic support. If Russia were to respond positively to these calls, it could lead to heightened geopolitical competition in the region, offering Russia an opportunity to expand its influence in Africa, similar to its involvement in other African countries.
Socially and culturally, the incident might polarize public opinion within Nigeria. Some may view it as a legitimate plea for help, while others might see it as unpatriotic or misguided. The event could also be exploited by various media outlets and political entities to promote different narratives, either criticizing the Nigerian government or highlighting foreign interference.
From a security perspective, calls for foreign intervention could exacerbate internal tensions and potentially lead to increased instability. This might embolden other groups to seek external support, contributing to a fragmented national discourse. The Nigerian government could respond with heightened security measures or crackdowns on protests, potentially leading to further unrest and human rights concerns.
Overall, the waving of Russian flags and calls for President Putin’s intervention during the #EndBadGovernance protests in Kano State reflect a complex interplay of domestic dissatisfaction, political symbolism, and potential geopolitical shifts. This underscores the urgent need for the Nigerian government to address the underlying issues driving the protests and to engage in meaningful dialogue with its citizens to restore trust and stability.
Retired Brigadier General Bashir Adewinbi has cautioned Nigerians against seeking external support to undermine the country’s democracy and security following the sight of protesters in Kano State waving Russian flags during the #EndBadGovernance protests.
Adewinbi expressed concern over the use of foreign symbols in national protests, urging caution to prevent any actions that could jeopardize the country’s stability. He reassured that a coup attempt against President Bola Tinubu is unlikely, as the security chiefs are united and committed to upholding national unity and democracy.Former Nigerian ambassador to the Philippines, Yemi Farounbi, criticised the display of the Russian flag during the protests.
He noted that with Russian presence in countries like Niger, Mali, Burkina Faso, and Congo, this could signal an external influence on domestic unrest.
Farounbi warned against letting Nigeria become a pawn in ideological conflicts between the West and Russia and urged the protest organizers to end the demonstrations before they are exploited by external forces.
Ambassador Adesola Abolurin, a retired Director at the Federal Ministry of Foreign Affairs, linked the call for Russian intervention in Northern Nigeria to the region’s proximity to Niger Republic.
He suggested that the organizers should have anticipated that foreign agencies might hijack the protest, pointing out that Russian flags might have been smuggled from across the border.
Abolurin called for swift intervention by the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) to address the crisis in the region and prevent further escalation.
Professor Bola Akinterinwa, former Director-General of the Nigerian Institute of International Affairs, speculated that individuals waving Russian flags might not be Nigerian but possibly Nigerien. He warned that the protests, originally planned for August 1 to 10, could evolve into more aggressive demands for President Tinubu’s resignation, potentially leading to a coup d’état.
Mike Ejiofor, a former Director of the Department of State Services (DSS), stressed that the government and security agencies must take the situation seriously.
He highlighted a DSS intelligence report indicating foreign influence and a regime change agenda among the protesters. Ejiofor called for intensified intelligence efforts and heightened public awareness to address these threats.
Col. Abdulwahab Ademola Lawal from the Savannah Centre for Development and Training described the increasing Russian influence in Africa as a growing concern.
He noted that while Western powers emphasize democratic governance, Russia is focusing on regime security and military support in regions where it is threatened.
Lawal warned that the trend of Russian influence in Africa, including in Sudan, Mali, Niger, Burkina Faso, and the Central African Republic, could extend to Nigeria. He emphasized the need for vigilance against this emerging security challenge, reflecting a broader struggle between Western and Russian interests in Africa.
In a swift reaction, Russia denies its involvement in the trajectory of the protest. Yury Paramonov, Press Secretary of the Russian Embassy in Nigeria said, “The Russian Embassy in Nigeria does not have any information about any groups of protesters using the Russian flag or other state symbols of our country.”Even if such incidents did occur, it would be the decision of individuals. We do not know why they might have used Russian flags.”The Russian Federation is in no way involved in the current events in Nigeria. Moreover, Russia does not provide any material or financial support to the protesters,” Paramonov stressed.
The Nigeria Police Force (NPF) on Monday, announced the arrest of one Ahmed Taylor, for mass producing the Russian flags that are being used by some protesters in Kano and some states in the North.It also said no fewer than 30 protesters flying the flags have been arrested and taken into custody.Spokesman of the Nigerian Police, Olumuyiwa Adejobi, disclosed this to journalists at the headquarters of Department of State Services (DSS) at a press briefing organised by the Office of the National Security Adviser (ONSA).
Speaking at the briefing, Adejobi said flying flags of other countries in Nigeria, a sovereign state, is a criminal offence, adding that those arrested and their sponsors will be charged in line with the law of the land for their offences.
“To carry the flags of a foreign country on a land is a criminal offense. We have them arrested. Just this morning, we have arrested one ‘Ahmed Taylor’ from Nasarawa Local Government area of Kano state, for producing a large quantity of Russian flags given to young Nigerians to go and fly.
“For reasons known to him. We are profiling him. We want to get other sponsors like him. As I speak with you, the same thing has happened in Kaduna. Thus, as we started this briefing, we’ve been able to arrest 30 of them with same Russian flags,” the senior police officer said.