Hardship protestors waving a Russian flag cause concern for ex-envoys and military officials. Read about the implications of this controversial display.
The display of what seemed to be the Russian flag by certain participants in the #EndBadGovernance protest has raised concern among a number of Nigerians, including former military leaders and diplomats.
The warning issued indicated that the situation could potentially have negative implications for Nigeria, and therefore urged both Nigerian citizens and government officials to take measures against foreign intervention.
Citizens across the nation initiated a protest on Thursday, August 1st as a reaction to their enduring hardship.
According to reports, security agents killed at least 17 individuals and arrested numerous protesters throughout the nation.
Over the weekend, images and footage of protestors brandishing the Russian flag in Kano circulated widely across social media. The group expressed their dissatisfaction with government leadership through Hausa chants of “We reject substandard governance”.
There were concerns expressed by notable Nigerians regarding the security implications that could arise for the country.
According to Bulama Bukarti, a lawyer, the pictures suggest an increase in Northern Nigeria’s backing for Russia.
In his writing, he expressed interest in two key facets of the ongoing hunger protest occurring in Nigeria. Firstly, a noticeable but limited amount of support for Russia has emerged alongside an upsurge in anti-Western sentiment among Northern Nigerian communities. Notably, demonstrators from Kano waved both their country’s flag and that of Russia while some individuals participating have even urged others to bring Russian flags and pictures depicting Vladimir Putin as they seek aid from this nation amidst their struggles.
Even more worrisome is the fact that these demonstrators appear to have no ties with any pro-Russian organization. @Aliyussufiy, who snapped the initial photo, noted that they had crudely-fashioned flags which implies a grassroots growth of this idea. It may become even more widespread over time as negative parties could take notice and manipulate it for their own purposes.
Bashir Ahmad, a previous assistant to the president, urged the authorities to oversee and safeguard against any potential threats.
He added that the government should carefully assess and address various underlying sentiments or influences which may be present.
During the recent Enough Is Enough protest against #EndBadGovernance held in Kano, Nigeria; Philip Obaji Jr., an acclaimed journalist and recipient of multiple awards remarked that President Vladimir Putin and Russia must have felt gratified to witness Russian flags being wielded by several protesters.
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Some West African countries, notably Mali, Burkina Faso and Niger, have accused Russia – an Eastern power – of being involved in their coup d’etats.
President Bola Tinubu of Nigeria, who chairs the Economic Community of West African States, lost its membership from three countries due to their military governments pulling out.
“Regrettably, there is cause for concern. The patriotic organizers of the protest may consider concluding their demonstration before it falls into the hands of those who seek to manipulate or exploit Nigeria.”
Other West African countries should be cautious of those who have separated from ECOWAS to create a distinct group, backed by the Russian regime.
Ambassador Adesola Abolurin, who has retired as a Director at the Federal Ministry of Foreign Affairs, urged for the involvement of Economic Community of West Africa States.
The proximity of Niger Republic to the region was cited by him as a reason for the demand for Russian intervention in Northern Nigeria.
Abolurin stated that the protest’s usurpation by foreign agencies should not come as a surprise, given the instability of the region and proximity to Niger Republic. He questioned where these agents obtain Russian flags from, implying they must have smuggled them across borders. Abolurin believes it was foreseeable for individuals to infiltrate Nigeria from neighboring countries such as Niger and Somalia, which appeared to be what happened during this incident.
It is likely that the Russian flags originated from the border. The sooner ECOWAS takes action to mediate in Niger Republic and Mali’s crisis, by reaching out to them and urging them to return, the more effective it will be.
The issue of Emirship in Kano should have been taken into account by security agencies, as there are already several pressing problems present in the region. Any additional damage inflicted upon the North will likely only exacerbate existing tensions and further complicate matters.
According to Professor Bola Akinterinwa, a previous Director-General of the Nigerian Institute of International Affairs, it is possible that individuals waving Russian flags and engaging in dancing during protests are not Nigerians.
According to Akinterinwa, the individuals who were waving Russian flags and dancing during the demonstration might be Nigeriens instead of Nigerians.
He highlighted that the originally scheduled protest from August 1 to 10 may veer towards a more forceful call for President Tinubu’s departure owing to allegations of poor leadership.
“The current state of affairs may lead to a coup d’état,” cautioned the ex-Director General of NIIA.
According to former Director of DSS, Mike Ejiofor, the government and security agencies should approach this issue with utmost seriousness.
Dismissing negative displays within the security circle is not an option. It’s worth remembering that the DSS received intelligence indicating foreign interference in ongoing events, with protesters aiming for a regime change. Russia ought to steer clear of meddling in Nigeria’s internal affairs.
Ejiofor emphasized the need to enhance intelligence gathering by both national and state security agencies, despite having previously identified these threats. He also urged citizens to remain vigilant of their surroundings in order to ensure safety.
According to Col. Abdulwahab Ademola Lawal, who is the Head of Research at Savannah Centre for Development and Training, the central concern relates to regime security. While Russians are willing to tolerate military coups and governments in troubled regions as a means of achieving this security objective, Western powers favor democratic principles instead. The primary aim behind Russian actions appears geared towards establishing stable governance structures that can withstand potential threats posed by internal or external forces alike.
“We need to be aware of a new trend that could have potentially harmful effects. There are people promoting this trend and their influence is spreading from Niger and Mali, causing instability in Nigeria. This should concern us because it suggests the presence of Russian interests in our country. The Sahel region already shows significant signs of Russian involvement across several countries including Sudan, Mali, Niger, Bukina Faso as well as Central African Republic – indicating an expanding influence on Africa at large. It wouldn’t be surprising if some parties even within Kano show interest towards connecting with these developments.”
Currently, the prevailing opinion among African countries leans towards an anti-America and anti-France stance. Many are seeking alternative security arrangements as a result of this trend that is gaining momentum across Africa. One noteworthy factor in this shift is the growing influence of the Wagner African corps – they have been exerting their pressure on Sudan, Chad and the Central African Republic leading to new challenges related to security. This situation poses a significant threat to Africa’s sovereignty with Russian interference akin to reliving cold war dynamics between Western powers and Russia once more .
The current protest in the country was refuted by Yury Paramonov, the Press Secretary of the Russian Embassy, who denied any association with Russia.
“The Russian Embassy in Nigeria has not received any information regarding protestors using Russia’s flag or other state symbols. There are no photo or video materials to substantiate these claims, and we request The Punch provide them if they exist. Even though such incidents may have occurred, individuals would be making their own decisions without our knowledge as to why they chose the use of Russian flags.”
Russia is not involved in the ongoing events taking place in Nigeria and does not offer any financial or material assistance to protestors.
