Some Nigerians, together with a former normal and ex-diplomats, have expressed fear upcoming some protesters within the ongoing #EndBadGovernance protest waved what gave the look of the Russian flag.
They mentioned the scene didn’t portend smartly for the rustic and warned Nigerians and the Federal Govt to cover towards overseas incursion.
The national protest, which commenced on Thursday, August 1, used to be according to the woe skilled by means of voters within the nation.
Disagree fewer than 17 society had been reportedly killed by means of safety brokers, who additionally arrested many protesters around the nation.
On Saturday, pictures and movies of protesters in Kano waving the Russian flag went viral because the demonstrators chanted in Hausa, “We don’t want bad government.”
Some leading Nigerians raised issues concerning the safety implications for the rustic.
A attorney, Bulama Bukarti, mentioned the photographs indicated the rising help for Russia in Northern Nigeria.
He wrote, “Two facets of the continuing starvation protest in Nigeria in particular intrigue me. In the beginning, there’s a tiny however rising help for Russia and a corresponding stand in anti-West sentiment, particularly in Northern Nigeria. Some protesters in Kano carried the Nigerian flag along the Russian flag, and there were yelps from some individuals for demonstrators to deliver Russian flags and pictures of Vladimir Putin to hunt Russia’s backup.
“More concerning is that these protesters do not seem to be affiliated with any pro-Russian group; they simply made amateur flags as observed by @Aliyussufiy who took the first photo, suggesting that this sentiment is developing organically. This trend is likely to expand, especially as malign actors may observe and exploit it.”
A former presidential aide, Bashir Ahmad, requested the government to watch the condition and tug precautions.
“This may indicate various underlying sentiments or influences that need to be carefully assessed and addressed by the government,” he added.
An award-winning journalist, Philip Obaji Jr. mentioned, “President Vladimir Putin and Russia must be excited to learn that Russian flags were displayed by a number of protesters in Kano in northwestern Nigeria during today’s Enough Is Enough protest to #EndBadGovernace.”
Russia, an Jap energy, has been fingered within the coup d’etats in some West African international locations, particularly Mali, Burkina Faso and Niger.
The army governments of the 3 international locations have additionally pulled out of the Financial Family of West African States being chaired by means of President Bola Tinubu of Nigeria.
A social media consumer, Kawu Garba, referred to as at the Segment of Surrounding Services and products to analyze the incident.
He mentioned, “Why are the protesters in Kano raising Russian flags? Is Russia sponsoring protests in Nigeria to cause anarchy? @OfficialDSSNG needs to investigate this.”
Additionally, a political commentator, Kayode Ogundamisi, mentioned the protesters could be ignorant.
He mentioned, “Whichever of the divide that may be responsible for distributing those Russian flags, either pro or anti-protest, that person dey mad. You lot have ABSOLUTELY, no idea! Beware of what you wish for.”
The Pressure spokesperson, Muyiwa Adejobi, mentioned he used to be no longer conscious about the photographs however promised to get again to our correspondent. He had but to take action as of press past.
The Director of Defence Media Operations, Maj. Gen. Edward Buba, and the DSS spokesperson, Peter Afunanya, didn’t select their yelps and had but to answer the messages despatched to them as of the past of submitting this file.
Safety professionals lift the alarm
Analysing the presence of the Russian flag, a retired Brig.-Gen., Bashir Adewinbi, cautioned Nigerians towards conspiring with exterior forces to undermine the rustic’s autonomy and safety.
Adewinbi, era talking with Sunday PUNCH, described the condition as severe.
He mentioned, “It’s severe that some Nigerians are waving overseas flags in a countrywide protest. Our society must watch out; they must no longer build room for anyone to wreck our nation.
“I must say that a coup can never happen in Nigeria. There can be no coup attempt against President Bola Tinubu. The security chiefs are with him and he has educated them. I don’t think any senior officer will come out and announce anything like a coup in Nigeria. We are all united, we are for the unity of the people, and we will maintain it. We will protect our democracy.”
A former Nigerian ambassador to the Philippines, Yemi Farounbi, referred to as at the organisers of the protest to steer clear of any exterior affect.
Farounbi mentioned, “It’s an severe incident to fly the flag of a overseas nation all over your protest. While you recall that there’s Russian presence in Niger, Mali, Burkina Faso, and Congo, one starts to surprise that you’ll be having an externalisation or an exterior indication of an inner home protest towards sure instances.
“It’s calamitous, and I don’t assume that’s what the organisers sought after. Surely, that isn’t what Nigerians need. They are not looking for Nigeria to turn out to be impacted by means of ideological conflict between the West and the East. They don’t need to see a alternative of Russia-backed army motion in Nigeria.
“It’s severe. Most likely, this is a reason why for the patriotic organisers of the protest to cancel the demonstration ahead of it turns into one thing that some society will enter the from them or flip Nigeria to a pawn.
“Those who are supported by this Russian regime have broken away from ECOWAS to form a separate body. It is something that other West African countries should be wary of.”
A retired Director on the Federal Ministry of Overseas Affairs, Ambassador Adesola Abolurin, referred to as for the intervention of the Financial Family of West Africa States.
He attributed the decision for Russian intervention in Northern Nigeria to the closeness of Niger Republic to the pocket.
Abolurin mentioned, “This must no longer be surprising given the unstable condition of that pocket, in particular since they’re closer to Niger Republic, in order that is predicted and, the organisers of the protest must have recognized that the protest will likely be hijacked by means of overseas companies; the place do they get the Russian flags from? They should have got them from around the border and one will be expecting that society will infiltrate our border from Niger and Somali and that’s precisely what has came about now.
“The Russian flags should have come without delay from the border. And the sooner the ECOWAS intrude within the emergency within the pocket, in particular in Niger Republic and Mali, the sooner they method them, enchantment to them to return again to the crease, the simpler.
“Already in Kano they have the issue of Emirship and this should have put into consideration by security agencies, but unfortunately, that was never done. They have a lot of problems already in the North, every little destruction in the North will escalate from the other side”.
A former Director-Normal of the Nigerian Institute of World Affairs, Lecturer Bola Akinterinwa, prompt that the ones waving the Russian flag and dancing all over the protests may not be Nigerians.
“The people flying Russian flags and dancing during the protest may not be Nigerians but Nigeriens,” Akinterinwa mentioned.
He emphasized that the protest, first of all deliberate for August 1 to ten, may just shift against a extra competitive call for for President Tinubu’s retirement because of accusations of malicious governance.
The previous NIIA DG warned, “The situation we have now could prompt a coup d’état.”
On his phase, a former Director of DSS, Mike Ejiofor, mentioned the federal government and safety companies should no longer maintain the problem with child gloves.
“Within the safety circle, you don’t brush aside such unfavourable show. You’re going to recall that the DSS had an judgement file that there used to be a overseas affect in what’s going on and that what the protesters try to reach is a regime trade. Russia has deny industry in interfering in Nigeria’s inner affairs.
“We have to intensify our intelligence gathering efforts both the national intelligence agency and the state security service must look at these threats even though they had highlighted them earlier. Citizens must also be security conscious of whatever that is happening around them”, Ejiofor mentioned.
Col. Abdulwahab Ademola Lawal, the Head of Analysis Savannah Centre for Building and Coaching mentioned, “The primary factor is set regime safety and the Russians don’t thoughts having army coup detat and armed forces executive on this Surrounding, however the USA and the Western energy are eager about autonomy. The Russians are looking to build regime safety for authority in the ones playgrounds the place they’re threatened.
“It is a pristine development that we must be careful for. It signifies that there are promoters of this pristine development and the affect is urgent unwell from Niger and Mali to proceed to distabilise Nigeria. Nigeria must be fearful by means of this, we must be fearful as it approach that there’s an extension of Russian affect in Nigeria now. In the event you take a look at what’s lately happening within the Sahel, there’s a batch of Russian affect within the Sahel, they’re already in Sudan, they’re in Mali, they’re in Niger, they’re in Bukina Faso, they’re in Central African Republic, so Russian affect in Africa is increasing, I received’t be shocked if there are components in Kano who need to gnashed into this query of Russian affect in Africa.
“The sentiment of most African countries now is anti-America, they are anti-France and they are looking for alternative security architecture, therefore it is becoming a trend across Africa. You are aware of the Wagner African corps, it is an influence that really pressing down on Africa, they are pressing down on Sudan, Chad and the Central African Republic, it is a new trend of security challenges, the sovereignty of Africa is under challenge by Russia and so we are returning to the cold war era with the challenge between the West and Russia”.
Russia denies involvement
However the Press Secretary of the Russian Embassy, Yury Paramonov, denied Russia’s involvement within the ongoing protest within the nation.
He mentioned, “The Russian Embassy in Nigeria does no longer have any details about any teams of protesters the usage of the Russian flag or alternative environment symbols of our nation. We’ve got no longer unmistakable such photograph or video fabrics and would respect it if The Punch may just grant us with such fabrics in the event that they exist. Even supposing such incidents did happen, it will be the choice of people. We have no idea why they may have old 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.”