By Jemilu Hassan
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Protesters in Kano State have reportedly taken to the streets waving Russian flags and calling for intervention from Russian President Vladimir Putin.
They are seeking Putin’s intervention, suggesting their grievances are not being addressed by President Bola Tinubu’s administration.
The development has been confirmed by former President Muhammadu Buhari’s Special Assistant on Digital Communication, Bashir Ahmad.
Ahmad raised the alarm that protesters in Kano State were waving Russian flags.
In a post on X on Saturday, he said it’s crucial for authorities to closely monitor the situation and take necessary precautions.
According to him, the development may indicate various underlying sentiments or influences that need to be carefully assessed and addressed by the government.
Two aspects of the ongoing hunger protest in Nigeria particularly intrigue me. Firstly, there is a small but growing support for Russia and a corresponding rise in anti-West sentiment, especially in Northern Nigeria. Some protesters in Kano carried the Nigerian flag alongside the Russian flag, and there have been calls from some participants for demonstrators to bring Russian flags and photos of Vladimir Putin to seek Russia’s assistance. 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 first photo, suggesting that this sentiment is developing organically. This trend is likely to expand, especially as malign actors may observe and exploit it.
Secondly, there is a troubling increase in calls for a coup d’état by the Nigerian army. Interestingly, Nigerian soldiers deployed to the protests behaved commendably, avoiding harassment or intimidation of protesters, while the police shot, arrested and harassed many. This has increased the army’s popularity in many areas, with videos circulating of soldiers helping protesters and receiving praise.
These situations mirror what happened in Mali, Niger and elsewhere, where military coups eventually toppled democratically elected governments. When those coups occurred, we witnessed sporadic protests in support of the military and Russia, and the new military regimes immediately turned to Russia.
Military governments are dictatorial, ineffective, and often brutal. I sincerely hope Nigeria does not follow this path. However, the rampant corruption, inefficiency and lack of empathy among our politicians are undermining democracy and fueling calls for a military takeover. The sooner politicians get their act together and prove their ability to govern effectively, the better it will be for everyone.
Moreover, the pro-Russia trend could signal a growing shift in public opinion, which may, in the medium term, lead to a shift in geopolitical alliances, potentially altering Nigeria’s foreign relations and its stance in the global arena. Supporting the Nigerian government to deliver effective governance and engaging civil society and international partners can help reinforce democratic values and stabilise the nation’s political landscape