By Uzair Adam
There is growing concern over the recent actions of protesters in Nigeria, particularly in the north, where aggrieved youths were seen waving the Russian flag during demonstrations against hunger and starvation in the country.
The Daily Reality reports that the “EndBadGovernance” protest began on August 1st and saw a large turnout. Many youths and women took to the streets to voice their worries amid worsening economic hardship.
However, the protests took an unexpected turn when demonstrators were seen waving the Russian flag and chanting slogans, asking for Russia to come to their rescue as the biting economic hardship exacerbated with each passing day.
Political Analysts React
Political analysts suggest that waving the Russian flag may stem from ignorance of global politics, describing the situation as an incredible display of “unpatriotism” by the aggrieved youths and women.
Russia as the Last Hope
The protesters argued that they knew exactly what they were doing and viewed their actions as a passionate plea to the Russian government to rescue the Nigerian masses from their devastating challenges.
The youths, who perceive Russia as a “freedom fighter” for African countries, said they would never seek help from England, despite its historical ties to Nigeria, as they believe England harbours bad intentions against the country.
A group of youths told our reporter that they are pleading for Russian intervention since England remains silent on Nigeria’s problems. “America, too, will not speak because it is in the same boat as England,” they argued.
Ibrahim Muhammad (not his real name) said they were waving the flag to frustrate the federal government and clarify that they no longer cared for a country that had ignored their concerns.
“I am waving this flag to make President Bola Ahmad Tinubu sad. These people don’t care about our problems and do whatever it takes to make us angry,” he stated.
Another protester, Isma’il Usman, said Russia is the only country they should now turn to for help, “especially looking at its recent interventions in some African countries.”
When Ignorance and Unpatriotism Shake Hands
According to analysts who spoke to The Daily Reality, the waving of the Russian flag by the youths is a demonstration of both ignorance and unpatriotism.
Professor Kamilu Sani Fagge, a lecturer in the Department of Political Science at Bayero University Kano, noted that while youths lack an understanding of global politics, certain individuals may have lured them into doing so.
“There could be some people behind this movement, and people were pushed to the wall in this country, which could also be why they accepted to wave the flag during the protest,” he stated.
“However, the government is to blame for all this because it should have taken action to stop the protest by addressing these problems, but it refused. Now that President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has addressed the nation, there is still no hope,” Professor Fagge added.
An Invitation to Neo-Colonialism
Another analyst, Malam Sulaiman Muhammad, a lecturer at Aminu Kano College of Islamic and Legal Studies, argued that government negligence has deteriorated the situation, leading to more unpatriotic youth in the country.
He warned that by pleading for Russian intervention, the youths are ignorantly inviting a new form of colonialism.
“I think the youths are not seeking intervention from England and France because England colonised Nigeria and the latter colonised Nigeria’s sister country, Niger. However, they forget that pleading for Russian soldiers’ presence in Nigeria is another form of colonialism,” he stated.
Disappointment as Russia Distances Itself
In a statement on Monday, the Russian Embassy in Nigeria issued a strong denial of any involvement with the group of protesters who were seen carrying the Russian flag and chanting slogans in support of President Vladimir Putin.
The embassy stressed that Russia respects Nigeria’s sovereignty and does not interfere in its internal affairs, a statement that may not please the Russian flag-waving protesters.
The statement described the protesters’ actions as personal choices that do not reflect any official Russian government policy.
However, one of these aggrieved youths said they would only stop pleading with the Russians once their voices were heard by the Russian President, Vladimir Putin.
Arrest of Tailor Sewing Russian Flags
However, the tailor who sewed the Russian flags for the protesters was reportedly arrested by security personnel on Monday.
A picture seen by The Daily Reality showed the youth, whose name was not identified, being arrested with some of the flags he had sewn and his sewing machine.
Defense Chief Condemns Protesters’ Actions
Nigeria’s Chief of Defense, General Chris Musa, condemned the protesters’ actions as treasonable and warned they would face the full force of the law.