#EndBadGovernance

By Uzair Adam

A Kano State Mobile Court ordered the remand of 632 protesters for alleged vandalism of public and government properties during the “Endbadgovernance” nationwide protest.

The charges against the defendants include criminal conspiracy, theft, unlawful assembly, inciting disturbance, trespass, and mischief by fire.

The court session was overseen by Senior Magistrate Ibrahim Mansur-Yola, Senior Magistrate Hadiza Rabiu-Bello, and Chief Magistrate Abba Muttaka-Dandago.

The court adjourned the hearing to August 19.

State Director of Public Prosecution (DPP) Salisu Tahir stated that the defendants committed the alleged offenses on August 1.

He claimed that during the protest, the defendants trespassed, vandalized government and public properties, broke into shops, and looted goods.

The prosecutor noted that the charges violate sections 97, 287, 229, 336, 349, and 247 of the Penal Code.

While some defendants pleaded guilty, others maintained their innocence.

State Attorney General Haruna Isa-Dederi told reporters that three mobile courts were set up to handle the large number of defendants.

He emphasized that the Ministry of Justice would review the case diary and provide appropriate advice before the next court session.

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.

By Anas Abbas

The Kaduna State Security Council, led by Governor Uba Sani, has imposed a 24-hour curfew on Kaduna and Zaria metropolitan cities, effective immediately.

This decision comes after a review of the state’s security situation, which revealed that ongoing protests have been hijacked by criminal elements.

According to the council, these criminal elements have resorted to looting shops and destroying private and public property. To maintain safety and security, citizens are advised to remain indoors while security forces work to contain the situation.

The curfew will be continuously monitored, with the possibility of review as necessary. The Kaduna State Government has urged citizens to cooperate with security forces to restore peace and order in the affected areas.

This development follows a wave of protests that have turned violent, prompting concerns about public safety. The government’s swift response aims to prevent further escalation and protect citizens’ lives and property.

By Uzair Adam

President Bola Tinubu is set to address the nation on Sunday, August 4, 2024, at 7:00 am, amidst ongoing nationwide protests. The presidential spokesman, Chief Ajuri Ngelale, announced this in a statement on Saturday.

He stated that the address will be broadcast on television, radio, and other electronic media outlets through the Nigerian Television Authority (NTA) and the Federal Radio Corporation of Nigeria (FRCN).

The Daily Reality gathered that the broadcast will be repeated at 3:00 pm and 7:00 pm on the same day.

This announcement comes as protests continue to sweep across the country, with various groups calling for attention to their demands.

The president’s address is expected to address the current situation and provide guidance to the nation.

By Uzair Adam

The Katsina State Police Command has debunked claims circulating in a viral video that a police officer shot and killed a colleague during recent protests against bad governance in the state.

The video, shared widely on X, shows a security agent allegedly shot by a police officer while dispersing protesters in Katsina. The agent is seen lying motionless on the ground, sparking outrage and concern.

In a statement to the press, the Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO) for Katsina State clarified that the video was “manipulated and taken out of context.”

The PPRO identified the individual in the video as an officer of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), who sustained injuries from an accident during the protest, not from a gunshot.

“The fact is that the security agent shown in the video is an officer of the NSCDC who fell from a patrol vehicle due to an accident involving the vehicle at the scene of the protest.

He was immediately rushed to the Federal Teaching Hospital (formerly Federal Medical Centre), Katsina, where he was treated and discharged,” the PPRO explained.

Katsina State Police Commissioner, CP Aliyu Musa, reiterated that no fatalities were recorded during the protest.

He urged the public to prioritize accuracy and verify information through official channels.

“We call on members of the public to disregard this misinformation and always verify information through official channels,” CP Musa stated.

He reassured the public of the command’s commitment to maintaining peace and order in the state, in collaboration with other security agencies.

By Uzair Adam

Dr. ‘Bosun Tijani, Minister of Communications, Innovation, and Digital Economy, has condemned the senseless destruction of the NCC’s Digital Innovation Park in Kano.

The facility, poised for launch next week, was ravaged by fire and looted during the protests on Thursday.

This cutting-edge hub was designed to turbocharge Nigeria’s technical talent accelerator program (3MTT) and host various initiatives, including a buildathon holiday maker program for secondary school kids commencing next week.

Dr. Tijani expressed his dismay on social media, stating, “Devastated to learn that our Digital Innovation Park in Kano, slated for launch next week to supercharge our technical talent accelerator (3MTT), has been reduced to ashes and plundered by protesters.”

The minister stated the devastating impact of this destruction on planned initiatives, saying, “In addition to #3MTT, this facility was set to host our buildathon holiday maker program for secondary school kids starting next week.”

He also lamented the loss, saying, “A staggering amount of resources, worth millions of Naira, have been squandered.”

This incident unfolded amidst widespread unrest in Kano, where protesters targeted the yet-to-be-commissioned NCC Industrial Park.

By Sabiu Abdullahi

Protesters gathering at the Government House in Kano State were met with force on Thursday morning as police responded to the escalating demonstration by firing gunshots and teargas. 

The protesters, who had converged from various parts of the city, were participating in the nationwide #EndBadGovernance protest against hardship and were expecting Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf to address them. 

However, as the protest gained momentum, some individuals among the crowd began assembling tyres and setting them ablaze near the gate, prompting the police to take action. 

According to Daily Trust, security forces at the Government House responded to the situation by firing gunshots and teargas in an attempt to disperse the crowd. 

The nationwide #EndBadGovernance protest is calling for urgent action to address pressing economic concerns, including soaring food inflation, general inflation, and other related issues. 

No reports of casualties or arrests have been made at this time.

The situation remains tense as protesters continue to demand action from the government to address their grievances.

By Anwar Usman

Nigeria has over 200 million people from multiethnic and religious backgrounds, which has caused the country to suffer from various uncertainties. The country’s return to democracy in 1999 made the citizens think that a Messiah had come to their aid. Unfortunately, the truth is like the story of Judas, who was said to have betrayed Jesus Christ at Calvary.

Nigerians managed to follow whatever their leaders came up with mindlessly, without thinking of the negative consequences that such a policy would have on them. How do you even expect people who don’t know their democratic and civic rights to think in a way that depicts an environment of literacy? It’s almost impossible!

The imposition of artificial hardship, starvation, insecurity, unemployment, and so on made Nigerians reconsider their thinking and think differently. The only thing that an average Nigerian needs is “food.” Ask anyone, and they will tell you the same. Now, let me ask you (reader) this question: When Nigerians were not hungry, how many times have you heard of any protest/riot, especially in the north? 

No matter what the ruling class would do, an average Nigerian will tell you “Su da Allah” because they are contented and believe that Allah will take charge of that. That was when things were okay. The masses could afford 2/3 square meals daily, and things were readily available, not because Nigerian politicians were not looting.

Now, the devaluation of the Naira and the removal of fuel subsidies worsen Nigeria’s situation. The ruling class does all it feels like without any question from the citizens, even though people were said to be the backbone of democracy.

Experience of what Nigeria is about and how things have been going over decades triggered the situation in Nigeria today. A wealthy person today is bankrupt tomorrow and later becomes a beggar the next day.

The citizens of Nigeria are not violent. They accept whatever is imposed on them wholeheartedly, unlike people in other countries like Sudan, Kenya, etc. Kenyans, for instance, didn’t protest because of the high cost of food—no! It’s because of an additional levy that Nigerians endured over decades.

The only language that people in power understand is to go against their wishes. No government likes to be criticised. They know the sufferings of Nigerians, but all they do is give palliatives, cups of rice, and pasta or disburse N20,000using a random sampling technique.

For instance, the minister of humanitarians alone was accused of misappropriating 826 billion; likewise, the minister of finance, not to mention the CBN Governor and aviation minister, deceived Nigerians with a non-existent Nigerian airline, all during President Muhammadu Buhari. Nothing has been done about that yet.

Now that hunger has started killing people, the cost of living is high, including the devaluation of the Naira, which made people take a U-turn. It’s always said that “a hungry man is an angry man” Nigerians are ready to die! 

If one says the protest wouldn’t bring anything positive, I wonder. Do you want things to continue the way they are till eternity? Do you like our younger ones to continue floating in the streets? What would you feel when you find out that the leaders of tomorrow embrace drugs? These are things that no one can resolve except YOU yourselves! These people don’t care if all our youth would embrace drugs. It’s an added advantage to them; they’ll only use them as thugs during the campaign.

Even if things would worsen due to this protest, let it happen. You must lose something to get something! Even if you’re not ready to die today, hunger might kill you tomorrow. We’ve seen many instances of people being depressed, suffering from hypertension, melancholy and other related disease that were not known before.

The same people who failed to apprehend Boko Haram suspects and left the northern states bloody are what some people are saying we shouldn’t protest against. Nigerians are now refugees. The neighbouring states granted them asylum. Guess what? The government is not ready to do anything. 

Do you think we should continue following these people suffering from Kleptomania? Fold out arms because you’re afraid of something? Look, even if you didn’t protest today due to fear of being killed, insecurity is there for you! And the future of youth and the younger ones is not safe.

If the government is ready to review and listen to the yearning and aspirations of Nigerians and implement the pending policies, including the subsidising of petrol and the Naira that’ll benefit the citizens directly, then the reverse is the case. We can have a dialogue and reach an agreement about what the government ought to do, and in that process, the protest can be suspended. 

We wouldn’t forget our brothers in Katsina and Zamfara who are waiting to either be killed or kidnapped; Something must be done about them, too. If not, mobilisation will continue, and we’re ready to sacrifice our lives for the betterment of future generations.

May Nigerians protest peacefully. May the protest yield a positive outcome, ameen.

Anwar is a Faculty of Communication at Bayero University, Kano student. He can be contacted via usmananwarhassan@gmail.com.

By Abdullahi Mukhtar Algasgaini

The Inspector General of Police, IGP Kayode Adeolu Egbetokun, addressed the nation in light of the planned nationwide protests, emphasizing the severe negative effects of violent demonstrations on our society. 

In his address, the IGP highlighted several critical points that underscore the importance of maintaining peace and order during protests.

“It is not only in Nigeria that there is hardship. It is a global meltdown. Is the government doing anything about it? Yes! This is what a responsive government will do,” stated the IGP. He stressed that while the current economic challenges are not unique to Nigeria, the government is actively working to mitigate their impact and provide relief to the citizens.

Reflecting on the 2020 EndSARS protest, the IGP remarked, “Where police stations were burnt down, criminals took over. Arms looted were in the wrong hands, and armed robbers took over. Women could no longer walk freely once it is 7 pm.” He warned that the destruction of police infrastructure leads to a breakdown in law and order, leaving communities vulnerable to criminal activities.

“There are enough lessons to learn from previous violent protests in Nigeria,” the IGP continued, urging citizens to remember the chaos and suffering that followed such events. “Serious dangers come with unchecked demonstrations,” he added, highlighting the potential for loss of life, property damage, and widespread fear among the populace.

The IGP acknowledged the right to protest, stating, “The right to protest is a right to peaceful protest.”He called on all Nigerians to exercise this right responsibly and to avoid actions that could escalate into violence. Peaceful protests, he emphasized, are a powerful tool for expressing grievances and driving change without endangering lives and properties.

In conclusion, the IGP reaffirmed the Nigeria Police Force’s commitment to protecting the rights of citizens while maintaining law and order. He urged all Nigerians to cooperate with the Police to ensure that any forthcoming protests are peaceful and orderly.