President Bola Tinubu has cautioned protesters against being manipulated by anti-democratic forces seeking to destabilize his government.
Tinubu called on Nigerians in his Sunday nationwide broadcast stressing the importance of protecting Nigeria’s democratic progress, which has been sustained for 25 years.
The warning comes after viral images and videos on Saturday showed #EndBadGovernance protesters in Kano displaying Russian flags while chanting against poor governance in Hausa.
The protest, comprising predominantly young participants, called on Russian President Vladimir Putin to intervene in Nigeria’s affairs.
One protester allegedly told TheCable, “We are raising the Russian flag because we believe Tinubu is following the directives of imperial powers like the World Bank, the International Monetary Fund (IMF), and the United States.”
Legal expert and commentator Bulama Bukarti noted the increasing support for Russia in Northern Nigeria, reflecting a shift in sentiment.
Russia, which is currently engaged in tensions with Western powers, has been linked to recent coup d’états in several West African nations, including Mali, Burkina Faso, and Niger.
Although President Tinubu did not specifically mention Russia in his address, he urged Nigerians to resist any attempts to derail the nation’s constitutional democracy.
He appealed for unity and progress, stating, “Let us work together to build a brighter future for ourselves and for generations to come. Let us choose hope over fear, unity over division, and progress over stagnation. The economy is recovering; Please, don’t shut out its oxygen.
“Now that we have been enjoying democratic governance for 25 years, do not let the enemies of democracy use you to promote an unconstitutional agenda that will set us back on our democratic journey. FORWARD EVER, BACKWARD NEVER!“