Nigeria’s Favour Ofili ran a season best time of of 22.24s to win her heat and book a spot in the semi-final of the women’s 200m event.

Ofili outran a field that also had Great Britain’s Dina Asher-Smith and Gambia’s Gina Bass-Bittaye.

Ofili’s finishing time put her in overall second place only behind USA’s Gabrielle Thomas who ran 22.20s.

While Asher-Smith finished in 22.28s, Bass-Bittaye came home in 22.84s.

The Nigerian is participating in her first Olympics.

[Vanguard]

Early Sunday morning, President Bola Tinubu addressed Nigerians in a televised broadcast amid the #EndBadGovernance protest, which commenced on Thursday in many parts of the country.

Hours before his address, his speech surfaced on the internet in what many called a “leak”.

Public figures, including politicians, knocked the presidency for “fooling Nigerians”, while some expressed concerns about the safety of other classified documents.

But was the president’s speech top secret in the first place? Here’s what to know about presidential broadcasts.

HOW IS A PRESIDENTIAL BROADCAST DISSEMINATED?

Hours before a presidential broadcast, an embargoed copy is disseminated to select media houses, especially the print media.

These media houses are trusted with the speech to enable them to prepare timely and accurate reports as the president delivers his address. 

WHO IS IT SHARED WITH?

The presidential speech is usually dispatched to the editors of the media houses ahead of the broadcast.

WHAT ARE THE STIPULATED CONDITIONS WHEN SHARED?

The speech will be under strict embargo until the president delivers his address. In most cases, the media houses are permitted to share the speeches at least 15 minutes into the broadcast. 

Sharing the speech before the president’s broadcast flouts the agreement with the media and creates a lack of public trust in the presidency. It also affects the relationship between the media and the government.

WHY IS EARLY DISSEMINATION IMPORTANT?

To ensure the broadcast makes the front pages of mainstream newspapers, it is expected that the speeches are disseminated the night before, especially for broadcasts that are made early in the morning. 

For print media houses, this gives them ample time for production. 

IS IT GLOBAL BEST PRACTICE?

Disseminating presidential speeches before they are televised is not a practice peculiar to Nigeria; it is done globally.

The practice is not only restricted to presidencies. Large multilateral organisations such as the United Nations (UN) and other international non-governmental organisations also engage in this practice.

Ethnic tensions are high in Lagos after the campaign started on social media under the hashtag #IgboMustGo.

Here are 10 things to know about the group behind the campaign.

1.The group operates on X, formerly Twitter, under the name Lagospedia.

2.It claims to be proclaiming the virtues of Lagos.

3.It has no fewer than 41,700 followers.

4.The handlers have consistently propagated hate tweets against the Igbo.

5.On July 27, the page tweeted a picture of bodies it claimed were Igbo.

6.On July 27, the group urged Yoruba to prepare for #IgboMustGo protest to commence on August 20 and end August 30.

7.On July 29, it warned all Igbo resident in Lagos to leave.

9.It also claims the Igbo are spearheading the #EndBadGovernance protest.

Prior to the #EndBadGovernance protest, the group announced that Oro (traditional rites) would be observed in various communities across Lagos from August 1 to August 15,making critics to call the exercise ‘Political Oro’.

[OpinionNigeria]

The urgency of the situation cannot be overstated, and the time has come for President Tinubu to take decisive action to address the widespread discontent and protests engulfing the nation. It is imperative that he steps forward to quench the flames of unrest by directly addressing the nation, acknowledging their grievances, and providing a clear path forward to restore peace and stability.

Certain individuals within the president's circle hold the belief that the opposition parties or those who were unsuccessful in the last election are fueling the protests against the president. Others posit that the protesters are simply impatient and hindering Nigeria's progress. Meanwhile, some argue that the president should not acquiesce to the protesters' demands, as this would be perceived as a sign of weakness.

It's essential that we engage in honest self-reflection and confront the reality of the situation. Do the agitators have a legitimate grievance? Or, to put it another way, is their demand reasonable and justified? The answer, unequivocally, is yes.

Although I concede that some of the demands may be idealistic or unworkable now, I strongly contend that a substantial proportion of them necessitate swift and decisive action. The pressing nature of these demands demands that we treat them with the gravity and expediency they warrant, lest we risk exacerbating an already volatile situation.

The opulent lifestyle of politicians is a source of immense frustration for the masses. While the president implores citizens to endure the current hardships, the political elite continue to live extravagantly, oblivious to the struggles of the common man. The allocation of billions for a new vice presidential residence, despite already budgeting billions for renovations to the existing one, billions budgeted  on a yacht, exotic cars for the president, and rumors of a new presidential jet, as well as billions more on vehicles for the first lady and other frivolous expenses, all while the masses suffer. Allocating billions naira to National Assembly members to purchase SUVs, a staggering 300% salary increase for judges, a move that raises eyebrows and sparks outrage. All these are egregious misallocation of resources. This is particularly galling given the country's burgeoning debt crisis and widespread hunger and these expenditures seem to contradict the president's initial claims of inheriting a challenged economy, and raise questions about the administration's priorities and fiscal responsibility.

The cost of governance in Nigeria has reached unprecedented heights, with a staggering increase that flies in the face of promises to reduce it. We are witnessing an all-time high in the number of ministers, with some ministries serving no purpose other than to duplicate existing ones. The indulgent culture of government officials is exemplified by their conveyances, which are often excessive and unnecessary. The plethora of aides, extravagant foreign jaunts, and other luxuries are a slap in the face to the struggling masses. 

To genuinely lead by example, the government must take drastic measures to slash its own profligacy. This includes making significant cuts to the salaries and allowances of both legislative and executive officials, demonstrating a willingness to share the burden of these trying times with the people. Anything less would be a betrayal of the public trust.

The political elite in Nigeria are utterly unwilling to make any sacrifices, instead, they insist on indulging in the finest luxuries while the common man is forced to bear the brunt of fuel subsidy removal, electricity tariff hikes, and exorbitant education and healthcare costs. The prices of foodstuffs have skyrocketed to unprecedented levels, and the nation is plagued by rising insecurity, hunger and unemployment. 

Meanwhile, the EFCC seems more focused on going after yahoo boys than holding the real thieves accountable, as corruption and embezzlement of public funds have become normalized and even legalized. 

As I mentioned earlier, some of the demands presented are indeed unrealistic, and it is the responsibility of the president to engage in open and honest dialogue with the protesters, the masses, and the nation as a whole. Through this dialogue, the president must clearly explain why certain requests or demands cannot be met at this time, providing a thorough and transparent rationale for each decision. By doing so, the president can foster a deeper understanding among the populace, address misconceptions, and work towards finding alternative solutions that balance the needs and concerns of all stakeholders.

In my view, the demand for the return of fuel subsidy removal appears unrealistic for several reasons. Firstly, there is no allocation for subsidy payments in this year's budget, making it a financially unviable option. Secondly, reinstating subsidies would likely sound the death knell for local refineries, such as the Dangote refinery, and deter others from investing in building new ones. Thirdly, the subsidy regime has been notorious for being plagued by scams, benefiting only a select few wealthy individuals. While I understand that those advocating for the return of subsidies do so with the intention of alleviating the suffering of the masses, I strongly believe that there are more effective and sustainable solutions to address the current economic hardships.

In my opinion, the removal of fuel subsidies is a notable accomplishment of this administration, but it was marred by two critical errors. Firstly, the government should have developed and implemented a comprehensive and effective plan to mitigate the impact of subsidy removal on the masses before taking the step. This would have helped to cushion the effects of the inevitable increase in pump prices and the resultant surge in the cost of living. Secondly, the administration's decision to entrust governors with distributing the gains of subsidy removal is baffling, especially considering the well-known history of mismanagement and corruption among many of them. 

The surge in food prices has sparked widespread agitation, and while the government has taken some token measures, such as removing import duties on select food items, these efforts are painfully insufficient. The harsh reality is that until the government confronts the pervasive security challenges, farmers will continue to flee their farms, leading to a severe shortage of food supplies and exorbitant prices. The mass exodus of farmers from rural areas to cities is a direct result of the government's failure to ensure their safety, leaving them vulnerable to attacks and kidnappings. Imaging farmers has to pay a tax to bandit before they can harvest their crops. To address this crisis government should improve security.

Government must also adopt a multifaceted approach to promote agriculture, including providing accessible loans, grants, training programs, and essential inputs like seeds and fertilizers. Moreover, the government should invest in modern farming machinery and establish state-of-the-art farm settlements across the country. Attractive policies are needed to entice young people to take up farming, and the government must recognize that agriculture is evolving from small-scale subsistence farming to large-scale commercial production, requiring a corresponding shift in policy support.

The pervasive insecurity plaguing Nigeria demands immediate and decisive action, as it has become a significant obstacle to the nation's progress. While increasing personnel numbers is a necessary step, it is grossly inadequate to address the complexities of Nigeria's security challenges. Our leaders must summon the political will and courage to declare war on the beneficiaries of insecurity, including both military and civilian individuals who profit from chaos and terror, as well as those who finance these nefarious activities. A comprehensive approach is required, encompassing border security, enhanced intelligence gathering, deployment of cutting-edge security technology, proactive strategies, modern counter-terrorism training and tactics, advanced drones, improved personnel welfare, training, and compensation, transparency in military budgets and expenditures, and the establishment of state police forces. Anything less would be a half-measured response to the existential threat Nigeria faces.

Allegations that protest organizers are faceless ring hollow when the protesters themselves are undeniably Nigerian citizens, with legitimate concerns and grievances. Rather than dismissing their voices, the government should take a more constructive approach by engaging directly with the Nigerian people and addressing the pressing issues they've raised.

In summary, firstly, the government should provide clear explanations for why certain demands cannot be met now, offering alternative solutions where possible. Secondly, the government must take swift and tangible action to demonstrate its commitment to listening to the people, as effective leadership hinges on the ability to listen. 

Thirdly, the president must inform the public that certain demands, including the transition from a bicameral to a unicameral legislature, the implementation of minimum wages for legislators, the introduction of part-time legislatures, electoral reform, and the drafting of a new constitution to replace the 1999 version, necessitate meticulous planning, widespread consultation, and constitutional amendment. It is the government's responsibility to communicate these complexities and timelines to the public. 

Furthermore, this administration has failed to establish effective communication channels with the masses, neglecting to regularly share government policies, achievements, plans, and situational updates, thereby exacerbating the sense of disconnection and mistrust.

Mr. President, the time for action is now. The nation is on edge, and it is imperative that you address the growing unrest and protest sweeping across the country. The people are crying out for relief, and it is your duty to respond. The flames of frustration and anger are burning bright, and it is your duty to quench them. The nation holds its breath, waiting for your leadership and guidance. Every moment counts, and every word matters. Rise to the challenge, Mr. President, and deliver the reassurance and solutions that the people so desperately need. The fate of the nation hangs in the balance, and your prompt action is the only antidote to the rising tensions and unrest. 

Together we shall build a nation where peace and justice shall reign. God bless Nigeria. 

Dr. Samuel Olanrewaju Bill.

President Bola Tinubu has asked protesters not to allow enemies of democracy use them to topple his government.

In his nationwide broadcast on Sunday, Tinubu said democracy has been enjoyed in Nigeria for 25 years, highlighting its dividends.

On Saturday, photos and videos of protesters in Kano waving the Russian flag went viral as the demonstrators chanted in Hausa, “We don’t want bad government.”

Hundreds of mostly underaged youths urged President Vladimir Putin of Russia to intervene in Nigeria.

“We are raising the Russian flag because we believe Tinubu is playing his imperial masters’ scripts—the World Bank, the International Monetary Fund (IMF), and the United States of America,” a protester reportedly told TheCable.

A lawyer and social commentator, Bulama Bukarti, said the images indicated the growing support for Russia in Northern Nigeria.

Russia, an Eastern power which is currently having a cold war with the West, Nigeria’s colonial power, has been fingered in the coup d’etats in West African countries such as Mali, Burkina Faso, Niger, among others.

Although he did not make any reference to Russia in his speech, Tinubu appealed that enemies of democracy should not be allowed to promote unconstitutional agenda.

“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!

[DailyTrust]

A financial analyst and educator, Kalu Aja has said President Bola Tinubu’s error was not saying early that he inherited a dead economy with an empty treasury.

In a post on his X handle on Friday, Aja said former President Muhammadu Buhari left nothing behind, not even a kobo.

The financial expert said Tinubu knew things were wrong but chose to stay silent so as not to rock the boat.

Aja said: “Tinubu error was not saying early that he inherited a dead economy with an empty treasury. Buhari left nothing behind, not a kobo.

“BAT knew things were wrong, but he stayed silent so as not to rock the boat.

“Buhari printed N22t then told BAT to repay with oil production at lows.

“BAT, instead of calling him out, started to believe his own PowerPoint slides.”

[DailyPost]

Delta State Governor Sheriff Oborevwori has said that the protest by youths is not the solution to mounting challenges of governance.

He noted that well-meaning leaders had cautioned against the action, warning that it could be hijacked by hoodlums to cause mayhem.

The governor recalled that, before the commencement of the protest; he had engaged major stakeholders across the state on the need to shun it.

He said he had warned that it could degenerate into another #EndSars protest which led to loss of lives, businesses, property of citizens and public infrastructures.

However, as the protest entered the third day, Oborevwori, in a statement by his Chief Press Secretary, Festus Avon, commended Delta youths for embracing peace across the state.

He said: “My dear youths of Delta, I thank you for the way and manner you organised yourselves.

“We are aware that Section 14(2) (b) of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria 1999 provides that the security and welfare of the people shall be the primary purpose of government. We shall continue to protect the lives and property of our people.

“As a state government, we remain committed to the ideals of good governance anchored in our MORE Agenda.”

Also, the governor appealed to those behind the protest to end it, saying that it would aggravate the nation’s challenges.

Oborevwori renewed the appeal when he hosted the National President of the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN), Archbishop Daniel Okoh, and his delegation at Government House, Asaba.

He said: “We know it is a very hard time but we believe that any time our people go to the streets to protest, the outcome is always different.

“We know all the demands and requests of the protesters. We are doing our best to make sure that our people are being taken care of. So, protest is not the solution at this time.

“You have reason to protest, but can you manage the protest? We have seen it in the past, we know what happened and how it ended. People were robbed and attacked.

“We have listened to your cry and we are doing our best. The solution is that we have to be more united and peaceful to see how we can move the state from the level it is today to a higher level. I believe we will achieve it.”

The governor urged Christian leaders to appeal to the youths for calm during services.

Also, while inaugurating newly appointed Commissioners and Special Advisers, Oborevwori, said the nation was experiencing hard times which require innovative and creative thinking by governments at all levels to provide good governance for the people.

He charged the appointees to “be innovative and think outside the box,” adding, “The times we live in call for creativity and innovation on the part of those of us who have been entrusted with leadership.”

He stressed: “Staying afloat in a turbulent economy demands mental rigour, strategic planning, and creative execution of policies and programmes.

“I urge you all to think outside the box. As leaders, you must be resourceful, encourage and welcome new ideas, and be ready to churn out innovative policies and programmes targeted at meeting the real needs and aspirations of our people. You must therefore guard against nonchalant attitudes and hit the ground running.”

[TheNation]

My fellow Nigerians,

1. I speak to you today with a heavy heart and a sense of responsibility, aware of the turmoil and violent protests unleashed in some of our states.

2. Notably among the protesters were young Nigerians who desired a better and more progressive country where their dreams, hopes, and personal aspirations would be fulfilled.

3. I am especially pained by the loss of lives in Borno, Jigawa, Kano, Kaduna and other states, the destruction of public facilities in some states, and the wanton looting of supermarkets and shops, contrary to the promise of protest organisers that the protest would be peaceful across the country. The destruction of properties sets us back as a nation, as scarce resources will be again used to restore them.

4. I commiserate with the families and relations of those who have died in the protests. We must stop further bloodshed, violence and destruction.

5. As President of this country, I must ensure public order. In line with my constitutional oath to protect the lives and property of every citizen, our government will not stand idly by and allow a few with a clear political agenda to tear this nation apart.

6. Under the circumstances, I hereby enjoin protesters and the organisers to suspend any further protest and create room for dialogue, which I have always acceded to at the slightest opportunity. Nigeria requires all hands on deck and needs us all - regardless of age, party, tribe, religion or other divides, to work together in reshaping our destiny as a nation. To those who have taken undue advantage of this situation to threaten any section of this country, be warned: The law will catch up with you. There is no place for ethnic bigotry or such threats in the Nigeria we seek to build.

7. Our democracy progresses when the constitutional rights of every Nigerian are respected and protected. Our law enforcement agencies should continue to ensure the full protection of lives and properties of innocent citizens in a responsible manner.

8. My vision for our country is one of a just and prosperous nation where each person may enjoy the peace, freedom, and meaningful livelihood that only democratic good governance can provide – one that is open, transparent and accountable to the Nigerian people.

9. For decades, our economy has remained anaemic and taken a dip because of many misalignments that have stunted our growth. Just over a year ago, our dear country, Nigeria, reached a point where we couldn’t afford to continue the use of temporary solutions to solve long-term problems for the sake of now and our unborn generations. I therefore took the painful yet necessary decision to remove fuel subsidies and abolish multiple foreign exchange systems which had constituted a noose around the economic jugular of our Nation and impeded our economic development and progress.

10. These actions blocked the greed and the profits that smugglers and rent-seekers made. They also blocked the undue subsidies we had extended to our neighbouring countries to the detriment of our people, rendering our economy prostrate. These decisions I made were necessary if we must reverse the decades of economic mismanagement that didn’t serve us well. Yes, I agree, the buck stops on my table. But I can assure you that I am focused fully on delivering the governance to the people - good governance for that matter.

11. In the past 14 months, our government has made significant strides in rebuilding the foundation of our economy to carry us into a future of plenty and abundance. On the fiscal side, aggregate government revenues have more than doubled, hitting over 9.1 trillion Naira in the first half of 2024 compared to the first half of 2023 due to our efforts at blocking leakages, introducing automation, and mobilising funding creatively without additional burden on the people. Productivity is gradually increasing in the non-oil sector, reaching new levels and taking advantage of the opportunities in the current economic ambience

12. My dear brothers and sisters, we have come this far. Coming from a place where our country spent 97% of all our revenue on debt service; we have been able to reduce that to 68% in the last 13 months. We have also cleared legitimate outstanding foreign exchange obligations of about $5billion without any adverse impact on our programmes.

13. This has given us more financial freedom and the room to spend more money on you, our citizens, to fund essential social services like education and healthcare. It has also led to our State, and Local Governments receiving the highest allocations ever in our country’s history from the Federation Account.

14. We have also embarked on major infrastructure projects across the country. We are working to complete inherited projects critical to our economic prosperity, including roads, bridges, railways, power, and oil and gas developments. Notably, the Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway and Sokoto-Badagry Highway projects will open up 16 connecting states, creating thousands of jobs and boosting economic output through trade, tourism and cultural integration

15. Our once-declining oil and gas industry is experiencing a resurgence on the back of the reforms I announced in May 2024 to address the gaps in the Petroleum Industry Act. Last month, we increased our oil production to 1.61million barrels per day, and our gas assets are receiving the attention they deserve. Investors are coming back, and we have already seen two Foreign Direct Investments signed of over half a billion dollars since then.

16. Fellow Nigerians, we are a country blessed with both oil and gas resources, but we met a country that had been dependent solely on oil-based petrol, neglecting its gas resources to power the economy. We were also using our hard-earned foreign exchange to pay for, and subsidise its use. To address this, we immediately launched our Compressed Natural Gas Initiative (CNG) to power our transportation economy and bring costs down. This will save over two trillion Naira a month, being used to import PMS and AGO and free up our resources for more investment in healthcare and education.

17. To this end, we will be distributing a million kits of extremely low or no cost to commercial vehicles that transport people and goods and who currently consume 80% of the imported PMS and AGO.

18. We have started the distribution of conversion kits and setting up of conversion centres across the country in conjunction with the private sector. We believe that this CNG initiative will reduce transportation costs by approximately 60 per cent and help to curb inflation.

19. Our administration has shown its commitment to the youth by setting up the student loan scheme. To date, 45.6billion Naira has already been processed for payment to students and their respective institutions

20. I encourage more of our vibrant youth population to take advantage of this opportunity. We established the Consumer Credit Corporation with over N200billion to help Nigerians to acquire essential products without the need for immediate cash payments, making life easier for millions of households. This will consequently reduce corruption and eliminate cash and opaque transactions. This week, I ordered the release of an additional N50billion Naira each for NELFUND – the student loan, and Credit Corporation from the proceeds of crime recovered by the EFCC

21. Additionally, we have secured $620million under the Digital and Creative Enterprises (IDiCE) – a programme to empower our young people, creating millions of IT and technical jobs that will make them globally competitive. These programmes include the 3Million Technical Talents scheme. Unfortunately, one of the digital centres was vandalised during the protests in Kano. What a shame!

22. In addition, we have introduced the Skill-Up Artisans Programme (SUPA); the Nigerian Youth Academy (NIYA); and the National Youth Talent Export Programme (NATEP).

23. Also, more than N570 billion has been released to the 36 states to expand livelihood support to their citizens, while 600,000 nano-businesses have benefitted from our nano-grants. An additional 400,000 more nano-businesses are expected to benefit.

24. Furthermore, 75,000 beneficiaries have been processed to receive our N1million Micro and Small Business single-digit interest loans, starting this month. We have also built 10 MSME hubs within the past year, created 240,000 jobs through them and 5 more hubs are in progress which will be ready by October this year.

25. Payments of N1billion each are also being made to large manufacturers under our single-digit loans to boost manufacturing output and stimulate growth.

26. I signed the National Minimum Wage into law last week, and the lowest-earning workers will now earn at least N70,000 a month.

27. Six months ago in Karsana, Abuja, I inaugurated the first phase of our ambitious housing initiative, the Renewed Hope City and Estate. This project is the first of six we have planned across the nation's geopolitical zones. Each of these cities will include a minimum of 1,000 housing units, with Karsana itself set to deliver 3,212 units

28. In addition to these city projects, we are also launching the Renewed Hope Estates in every state, each comprising 500 housing units. Our goal is to complete a total of 100,000 housing units over the next three years. This initiative is not only about providing homes but also about creating thousands of jobs across the nation as well as stimulating economic growth.

29. We are providing incentives to farmers to increase food production at affordable prices. I have directed that tariffs and other import duties should be removed on rice, wheat, maize, sorghum, drugs, and other pharmaceutical and medical supplies for the next 6 months, in the first instance, to help drive down the prices.

30. I have been meeting with our Governors and key Ministers to accelerate food production. We have distributed fertilisers. Our target is to cultivate more than 10 million hectares of land to grow what we eat. The Federal Government will provide all necessary incentives for this initiative, whilst the states provide the land, which will put millions of our people to work and further increase food production. In the past few months, we have also ordered mechanized farming equipment such as tractors and planters, worth billions of Naira from the United States, Belarus, and Brazil. I can confirm to you that the equipment is on the way.

31. My dear Nigerians, especially our youth, I have heard you loud and clear. I understand the pain and frustration that drive these protests, and I want to assure you that our government is committed to listening and addressing the concerns of our citizens.

32. But we must not let violence and destruction tear our nation apart. We must work together to build a brighter future, where every Nigerian can live with dignity and prosperity.

33. The task before us is a collective one, and I am leading the charge as your President. A lot of work has gone into stabilising our economy and I must stay focused on ensuring that the benefits reach every single Nigerian as promised.

34. My administration is working very hard to improve and expand our national infrastructure and create more opportunities for our young people.

35. Let nobody misinform and miseducate you about your country or tell you that your government does not care about you. Although there have been many dashed hopes in the past, we are in a new era of Renewed Hope. We are working hard for you, and the results will soon be visible and concrete for everyone to see, feel, and enjoy.

36. 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!

37. In conclusion, security operatives should continue to maintain peace, law, and order in our country following the necessary conventions on human rights, to which Nigeria is a signatory. The safety and security of all Nigerians are paramount.

38. Thank God -- and Thank you for your attention, and may God continue to bless our great Nation. Thank you very much.

Some Nigerians, including a former general and ex-diplomats, have expressed worry after some protesters in the ongoing #EndBadGovernance protest waved what appeared like the Russian flag.

They said the scene did not portend well for the country and warned Nigerians and the Federal Government to guard against foreign incursion.

The nationwide protest, which commenced on Thursday, August 1, was in response to the hardship experienced by citizens in the country.

No fewer than 17 people were reportedly killed by security agents, who also arrested many protesters across the country.

Some prominent Nigerians raised concerns about the security implications for the country.

A lawyer, Bulama Bukarti, said the images indicated the growing support for Russia in Northern Nigeria.

He wrote, “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 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, asked the authorities to monitor the situation and take 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. said, “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 Eastern power, has been fingered in the coup d’etats in some West African countries, notably Mali, Burkina Faso and Niger.

The military governments of the three countries have also pulled out of the Economic Community of West African States being chaired by President Bola Tinubu of Nigeria.

A social media user, Kawu Garba, called on the Department of State Services to investigate the incident.

He said, “Why are the protesters in Kano raising Russian flags? Is Russia sponsoring protests in Nigeria to cause anarchy? @OfficialDSSNG needs to investigate this.”

Also, a political commentator, Kayode Ogundamisi, said the protesters might be ignorant.

He said, “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 Force spokesperson, Muyiwa Adejobi, said he was not aware of the images but promised to get back to our correspondent. He had yet to do so as of press time.

The Director of Defence Media Operations, Maj. Gen. Edward Buba, and the DSS spokesperson, Peter Afunanya, did not pick their calls and had yet to respond to the messages sent to them as of the time of filing this report.

Security experts raise the alarm

Analysing the presence of the Russian flag, a retired Brig.-Gen., Bashir Adewinbi, cautioned Nigerians against conspiring with external forces to undermine the country’s democracy and security.

Adewinbi, while speaking with Sunday PUNCH, described the situation as unfortunate.

He said, “It is unfortunate that some Nigerians are waving foreign flags in a national protest. Our people should be careful; they should not create room for anybody to destroy our country.

“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, called on the organisers of the protest to avoid any external influence.

Farounbi said, “It is an unfortunate incident to fly the flag of a foreign country during your protest. When you recall that there is Russian presence in Niger, Mali, Burkina Faso, and Congo, one begins to wonder that you may be having an externalisation or an external indication of an internal domestic protest against certain circumstances.

“It is tragic, and I do not think that is what the organisers wanted. Certainly, that is not what Nigerians want. They do not want Nigeria to become impacted by ideological warfare between the West and the East. They do not want to see a replacement of Russia-backed military action in Nigeria.

“It is unfortunate. Perhaps, it is a reason for the patriotic organisers of the protest to stop the demonstration before it becomes something that some people will take over from them or turn 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 at the Federal Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Adesola Abolurin, called for the intervention of the Economic Community of West Africa States.

He attributed the call for Russian intervention in Northern Nigeria to the closeness of Niger Republic to the region.

Abolurin said, “This should not be unexpected given the volatile situation of that region, particularly since they are nearer to Niger Republic, so that is expected and, the organisers of the protest should have known that the protest will be hijacked by foreign agencies; where do they get the Russian flags from? They must have gotten them from across the border and one will expect that people will infiltrate our border from Niger and Somali and that is exactly what has happened now.

“The Russian flags must have come directly from the border. And the earlier the ECOWAS intervene in the crisis in the region, particularly in Niger Republic and Mali, the earlier they approach them, appeal to them to come back to the fold, the better.

“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-General of the Nigerian Institute of International Affairs, Professor Bola Akinterinwa, suggested that those waving the Russian flag and dancing during the protests might not be Nigerians.

“The people flying Russian flags and dancing during the protest may not be Nigerians but Nigeriens,” Akinterinwa said.

He emphasised that the protest, initially planned for August 1 to 10, could shift towards a more aggressive demand for President Tinubu’s resignation due to accusations of bad governance.

The former NIIA DG warned, “The situation we have now could prompt a coup d’état.”

On his part, a former Director of DSS, Mike Ejiofor, said the government and security agencies must not handle the issue with kid gloves.

“In the security circle, you don’t dismiss such negative display. You will recall that the DSS had an intelligence report that there was a foreign influence in what is going on and that what the protesters are trying to achieve is a regime change. Russia has no business in interfering in Nigeria’s internal 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 said.

Col. Abdulwahab Ademola Lawal, the Head of Research Savannah Centre for Development and Training said, “The main issue is about regime security and the Russians do not mind having military coup detat and military government in this State, but the US and the Western power are concerned about democracy. The Russians are trying to create regime security for authority in those places where they are threatened.

“This is a new trend that we should watch out for. It means that there are promoters of this new trend and the influence is pressing down from Niger and Mali to continue to distabilise Nigeria. Nigeria should be worried by this, we should be worried because it means that there is an extension of Russian influence in Nigeria now. If you look at what is currently going on in the Sahel, there is a lot of Russian influence in the Sahel, they are already in Sudan, they are in Mali, they are in Niger, they are in Bukina Faso, they are in Central African Republic, so Russian influence in Africa is expanding, I won’t be surprised if there are elements in Kano who want to gnashed into this question of Russian influence 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

But the Press Secretary of the Russian Embassy, Yury Paramonov, denied Russia’s involvement in the ongoing protest in the country.

He said, “The Russian Embassy in Nigeria does not have any information about any groups of protesters using the Russian flag or other state symbols of our country. We have not seen such photo or video materials and would appreciate it if The Punch could provide us with such materials if they exist. Even if such incidents did occur, it would be the decision of individuals. We do not know why they might have used 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.”

[Punch]

The 10-day protest against bad governance which commenced on Thursday, August 1, 2024, is proving to be about the most effective demonstration by the populace against political actors in recent history.

The only rage against the government that compares with it may be the demonstrations against military rule, notably the Anti-SAP riots and then the June 12 demonstrations to affirm the election of Chief Moshood Abiola as president of Nigeria.

Remarkably, one of the leading protesting political practitioners at that time, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu has now become the object of political discontent, being the incumbent president of the country. 

Senator Shehu Sani, a veteran of many pro-democracy struggles himself confessed it not too long ago that Tinubu was the financier and godfather of many protests that were staged to enthrone democracy.

Even after the enthronement of democracy, the protest blood continued to flow in Tinubu culminating in his frontline role in the anti-fuel price hike of 2012.

However, the protest that confronted Tinubu last Thursday would be said to be unprecedented in the annals of the Fourth Republic. 

For a government that came to power with less than a majority of the votes, it spells a serious problem for him that the whole country rose in near unison against the administration.

In the past, protests, riots, and such were mostly undermined by the political, ethnic, and religious sentiments that divide the country.

However, this time, the administration through its hunger-inflicting policies was able to galvanize all sentiments in the country in unison against it.

 One of the most poignant demonstrations was the case in Jos, Plateau State, where Christians formed a ring around their Muslim colleagues while they were observing afternoon prayers.

Tinubu with his accolades as the financier and facilitator of several successful protests would have been shaken by the extent to which Nigerians came out in disapproval of his policies.

The vengeance of the protesters this week can easily be contrasted with the relative ease of things when Tinubu demonstrated against Jonathan in 2012.

At that time fuel prices were hiked by the Goodluck Jonathan administration from about N87 per litre to more than N140. It was a hike that Tinubu and other opposition forces at that time lamented as the wickedness of the administration and the then-ruling Peoples Democratic Party, PDP.

However, under his watch as president, the same product has jumped more than 400% with price ranging anything from N617 to as much as N850 officially at the pump stations in Abuja.

That is only part of the story of the hardship that Nigerians have had to endure. But it is at the root of the crisis that is now bedeviling the country with the most existential risk to our country’s democracy.

The administration’s ill-advised decision to withdraw petrol subsidy which the president and some of his handlers initially hailed as a matter of courage has now come to hunt him.

The decision was pre-empted by what many political actors have repeatedly alleged as the corruption in the oil subsidy regime.

This correspondent, however, submits that the failure of successive administrations to frontally confront that corruption is rather the bane of the crisis.

As minister of petroleum, the president owes himself the duty of using his full powers to cleanse the sector. However, it is unfortunate that the same song of oil subsidy fraud has continued to be sung as if it is impossible to uproot it.

It is more unfortunate that the administration in Nigeria has continued to tie itself to the apron strings of the Bretton Woods institutions whose policies have over time been seen to be unfavourable to Africa and the Third World.

These institutions frown at the disposal of subsidies in Africa but close their eyes to the mobilisaiton of subsidies in Europe, America, and Japan.

Farmers in Japan and South Korea are for example the most pampered farmers in the world given that they enjoy the highest level of subsidy in the world.

The European Union also devotes a high chunk of its annual budget towards farm and energy subsidies. So, the argument that subsidy is anathema to even capitalism does not hold.

What the government needs to do is to manage the subsidy to ensure that it turns into a competitive advantage for the country in the broader economy.

The argument that subsidy will benefit Nigeria’s neighbours does not arise so long as we still have effective Customs and border control agencies. If they do not perform and there is leakage, then the officers involved should be fired.

It may be a sort of consolation for Tinubu that Nigerians were not focused on him alone, but on the political class including his APC members and the opposition in the PDP where they hold offices in the states.

Nigerians today are despiteful of both APC and PDP because when it comes to the mismanagement of the economy, that with very few exceptions almost all political actors behave the same. What Nigerians demand of them today is to repent and perhaps we will forgive them.