An emerging issue of urgent concern is the use of Russian flag by some youth who are engaged in the so called peaceful demonstration in Nigeria. One of the media houses interviewed me on the issue in the early morning of Monday, the 5th of August, 2024, which corresponds with the fourth day of the “End Bad Governance” demonstration by some Nigerian youth.
My instant response was that the issue was brought about by three factors, which in turn can be collapsed into one. And I concluded that it is a dangerous issue that needs immediate attention by the constituted authorities and other stakeholders.
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The three factors to my mind are as follows:
Throughout the third world, people, even among the unschooled, are conscious of the fact that the World Bank and the IMF are behind the increasing suffering of the populace and that these institutions are domiciled in America. And since they perceive Russia as anti-America, the dictum that “the enemy of my enemy is my friend” may not be far to fetch. Hence, the call for Russia to come to their aid (the Russian Embassy in Nigeria has since released a statement distancing Russia from the act).
It is clear to many people in Africa that the Niger Junta, along with those of Mali and Burkina Faso, have faced stiff opposition from the West. This forced them to invite Russia as an ally. So there is the possibility that those people raising Russian flags are sending a signal that, should their efforts at protesting against bad governance be sabotaged by the West, they will not hesitate to invite Russia to come to their aid; and Nigerians generally perceive President Tinubu to be a friend (or is it a stooge?) of the West, and since he has angered them they will protest by way of hurting his masters, not just him alone.
I then concluded my interview by ascertaining that whatever may be the cause, one thing that is certain is that Nigerians see liberal democracy as an utter failure in bringing about the desired leadership. This makes some people to search for an alternative which includes the bizarre raising of the flag of a foreign country, calling for its aid and denouncing their own nationality as well as the call for a return to military rule.
Beyond the interview however, I started reflecting much more deeply regarding the unfortunate happening. Coincidentally, Professor Salisu Shehu was sharing similar concerns in a WhatsApp group we belong. Some of the concerns we are raising include the following:
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The demonstrating youth who raised the flags did not appear sophisticated enough in international politics. Who then, infiltrated them, mobilised them and supplied them with such large quantity of the flags of a foreign country within such a short time?
A question of serious concern is the possibility of the aggrieved youth being penetrated by unknown forces and possibly armed to fight their own country.
The big powers (either of the West or the East) are likely to analyse the situation as relates to their interests and any conflicting steps to pursue such interests may make matters worse for our country.
For sure, the recalcitrant youth are unaware of the gravity of their action, which tantamount to treason; yet when the state rushes into treating them as such, a worse calamity may follow. One recalls that the Biafra state agitators do raise Israeli flags and the #End-SARS demonstrators raised American flag. So the issue needs to be given deep thought by security agencies.
The sore diplomatic relations between states in the Sahel may make matters worse, and some of our neighbours, even though may not be the instigators, they may not hesitate to capitalise on the situation to make things more difficult for Nigeria.
As I am concluding this write up, the Chief of Defence Staff, Christopher Musa has spoken again, saying that those flying Russian flag in Nigeria have committed treasonable offence. Who will tell the Service Chiefs to stop talking, for God’s sake? Where are the two Ministers of Defence? Where is the Minister of Information? Where are the various assistants and advisors to the President? It is an aberration for the Service Chiefs to be talking in a democracy!
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These are but a few points of reflection. There is the need for more and deeper thoughts with a view to averting an undesirable situation that is capable of causing state failure.
Stakeholders need to do more.
Dr. Saidu Ahmad Dukawa,
Department of Public Administration,
Bayero University, Kano
August 5, 2024.
