Tinubu issues warning following calls for Russian intervention in Nigeria

President Bola Tinubu has warned protesters against allowing themselves to be used by enemies of democracy to topple his government.

The president gave the warning in a nationwide broadcast on Sunday.

The President’s warning comes after protesters in Kano waved Russian flags and called for Russian intervention in Nigeria. The protesters, mostly underaged youths, claimed they believed Tinubu was serving foreign interests.

“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 had said.

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

Russia has been linked to coup d’etats in West African countries, including Mali, Burkina Faso, and Niger. Although Tinubu did not mention Russia in his speech, he appealed against promoting unconstitutional agendas.

Tinubu urged Nigerians to work together, choosing hope, unity, and progress over fear, division, and stagnation. He cautioned against undermining the recovering economy.

“Please, don’t shut out its oxygen,” he said.