Tinubu’s contemptuous of Nigerians

Whether the mounting allegations of governance malpractices against Tinubu are true or not, it has to be noted that the tell-tale signs of the proclivity of the man have been in the public domain for at least 25 years.

Youths Protest Sokoto Emir’s killing

As President Tinubu and the political elite reduce governance to the pursuit of personal fancies, life in Nigeria has become nasty, brutish and short. In Sokoto for instance, a large group of youths from Sabon Birni Gobir Local Government Area has protested against the abduction and brutal killing of Alhaji Isa Muhammad Bawa, the Sarkin Gobir of Gatawa District. The demonstration erupted following Bawa’s death, which occurred on Wednesday after he was kidnapped and violently killed by his captors. Footage obtained shows the protesters marching toward the residence of Sokoto’s deputy governor, Alhaji Idris Muhammad Gobir, setting tires and other objects ablaze along their route.  Their protest reflects their demand for justice and greater action to address escalating violence in the region. The protest comes amid reports that Alhaji Bawa was buried without his body present due to the circumstances of his death. A video surfaced showing Bawa pleading for help before his death, which was confirmed after the terrorists’ demand for a ransom of N60 million and five motorcycles for his body. The kidnappers initially sought N1 billion for the release of Bawa and his son, who were abducted in July.  The distressing video of Bawa, captured in captivity, shows his desperate pleas for assistance. In response, President Bola Tinubu has condemned the attack, calling it a grave and unforgivable act. He has extended condolences to Bawa’s family, the Gobir Emirate, and the Sokoto State government.

#EndBadGovernance: Why We Waved Russian Flags

Abba Kabir Yusuf, Gov, Kano State

Protesters in Kano who waved Russian flags during the  #EndBadGovernance protests say they took the action to challenge the Nigerian government. When a journalist immersed himself among the demonstrators in Kano City’s Kurna neighborhood to request one of the flags, he was directed to a man recognized as an Islamic Movement in Nigeria (IMN) member. For security reasons, the journalist—who wished to remain anonymous—observed that the Shi’ite group started waving Russian flags, which other protestors later picked up on. But another demonstrator, identifying himself as Haruna, claimed to be unaffiliated with IMN when speaking with PREMIUM TIMES. He said someone brought the flags to the protest to challenge the Nigerian government. “I don’t know him, but what is the Nigerian government doing to us? The government must listen to our concerns; they must bring back the fuel subsidy. The only flag that I cannot raise is that of Israel,” Mr Haruna said. Kano is predominantly Muslim, with a large Sunni population, where anti-Israeli sentiments are common. IMN member Isah Bawa, from Fagge local council, confirmed the participation of Shi’ite members in the protests and the use of Russian flags but stated there was no directive from their leaders to do so. “Shite members took part in the protest like other Nigerians who are hungry but there is no formal instruction from our leaders for members to wave the Russian flag,” Mr Bawa said. A tea vendor, Abdullahi Maishayi, was detained by the State Security Service (SSS) on Sunday for displaying a Russian flag at his tea shop in Fagge. He was later released after denying knowledge of who placed the flag there. “It’s a tea joint, we host all categories of people. I don’t know whether the person who hoisted the flag at the joint is a Shiite because I was not around when the flag was hoisted,” said Maishayi, who is not a member of IMN. The display of Russian flags during the #EndBadGovernance protests in Kano was first noticed on Sunday and Monday in certain areas of the city. On Monday, hundreds of protesters on IBB Way in Kano took advantage of a relaxed curfew to continue their demonstrations while waving Russian flags. Several protest groups adopted the Russian flags, asserting they had no political agenda behind their actions. The Russian embassy in Nigeria stated that the Russian government was not involved with its national flags being used in the #EndBadGovernance protests. In a statement on Monday, the embassy clarified that neither the Russian government nor its officials were associated with the flag-waving. The Nigerian government condemned the use of Russian flags and calls for a military takeover by some protesters, labeling such actions as treason.