Four influential politicians from Katsina, Kaduna, and Kano states are under investigation over the use of Russian flags by #EndBadGovernance protesters.
According to Punch, the politicians were principal actors who instigated the use of Russian flags among demonstrators in the north to fan the embers for an unconstitutional regime change.
“You see, four principal actors have been identified in this issue. They are top politicians from Katsina, Kano and Kaduna and the security agencies are closing in on them.
“They played prominent roles in the election of last year (2023),” a source told Punch.
Another source said:
“There is evidence of external influence mainly involving the politicians who are conniving with a West African and European country to cause mayhem and promote the use of the flags we are seeing. They want to do here what they did in some other countries.”
On Monday, the nationwide protests against economic hardship took a concerning turn in the North, with demonstrators waving Russian flags and chanting slogans demanding President Tinubu’s resignation.
In Kaduna, protesters were heard begging for military intervention.
Russia, an Eastern power currently mired in a cold war with the West, has been blamed for several unconstitutional changes of government in West African countries such as Niger, Mali and Burkina Faso, and among others.
But the military has warned that the Nigerian government will not tolerate calls for coups and the waving of foreign flags by some protesters.
Defence chief Christopher Musa after a meeting between security chiefs and President Bola Tinubu on Monday said:
“We are warning in clear terms and the president has also said we should convey this, that we will not accept anybody, any individual flying any foreign flag in Nigeria.
“That is a treasonable offence, and it will be viewed and treated as such. So nobody shall allow himself to be used by any individual.
“Nigeria is a sovereign nation. Nigeria is a democratic nation. All security agencies are here to defend democracy and ensure that democracy continues to strive.
“We will not accept anyone pushing or taking any action, seemingly or for whatever reason, to want to push for any change of government.”
