A former Director General of the Nigerian Institute of International Affairs, NIIA, Prof. Bola Akinterinwa, has revealed that majority of the EndBadGovernance protesters flying the Russian flag are Nigeriens.
Torizone reports that some protesters in Kano and Zamfara state were recently sighted flying the Russian flag.
There has been a major crack down on the promoters of the idea who are also calling for military rule in Nigeria.
The Department of State Services, DSS, on Monday arrested some persons, including a man believed to be producing the flag.
Speaking on the matter, Akinterimwa said those flying the flag are from Niger, blaming it on the porous border between Nigeria and Niger.
According to him, "the foreigners" displayed the Russian flag to express their displeasure at the position of the Nigerian government which stood against the military takeover in their country.
He said the Nigeriens were angry over the action of the Economic Community of West African States, ECOWAS, chaired by President Bola Tinubu.
In an interview with Daily Trust, Akinterimwa said, "Those who are carrying the Russian flag, what does it mean to them? I'm not sure they know anything beyond the fact that they are supporting Russia rather than the West.
"Are the carriers Nigerians from Kano? My position is that, far from it, they are not likely to be Nigerians. It is only when you consider them Nigerians that you can seriously be more concerned about the implications.
"There is a porous border between Nigeria and Niger, and you have the same ethnic community on both sides of the border; there is no true border between Nigeria and Niger. Consequently, all those who are carrying the Russian flag are basically from Niger.
"They only came to Kano. These are basically foreigners taking advantage to tell the government of Nigeria that Nigeriens are in support of the military junta."
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