Some supporters of President Bola Tinubu have cautioned against calls for mass protests in Nigeria inspired by recent Gen Z-led demonstrations in Nepal, warning that such actions could trigger unrest worse than the #EndSARS movement.
The agitation follows Nepal’s political upheaval where protests against corruption and the lavish lifestyles of politicians led to the ouster of a prime minister, deadly unrest, and the burning of key government institutions in Kathmandu. The events, amplified on social media, have stirred conversations among Nigerian youths on whether similar action should be taken against the political elite.
Juwon Sanyaolu, leader of the Take-it-Back Movement, drew parallels between global youth-led uprisings, noting on X: “In 2020, Americans had Black Lives Matter. Nigerians were inspired; we did #EndSARS in the same year. In 2024, Kenya had a Finance Bill protest. It inspired us, and then we had #EndBadGovernance protest. It’s 2025. Will Nigerian youths take lessons from Nepal?” Other users echoed the call, with some urging protests to be staged at Aso Rock Villa.
However, pro-government voices have pushed back strongly. A former presidential aide, Reno Omokri, rejected comparisons with Nepal, stating: “We reject for Nigeria the Nepali breakdown of law and order and senseless looting and destruction of public and private property that has been mislabelled as a protest. Even the Nepali people are now regretting it.” He urged security agencies to monitor provocateurs and insisted that protests should not be staged in Lagos.
Comedian and actor Seyi Law also condemned excitement over Nepal’s unrest, warning that such revolts ultimately harm ordinary citizens. “They are happy about Nepal until rebuilding becomes a problem. They will never learn from Libya. They think revolution won’t affect the politicians they love. Keep fanning what you can’t sustain, and remember to start in your region,” he posted on X.
Findings showed that the hashtag #StartFromYourStateofOrigin trended widely on Friday, circulated by pro-government accounts and amplified by groups such as the Nigeria Youth Advocate.
Civil society leaders, meanwhile, expressed mixed reactions. Enefa Georgewill, chairman of the Rivers Civil Society Organisations, criticised Nigeria’s leadership for failing to deliver reforms, urging the government to “take a clue from what the Nepalese people have done and retrace their steps.” Debo Adeniran, president of the Committee for the Defence of Human Rights, noted key differences between Nepal’s revolt and Nigeria’s #EndSARS protests, while stressing that hardship in the country mirrored Nepal’s frustrations. He argued that ongoing youth-focused incentives could help prevent unrest.
Reverend Yomi Kasali, General Overseer of the Foundation of Truth Assembly and former Director General of Yemi Osinbajo’s 2019 presidential campaign, warned that Nigeria was not immune to revolution. Citing the weight of economic hardship, he said: “What happened in Nepal two, three days ago, can happen in Nigeria. No country is immune to revolution. The myth that it can’t happen here may not happen, may not be in our time.”
Kasali cautioned that in times of deep poverty, the poor may indiscriminately target the wealthy, leading to violence against both the guilty and the innocent. He urged churches to do more to support the government and assist vulnerable citizens to mitigate the risks of social upheaval.
