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Claim: A user on X shared a video claiming that the #EndBadGovernance protest had started in Kano State days ahead of the scheduled date.
Verdict: The claim is misleading. The video depicts protests related to the Emirship tussle in Kano State and is not connected to the planned #EndBadGovernance protest on August 1.
Full Text
In recent weeks, both social media and mainstream media in Nigeria have been abuzz with reports about a nationwide protest planned from August 1 to 10. The protest, themed “10 Days of Rage” and “End Bad Governance in Nigeria,” aims to address issues like the rising cost of living and economic hardship.
In response, government officials and security agencies have issued warnings against potential violence, labelling the protests as politically motivated. Despite these warnings, hashtags like #EndBadGovernance, #DaysOfRage, #EndBadGovernanceinNigeria, and #RevolutionNow have gained traction on social media platforms.
The planned protests in Nigeria follow recent demonstrations in Kenya, triggered by proposed tax hikes and widespread outrage over high-level corruption. These demonstrations led to the withdrawal of the tax hike bill and the dissolution of the Kenyan President’s cabinet.
In Nigeria, the main concern is the escalating cost of living, which many attribute to President Bola Tinubu’s economic policies. These policies, including the removal of fuel subsidies and the devaluation of the naira, have led to significant increases in food and commodity prices, sparking the trending hashtag #TinubuMustGo on social media. Also, the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) recently reported that Nigeria’s inflation rate rose to 34.19% in June 2024.
On July 26, 2024, a video surfaced online showing youths holding placards and burning tyres, claiming that the #EndBadGovernance protest had already begun in Kano State days before the scheduled date. The video was posted by G.R.V Stan (@CrownprinceCom2), a verified X user with over 50,000 followers. The caption read:
“This is Northern Nigeria, Kano State, to be precise. Can you repost this video and let them see it. Tinubu, without you doing the needful, you can’t stop a hungry man. The 1st of August is here.”
As of July 29, 2024, the post had garnered over 295,000 views, over 3,200 reposts, and over 4,150 likes.
DUBAWA observed mixed reactions in the comment session, with some people believing the claim and others doubting its authenticity, as seen here, here, and here.
The video was also shared with similar captions, as seen here, here, and here.
Verification
DUBAWA conducted a Google Reverse Image Search on keyframes from the video. The results showed that the video had been online since May 2024, amid protests about the Emirship tussle in Kano State.
Punch Newspaper, Daily Trust, and Vanguard Newspapers posted earlier versions of the video on May 26, 2024. Channels TV also shared similar footage on the same day, reporting on protests in Kano.
The channel’s report stated: “Another protest has erupted in Kano. The protesters are calling for the removal of Muhammadu Sanusi and the reinstatement of Aminu Ado Bayero as the Emir of Kano.”
Upon closer examination of the video posted by the claimant, DUBAWA noticed a TikTok handle, “@ahmad_ak_,” watermarked on the footage. This watermark directed us to the original TikTok post, revealing that the video was uploaded on May 26, 2024, and was then retrieved by the claimant.
These demonstrations followed Kano Governor Abba Yusuf’s signing of a new law repealing the Emirate Council Law 2019, which divided the Kano emirate into five jurisdictions and led to Muhammadu Sanusi’s dethronement in 2020.
Sanusi was reinstated as the 16th Emir of Kano in a ceremony at the government house. At the same time, Bayero, who had returned to Kano and moved into a palace in Nassarawa Local Government Area, was subsequently arrested by the governor’s order. A military presence was stationed to oversee the situation.
In response, protesters carried banners and placards with various messages, demanding Bayero’s reinstatement and denouncing the perceived political motives behind the Emirship dispute, which they argued undermined the traditional institution.
Conclusion
The viral video claiming to show the #EndBadGovernance protest in Kano State is MISLEADING. The video depicts a protest related to the Emirship tussle in Kano State, not the planned protest for August 1.
The researcher produced this fact-check as part of the DUBAWA 2024 Kwame KariKari Fellowship, which is in partnership with Bridge Radio 98.7FM, Asaba, to facilitate the ethos of “truth” in journalism and enhance media literacy in the country.
