Some supporters of President Bola Tinubu have pushed back against calls for protests in Nigeria inspired by Nepal’s recent youth-led uprising that toppled the country’s prime minister.
In Nepal, Generation Z protesters angered by corruption and police crackdowns took to the streets of Kathmandu, setting fire to government buildings and forcing a leadership change. The violent unrest has since sparked debates across social media, with some Nigerians urging similar action at home.
Juwon Sanyaolu, leader of the Take-it-Back Movement, asked on X (formerly Twitter): “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?”
Another user, Sylvester, warned that Nigerians might soon be “forced” into protests worse than Nepal’s. Others called for demonstrations at Aso Rock Villa.
But pro-government voices pushed back strongly. Former presidential aide Reno Omokri said Nigerians should not copy Nepal.
“We reject for Nigeria the Nepali breakdown of law and order and senseless looting and destruction. Even the Nepali people are now regretting it,” he wrote. He also told protesters to “#StartFromYourStateofOrigin. Not Lagos.”
Comedian Seyi Law echoed the warning, saying revolutions harm ordinary citizens most.
“They will show you burnt buildings and politicians beaten, but they won’t tell you Nepalis are regretting now. Like Geh geh, ‘had I known’ is the last comment of a fool,” he posted.
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The hashtag #StartFromYourStateofOrigin trended on Friday, pushed by pro-government accounts.
Youth leader Bushari Adewale also shared it, writing: “If you want to protest like these Nepali youths, then #StartFromYourStateofOrigin. Not Kwara.”
Civil society groups, however, said the calls reflect Nigeria’s growing frustration. Enefa Georgewill, chairman of Rivers Civil Society Organisations, said government failings have left citizens restless.
“The government must take a clue from Nepal and retrace their steps,” he told Saturday PUNCH.
Debo Adeniran, President of the Committee for the Defence of Human Rights, said Nigeria’s #EndSARS protests differed from Nepal’s, but admitted both were driven by hardship.
He added: “Ongoing youth-focused incentives by the Federal Government could help prevent unrest.”
Cleric Reverend Yomi Kasali warned that Nigeria was not immune to a Nepal-style revolt.
“The poor will think all the wealthy men are criminals. What happened in Nepal can happen in Nigeria. No country is immune to revolution,” he said.
The debate shows deep divisions in Nigeria, with some warning of chaos if protests erupt, while others say worsening economic hardship could trigger another wave of youth-led unrest.