- Flying Foreign Flags Within Sovereignty Of Nigeria Is Treason -CDS
- Not Treason, Christians, Muslims Fly Israeli, Palestine Flags-Sowore Kicks
- Promoter, Tailor Sewing Russian Flags Nabbed In Kano
- We Do Not Interfere In Domestic Affairs Of Foreign States- Russia
By Babajide Okeowo, Lawrence Enyoghasu And Adewale Ilesanmi
President Bola Tinubu has ordered a crackdown on those flying the flags of foreign countries during the ongoing nationwide #EndBadGovernance protests in Nigeria.
The president gave the crackdown order on Monday during the Security Council meeting held in the State House, Abuja.
The Matrix reports that instead of the weekly Federal Executive Council (FEC) meeting, the President convened a Security Council meeting.
This has to do with the ongoing nationwide protest across the country which is fast assuming a worrisome trend as the death toll keeps rising while wanton destruction of properties and looting have become the order of the day.
Consequently, the President on Monday met with his security chiefs, including paramilitary heads on where they reviewed the antecedents that have trailed the hunger protests in parts of the country in the last five days.
Tinubu had expressed dismay over the flying of the Russian flags by protesters, where he gave the military chiefs stern directives.
The President is believed to have told the service chiefs that the trend was totally unacceptable and should be curtailed at all cost.
The meeting which lasted for about two hours also reviewed non state actors calling for a change in government, to which the security chiefs said the President has given them a stern directive to maintain peace and orderliness in the country.
According to the presidency and the military chiefs, the Russian flag carrying protesters have crossed the red line and will answer to it soon.
The meeting had in attendance the Vice President Kashim Shettima, the Chief of Staff to the President, Femi Gbajabiamila, the Inspector General of Police, IGP Kayode Egbetokun among others.
The Chief of Defence Staff, CDS, General Christopher Musa who led the Service Chiefs and other military and paramilitary heads to the meeting told State House reporters shortly after the meeting that the actions of the protesters characterised by looting and destruction of public properties justified why the federal government was against the protest from the onset.
General Musa labelled the protest as riot, saying, “we briefed Mr President on the situation on ground and we know that since the riot started all the security agencies you can see all of us together. Initially, when the riot started they said it was a peaceful riot but we have realised that there are individuals that are willing to take advantage of it to cause mayhem.
“We can see clearly what has happened since it commenced. Criminals have taken over, a lot of looting taking place, stealing and all sorts is happening.
“Besides, all of us have seen it, where foreign flags have been flown within the sovereignty of Nigeria, and that is totally unacceptable. 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 offense, and it will be viewed and treated as such. So nobody should allow himself to be used by any individual.
“Also the issue of coups, 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.
“Democracy is what we stand for, democracy is what we will continue to defend. For those flying flags and if you notice a lot of them are kids being pushed to do that.
“We’re following up with those who are sponsoring them. Those that are pushing them because you know, the flags were also made. We have identified those areas and we are going to take serious action against that.
“The President is clear on his instructions for us not to accept anyone that wants to disrupt the peace and tranquility of Nigeria. And we are all standing here together to show Nigerians that we’re working closely, we are working together with synergy to ensure that there’s still peace and tranquility in Nigeria, that we have assured Mr. President”.
According to him, most of those flying the flags are children who are being sponsored, describing the action as crossing the red line.
Countering the CDS, Omoyele Sowore, presidential candidate of the African Action Congress (AAC) in the 2023 election has affirmed that flying a foreign flag does not amount to treason.
Taking to his X platform late on Monday, Sowore disclosed that religious bodies fly foreign flags and they have not being accused of committing treason.
Hear him: “There is no crime flying Russian flags during protests, it is not TREASON. Christian leaders fly Israeli flags in churches, and lots of people fly Palestinian flags in solidarity with the Palestinians struggle.
This is completely diversionary so that Nigerians would forget the reason there is an #EndBadGovernancelnNigeria revolt against the @officialABAT regime.
You’re all acting like you care about the Nigerian flag, if so why did you ask the same @HQNigerianArmy to murder young Nigerians waving Flags and singing national anthem during the #EndSARS uprising in 2020? Bunch of liars! #RevolutionNow” he wrote.
Meanwhile, security agencies have started the clampdown on some suspects for mass-producing the Russian flag.
The Department of State Service (DSS) said it has also nabbed their sponsors in Kano.
Promoters of mass production of the Russian flags in Kano have been arrested in Nasarawa state.
One of the producer, identified as Ahmed Bello was arrested with large quantities of flags in Kano.
The Force Public Relations Officer, Muyiwa Adejobi disclosed this in Abuja on Monday after an X user @FS Yusuf’s disclosure.
@FS Yusuf posted pictures stating that: “The Tailor producing the “Russian Flag” in Kano has been arrested.”
Adejobi during the press briefing said the suspects committed a treasonable felony offence by waving a foreign country’s flag in Nigeria.
In a related development, the Russian Embassy in Nigeria has stated that the Russian government had no involvement with the national flags displayed during the nationwide protest.
In a statement released on Monday, the embassy clarified that neither the Russian government nor its officials were connected to the trend of flying national flags during the hunger protest.
The statement reads: “The Embassy has noted the reports in Nigerian media and the circulation of videos and images in digital media depicting protesters in northern states of the country carrying Russian flags and chanting slogans to Russian President Vladimir Putin.
“The Government of the Russian Federation as well as any Russian officials are not involved in these activities and do not coordinate them in any way.
“As always, we emphasize that Russia does not interfere in the domestic affairs of foreign states, including Nigeria. These intentions of some protesters to wave Russian flags are personal choices of individuals, and they do not reflect any official position or policy of the Russian Government in the issue.
“We respect Nigerian democracy and believe that peaceful demonstrations in conformity with the Nigerian law are a manifestation of democracy. However, should these events lead to any disruptions or acts of violence we strictly condemn them.”
