Former presidential candidate of the African Action Congress (AAC), Omoyele Sowore, has defended the flying of Russian flags during protests, stating that it is not a criminal or treasonable act.
Sowore’s statement comes in response to Chief Bola Tinubu’s directive for security agencies to crack down on individuals displaying foreign flags within Nigeria.
During a briefing with State House correspondents, Chief of Defence Staff Gen Christopher Musa relayed Tinubu’s message, emphasizing that flying any foreign flag in Nigeria constitutes a treasonable offence.
He stated, “We are warning in clear terms, and the president has also said we should convey this: We will not accept anybody, any individual flying any foreign flag in Nigeria.
“That is a treasonable offence, and it will be viewed and treated as such. So, nobody should allow himself to be used by any individual.”
In a post on his official X handle on Tuesday, Sowore criticized the military’s stance as a distraction from the real issues behind the protests.
He argued that Christian leaders often fly Israeli flags in churches, and many people display Palestinian flags in solidarity with the Palestinian cause without facing similar scrutiny.
Sowore accused the government of attempting to divert public attention from the #EndBadGovernanceInNigeria protests against Tinubu’s administration.
He articulated, “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 Palestinian 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 added.
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