…”Military’ll not accept any call for coup” – Defence Chief
…Russia denies involvement
President Bola Tinubu yesterday met with his Security Chiefs, including para-military Heads, 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.
Recall that while the protest festered in some States, the Russian flag with red, blue and white colours was spotted in Kano, Plateau, Kaduna and Zamfara States.
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 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.
The CDS warned in clear terms 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”.
The meeting also 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.
Meanwhile, the Russian Embassy in Nigeria has denied any involvement with a group of protesters in northern Nigeria who were seen waving Russian flags.
The Department of State Service, (DSS), has also confirmed the arrest of a Kano tailor producing the ‘Russian flags’, adding it arrested the suspect along with his sponsors.
In an issued statement, the Embassy said that Russia does not interfere in the internal affairs of other countries, including Nigeria.
It said the actions of the protesters do not reflect any official Russian government policy or position, saying, “The 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”.
