Group Labels Use Of Russian Flags In #EndBadGovernance Protests As Deliberate Govt Ploy To Discredit Demonstrations
The Coalition warned Nigerians to be aware of this tactic, which aims to undermine the legitimacy of the nationwide protests and urged them to remain vigilant against such attempts to hijack the narrative.
The Global Coordinator of the Global Coalition for Security & Democracy in Nigeria (GCSDN) has denounced the display of the Russian flag during a recent #EndBadGovernance protest, labeling it a deliberate attempt to discredit the peaceful movement.
The Coalition warned Nigerians to be aware of this tactic, which aims to undermine the legitimacy of the nationwide protests and urged them to remain vigilant against such attempts to hijack the narrative.
It described it as an “army arrangement” designed to discredit the peaceful demonstrations.
In a statement released on Wednesday, the Coordinator of GCSDN, Comrade Frederick Odorige, said, “Nigerians must refuse to be fooled by the introduction of the Russian flag at the peaceful hunger strike. It is simply what the late Fela Anikulapo Kuti called ‘army arrangement.'”
Odorige said that, as usual, the All Progressives Congress party might give the protesting children foreign flags, just as they typically distribute voter cards during elections.
He said, “They probably told them to fly the flags in order to politicize the peaceful protest and attract undue debates, condemnation, distraction, and sympathy.
“Are they not the same persons lying that the police did not kill the 17 persons which they killed? They ensured that the 17 persons that were killed matched the number of 17 soldiers killed at Okuama.
“Did the army not lie that they did not kill anyone at Okuama and Lekki toll gate?
“They will later release the boys secretly the way they released Kabiru Sokoto the terrorist and co-conspirator of APC.
“Did Buhari not bring politicians from Niger Republic to campaign and vote? Which of them were jailed? In appreciation for their support, did Buhari not borrow money in our names to construct a railway from Nigeria to Niger republic?”
He explained that a human rights lawyer, Inibehe Effiong, had given a TV interview in which he questioned the ongoing intimidation by the Department of States Services before every protest.
According to him, without providing evidence or making arrests, the security agency often claims, before any protest, that they have uncovered plans by certain individuals to destabilize the country.
He said, “Suddenly, after this interview, there is an ‘arrangee’ tailor from Niger Republic that sews Russian flags in Abdullahi Ganduje’s Kano! Believe their Niger Republic conspiracy theory at your peril.
“The DSS and Army simply want to make Nigerians believe that the phantom security report which they “uncovered” before the protest is real. This is unconvincing display of efficiency.”
He clarified that they are simply drawing an analogy between the current situation and the German invasion of Poland in September 1939, highlighting the similarities between the two events.
Odorige said, “The Germans wore Polish army uniforms and started destroying some insignificant structures in Germany. Thereafter, the pretending Germans screamed that they were being attacked by Polish soldiers. Based on their tailor-made “arrangee”, they attacked Poland, especially Warsaw the capital city.
“When Nazi Germany Adolf Hitler asked his minister of information how the invasion transpired in Warsaw, he replied thus: Warsaw saw War and War saw Warsaw.
“That same German phrase was used by Godswill Akpabio in 2018 when he was preparing to contest as senator in Akwa Ibom state in 2019 – after 8 years in office as governor. Akpabio threatened that his conquest of Akwa Ibom in 2019 would be likened to Adolf Hitler’s conquest of Warsaw. During a funeral service at a church in Enugu, Akpabio said that ‘Warsaw saw war and war saw Warsaw.’
“We can’t talk politics in the church but in 2019 Warsaw shall see war and war shall see Warsaw. The return will be a victory.”
