You Must Take #EndBadGovernance Protests Seriously, Or Else; Brig. Gen. Temlong Tells Tinubu
The inaugural commander of the Multinational Joint Task Force has said that displaying the Russian national flag during the #EndBadGovernance protests constitutes a serious crime, punishable as a felony and treasonable offence.
In an interview with Channels TV on Tuesday, Brigadier General Jonathan Temlong, said, “Some of the #EndBadGovernanceInNigeria protesters might not even know the colour of the Russian flag.”
He, however, described waving Russian flags during the protests as a “felony and is a treasonable offence”.
The ongoing protests, which commenced on August 1 and are scheduled to continue until August 10, have taken a curious turn with demonstrators in Kano, Kaduna and some other northern states waving Russian flags. This unexpected display has sparked concerns and raised eyebrows, prompting questions about the true motives and affiliations of the protesters.
“What is the message of the flag they are carrying? Are they calling for the military to take over? This is the question the federal government should be asking,” Temlong emphasised during the interview.
Temlong urged the Nigerian government to take the protesters’ actions seriously.
“The federal government shouldn’t underrate what the protesters are doing and what their intentions are by just looking at the face value,” he warned.
Despite the gravity of the situation, Temlong noted that many protesters might be unaware of the implications of their actions. “These people are innocent people,” he remarked.
The #EndBadGovernanceInNigeria movement has brought to the forefront the deep-seated frustrations with the current government.
However, the incorporation of foreign symbols, such as the Russian flag, has introduced a contentious element to the protests, sparking worries about possible external interference or a more profound disillusionment among the people.
Brigadier General Temlong’s observations underscore the intricacy of the issue and the need for the government to establish a constructive dialogue with the protesters to address their grievances and find a peaceful resolution.
