Concerned Nigerlite Forum condemns hoisting of foreign flag by protesters
The Concerned Nigerlites Forum has condemned hoisting of Russian national flag by protesters in some parts of the country during the #EndBadGovernance protest.
The Convener of the Forum, Abduljalil Alhaji Yahaya, said this in a press statement where he expressed dismay with the events that transpired during the recent uncoordinated protest where violence erupted in some state.
He said there was a clear attempt by external forces to destabilize and sow political chaos in Nigeria, a sovereign nation, through forcible regime change.
“The actions of these foreign actors and their accomplices not only took us by surprise but also saddened us deeply.
“The display of another country’s flag as part of a larger conspiracy to undermine Nigeria’s democracy and incite widespread crisis, destruction, confusion, distrust, and political instability is unacceptable.
“It is a direct violation of Nigeria’s sovereignty and democratic principles,” he said.
He said the forum, civil society groups, and student representatives in Niger State called on the Federal Government to take immediate action to identify and prosecute foreign individuals and organisations involved, directly or indirectly, in attempts to sabotage Nigeria.
Yahaya said the Federal government should engagewith foreign governments to clarify their roles and seek assistance to achieve a peaceful resolution.
He urged the Federal to implement initiatives aimed at alleviating the suffering of Nigerians such as hunger and high cost of governance as well as collaborate with international organizations such as the African Union and the United Nations to access expertise, resources, and diplomatic support.
He also urged the Federal government to condemn the activities of foreign governments and hold foreign agents accountable, especially those actively working against Nigeria’s stability and sovereignty.
He noted that taking decisive action would send a clear message to the international community that Nigeria will not tolerate foreign interference in its internal affairs.
He noted that enhanced security measures should be taken to prevent similar incidents in the future by closely monitoring and regulating foreign entities operating within Nigerian borders to ensure compliance with Nigerian laws and values.
Others were for the Federal government to evaluate Nigeria’s foreign policy to ensure alignment with national interests and the promotion of regional stability.
He, however said that democracy recognises the significance of dissenting voices and allows citizens to express disagreement with government policies, but resorting to violent protests and seeking foreign intervention to destabilize Nigeria was totally unpatriotic.
He reiterated the call of the forum to all Nigerians to be vigilant in identifying and exposing foreign agents seeking to undermine and create political instability in our country.
