By Chesa Chesa
The nation’s security chiefs on Monday met with President Bola Tinubu to review the ongoing nationwide protests against hunger and bad governance, and vowed afterwards to resist any attempt to to turn the situation to unlawful change of government.
The meeting held at the Aso Rock Villa, on Day 5 of the protests, which have turned riotous in some cities courtesy of hoodlums, while some persons have flown Russian flags in Kaduna State.
Emerging from the meeting, Chief of Defence Staff, General Chris Musa, declared to State House correspondents that “we will not accept anyone pushing or taking any action, seemingly or for whatever reason to want to push for any change of government.
“Democracy is what we stand for, democracy is what will continue to defend.”
Musa, who spoke as he was flanked by other security chiefs stressed that “we are warning in clear terms and the President has also said we should convey this, that we will not accept anybody, any individual flying any foreign flag in Nigeria. That is treasonable offense, and it will be viewed and treated as such.”
General Musa pointed out in details that “initially, when the riot started they said it was a peaceful riot but we have realised that there are individuals that are willing to take advantage of it to cause mayhem.
“And we can see clearly what has happened since it has commenced. Criminals have taken over, a lot of looting taking place, stealing and all sorts happening.
“Besides, all of us have seen it where foreign flags have been flown within the sovereignty of Nigeria, and that is totally unacceptable. We are warning in clear terms and the President has also said we should convey this, that we will not accept anybody, any individual flying any foreign flag in Nigeria.
“That is treasonable offense, and it will be viewed and treated as such. So nobody shall 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 thrive.
“We will not accept anyone pushing or taking any action, seemingly or for whatever reason to want to push for any change of government. Democracy is what we stand for democracy is what will continue to defend.
“For those of them flying flags and if you’ll see a lot of them are kids being pushed to do that. We’re following up with those who are sponsoring them. Those are pushing them because you know, the flags were also made. We have identified those areas and we are going to take serious action against that.
“The President is clear on his instructions for us not to accept anyone that wants to disrupt the peace and tranquility of Nigeria. And we are all standing here together to show Nigerians that we’re working closely, we are working together with synergy to ensure that there’s still peace and tranquility in Nigeria that we have assured Mr. President of that.”
Asked to respond to viral video of some soldiers seemingly partaking in the looting in one of the states, the Defence Chief said: “No. I think it has been cleared, I think it was also a misconception. They actually have seen those things and they wanted to clear them away from that area and that’s what was done.
“The Chief of army Staff is here, we have investigated thoroughly and there is nothing like such, no member of the Armed Forces fell into doing that.”
He added that “the military is going to step in when it is out of hand and you can see that for people supervising elements to push individuals to carry Russian flags in Nigeria, that is crossing the red line and we will not accept that.
“And those ones who have done that will go in for the books and they will be prosecuted.”
