Protests in Nigeria: On hoisting foreign flags and the treason debate

President Bola Tinubu 

Recently, the move was branded treasonable by President Bola Tinubu as he also declared foreign flags hoisting at protests in Nigeria an act of terrorism. Such a statement has generated much debate surrounding what is and what is not allowed legally from other sovereign nations as well, leading many to question the difference between freedom of speech and national jurisdiction.


Understanding the controversy

Key to the debate was the tension between exercising democratic rights for protest and being loyal to your nation. Protests are part of the normal democratic expression that allows citizens to make their voices heard and demands known from the government. Foreign flags have been hoisted during these protests making one wonder the intentions of those protesting and whether or not such actions infringe on Nigeria's sovereignty.

The position of President Tinubu shows that a new spirit prevails: the unity of Nigeria, and youth are symbols. He posits that flying a foreign flag on Nigerian soil, especially during protest, can be seen as treasonable or even an invitation for imperial aggression. This has caused such actions to be interpreted as treasonable, a crime that carries heavy legal ramifications.


Multiple Viewpoints

Some support the stance of President Tinubu, who believes that flying foreign flags is an affront to Nigeria's sovereignty itself while others take a position that has been dismissed as merely a symbolic act indicating international solidarity or lobbying for global attention to specific problems. For example, there is the issue of someone waving a xenophobic foreign flag in danger to be interpreted as unreliable: which would not necessarily have anything to do with an avowedly spiritual stance or criticism by nationalism that also requires human rights protests about nature righteousness above national borders.

The phraseology has prompted detractors to contend that the charge is tantamount to simply advocating basic rights, any act that could be seen as stifling free expression and dissuading individuals from participating in protests at all. They highlight the duty to protect a constitutional right of every Nigerian, that is they warn against conflating symbols with safety threats.


Present solutions and facilitate discussion

Let in - good, bad, and boring (and please keep it balanced with respect for the middle of this), Certainly, national unity and sovereignty are essential to protect, yet so too is the protection of freedoms that underpin a democratic society. That means the freedom of speech, to peacefully protest and express oneself; even if those expressions sometimes clash with traditional symbols of nationalism.


Conclusion

In fact, the debate over whether it is appropriate to hoist foreign flags at protests in Nigeria only serves to reveal a deeper issue relating to both national sovereignty and democratic freedoms. We are citizens who have a right to articulate our opinions, by listening without fear or recrimination and engaging in thoughtful discussion on these vital issues with one another as fellow Americans.