Claim: President Tinubu was flanked by Russian flag during #EndBadGovernance protests
Source: Social media / X
Verdict: FALSE
Researched by Hamza Ibrahim
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Viral posts on social media platforms have suggested that the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, Bola Ahmed Tinubu, stood between the Nigerian and Russian flags during an address following the #EndBadGovernance protests.
The pictures in circulation show the acclaimed Russian flag – red, white and blue – to the left-hand side of Tinubu alongside the recognised green-white-green Nigerian flag during the live telecast carried by most terrestrial TV channels.
The posts especially on X come with different captions such as; “@HQNigerianArmy I see Russian flag always flank BAT with Nigerian flag each time he makes broadcast. I want to understand how it is treasonable when ordinary Nigerian raise the same flag,” X user @Powerbiman posted.
This fact-check seeks to verify the accuracy of the claim.
Background
On August 6, 2024, about 40 persons were arrested in northern Nigeria after hoisting and waving the Russian flag during a planned 6-day #EndBadGovernance protest which also took place in other parts of the country.
The Nigeria Police Force on the same day cautioned the population against the display of foreign flags amidst calls for a military takeover.
“The Nigeria Police Force has issued a stern warning against the display of foreign flags during protests and calls for a military takeover, categorizing such actions as treasonable felonies under Nigerian law. This follows a wave of violent protests, particularly in Bauchi, Kano, Kaduna, and Katsina States, where protesters brandished foreign flags,” a police statement said.
Earlier on August 4, 2024, President Bola Tinubu addressed the country assuring that the concerns raised about the economy and hardship would be attended to.
Fact-check
Juxtaposing the images and the televised video of the president’s address, FactSpace West Africa found that the pictures circulating were edited and portrayed on social media as a Russian flag behind the President during his address.
A 20-minute and 49-second video telecast by Channels TV shows that the flag referred to was not the Russian flag but the Presidential Standard of Nigeria, a flag symbolising the authority of the President as the Commander in Chief of the Nigerian Armed Forces.
The flag behind President Tinubu comprises four colours in the following order: Red, Navy, White and green. Even though there are some similarities with the Russian flag, the flag behind President Tinubu is not the Russian flag.
The Russian flag comprises colours white, blue and red in descending order.
Verdict
The flag behind the Nigerian president is not the Russian flag. Therefore, the claims are false.
