A former British diplomat, David Roberts, has issued a warning to the federal government regarding upcoming protests against the rising cost of living scheduled for October. He expressed concerns that foreign interests may be manipulating the organizers behind these demonstrations.
On August 28, 2024, the Coalition of Concerned Nigerian Citizens announced plans for protests in Osogbo, threatening to escalate their actions if the government does not address the soaring cost of living by October 1.
Roberts, who previously served as the director of the British Council in Nigeria, cautioned that foreign entities might exploit the genuine frustrations of Nigerians to destabilize the nation. His comments come in light of recent statements from U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken, who revealed that an African media outlet supported the August #EndBadGovernance protests, which he claimed were part of a covert Russian intelligence operation aimed at destabilizing Nigeria.
“Given the prominent display of Russian flags during the recent protests and considering Blinken’s revelations, Nigeria must exercise caution regarding the planned October 1 demonstration,” Roberts said in a statement. He urged the government to inform citizens about the potential threats posed by these foreign influences.
At a briefing in Washington, Blinken accused the media outlet of acting on behalf of Russia, contradicting its claim to represent African interests. Roberts highlighted that many protesters in the North carried Russian flags during the August demonstrations and called on the federal government to take the potential for further protests seriously, urging preemptive measures.
In response to the protests in August, the federal government stated that external forces were involved and subsequently charged a Briton, David Wynne, along with 12 Nigerians, with treason.
