In a statement issued on Tuesday, the sixth day of the protests tagged #EndBadGovernanceInNigeria, the party also demanded the immediate release of all detained activists by security agencies, particularly the Department of State Services (DSS).
The African Action Congress (AAC) has urged President Bola Tinubu to promptly address the grievances of Nigerians protesting against hunger and misgovernance nationwide and cease his diversionary tactics.
In a statement issued on Tuesday, the sixth day of the protests tagged #EndBadGovernanceInNigeria, the party also demanded the immediate release of all detained activists by security agencies, particularly the Department of State Services (DSS).
The AAC accused the Tinubu administration of attempting to distract from the pressing issues by creating diversions, rather than addressing the concerns of Nigerians.
The party's National Publicity Secretary, Femi Adeyeye, stated that the display of Russian flags by alleged protesters in some Northern states, including Kano, Kaduna, Plateau, and Zamfara, was a deliberate attempt to discredit the genuine protests against the All Progressives Congress (APC)-led government's policies, which had exacerbated hunger and bad governance.
"We want to state that at the African Action Congress (AAC), we are not oblivious of their machinations- one of which is the recent display of whatever flags during marches especially in the Northern part of the country. This was designed by these “movie producers” to give the impression that the protest is backed by foreign interests and that it is a call for military take-over.
"We want to state clearly that as a political party, we are strongly opposed to military rule in all forms and these actors should stop this drama. No one is buying it. It is not in the charter of demands Nigerians have presented.
"Nigerians won’t be distracted by the careless acts of Tinubu misdirecting the public that the protest may have been hijacked by foreign interests. These are all lies. They are what the legendary Fela described as “government magic”.
"We call on the Tinubu regime to show seriousness and stop these unintelligent gimmicks fashioned by his actors because poor and hungry Nigerians won’t be distracted by them."
AAC maintained that the protest demands were clear, insisting that until these demands are addressed, "Nigerians will continue protesting on the streets, at embassies across the world, online, at government buildings and everywhere that institutionalize oppression.
"All protesters in detention must be released immediately and unconditionally- Comrades Micheal (Lenin), Babatunde Oluajo (Sankara) amongst others.
"We also call on the military to take heed and stop issuing careless statements. Which power does the military have to adjudge any act as treason? Those the military brutally killed at Lekki- young people who were just on the floor, singing national anthem and waving the Nigerian flag- was that treason also?
"We in fact at this point need to know if the service chiefs are now card-carrying members of either the APC or PDP.
"If the spokespersons of the military do not know how to address civil issues, as it may not be part of their training, it’s better to keep quiet.
"We salute the courage shown so far by Nigerians and we say victory is ahead. Do not relent. When you lose your fear, they lose their power."