BY GODWIN OBI
Prominent national figures have continued to criticize the proposed House of Representatives bill that would impose a 10-year prison sentence on those who refuse to recite the national anthem.
The Bill, sponsored by Speaker Tajudeen Abbas, is set for its second reading, where its general principles will be debated.
In May, President Bola Tinubu signed into law the bill to revert to Nigeria’s old national anthem which was dropped by a military government in 1978.
The newly re-adopted anthem, which begins “Nigeria, We Hail Thee,” was written by Lillian Jean Williams in 1959 and composed by Frances Berda.
The Bill “stipulates that anyone found guilty of destroying national symbols, refusing to recite the national anthem and pledge, defacing a place of worship with intent to incite violence, or undermining the Federal Government shall face a fine of N5 million, a 10-year prison sentence, or both”.
The Bill also “states that anyone who sets up an illegal roadblock performs unauthorised traffic duties, imposes an illegal curfew, or organises an unlawful procession will be subject to a fine of N2 million, five years in prison, or both upon conviction”.
Also, any person who “forcefully takes over any place of worship, town hall, school premises, public or private place, arena, or a similar place through duress, undue influence, subterfuge or other similar activities, commits an offence and is liable on conviction to a fine of N5 million or imprisonment for a term of 10 years or both”.
“A person who professes loyalty, pledges or agrees to belong to an organisation that disregards the sovereignty of Nigeria, commits an offence and is liable on conviction to a fine of N3 million or imprisonment for a term of four years or both,” it also added among others.
Following the reintroduction of the old national anthem, a Nigerian Activist, Aisha Yesufu in May was seen sitting while the anthem was being recited.
She had insisted that she would rather sing the ‘Arise O Compatriots’ or remain mute while it is in progress.
On Wednesday, she again tweeted on X that she “Will choose 20 years in prison than sing Tinubu’s anthem passed by slaves masquerading as lawmakers in the National Assembly.”
Similarly, in a tweet on X, the former minister for solid minerals Obiageli Ezekwesili argued that “whenever and wherever the national anthem is called for, I shall continue to sing #AriseOCompatriots as #MyNationalAnthem.”
She tweeted, “I am certain that the Speaker of the @HouseNGR, @Speaker_Abbas, and @nassnigeria knows this for a fact.
“ Surely, he must know that the so-called #CounterSubversionBill which he introduced- and alleged to be in its second reading – is a silly flight of fancy that further reveals how unserious and irrelevant the lawmakers are to the Nigerian condition.
“I for example have kept my public statement and only stand and sing the REAL Nigerian National Anthem (Arise O Compatriots), never the Colonial and “tribal” one that he and his colleagues conspired with @NGRPresident and kangarooed into “law” in violation of Constitutional processes.
“Get ready to “prosecute” me when you pass your noxious #CounterSubversionBill into an Act. But before then, please note that if there is any group of Nigerians that deserve a Subversion Act, it is you and your colleagues at the @nassnigeria who consistently subvert the progress of Nigeria and her people through your legendary public misdemeanors that accumulate into Bad Governance.
“Your citizens have spoken up in unison asking you and your colleagues in the Executive and Judicial Arms to #EndBadGovernanceInNigeria . You obviously have still not heard the ticking chimes of time. Continue with your irrelevancies while the country totters….. continue if it pays you.”
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