Inibehe described the Bill as silly, draconian and a parliamentary coup against Nigerians, aimed at overthrowing Nigeria’s democracy and to destroy whatever is left of Nigeria’s democratic experiment.
Human rights lawyer, Inibehe Effiong, has berated the House of Representatives over the introduction of the Counter Subversion Bill 2024, which aims to impose stringent penalties on Nigerians who fail to recite the national anthem.
Inibehe described the Bill as silly, draconian and a parliamentary coup against Nigerians, aimed at overthrowing Nigeria’s democracy and to destroy whatever is left of Nigeria’s democratic experiment.
Inibehe said this in a post on his X account while reacting to the introduction of the Counter Subversion Bill 2024 sponsored by the House Speaker Tajudeen Abbas, and is set for its second reading, where its general principles will be debated.
According to the proposed legislation, anyone found guilty of refusing to recite the national anthem shall be fined N5 million, face a 10-year prison sentence, or both.
Anyone who destroys a national symbol or a place of worship shall be liable to the same punishment.
Reacting, Inibehe said, “Parliamentary coup plotters are out again to overthrow our democracy with this silly and draconian bill.
“I am hoping that Nigerians, irrespective of their political leanings, will unanimously reject and resist this insane bill.
“Those who are subverting our country through corruption and anti-people actions, are seeking to further cripple our fundamental rights to freedom of expression and peaceful assembly.
“The Speaker of the House of Reps wants to destroy whatever is left of Nigeria’s democratic experiment.
“We must fight and reject this bill in its entirety. If this ungodly bill is passed, we can officially kiss the right to dissent in Nigeria a goodbye.”
https://x.com/inibeheeffiong/s
Similarly, the former Minister of Education, Oby Ezekwesili, while berating the House Speaker and his colleagues over the Bill, said that the Counter Subversion Bill is a silly flight of fancy that further reveals how “unserious and irrelevant” the lawmakers are to the Nigerian condition.
Ezekwesili, a former World Bank Vice President, said that the Nigerian government should be ready to “prosecute” her when the Counter Subversion Bill is passed into an Act.
She said that if there is any group of Nigerians that deserve a Subversion Act, it is the House Speaker and his colleagues at the National Assembly, who according to her, consistently subvert the progress of Nigeria and Nigerians through their legendary public misdemeanors that accumulate into bad governance.
Ezekwesili said, “I am certain that the Speaker of the @HouseNGR @Speaker_Abbas @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.”
https://x.com/obyezeks/status/