The groups said the bill which generated nationwide outrage was written in a fascist language that is unacceptable to law-abiding and democratic Nigerians.
Concerned Nigerians Group and the Centre for Liberty have demanded the immediate resignation of the House of Representatives Speaker, Tajudeen Abbas, over his sponsorship of the now withdrawn Counter Subversion Bill.
The groups said the bill which generated nationwide outrage was written in a fascist language that is unacceptable to law-abiding and democratic Nigerians.
In a statement jointly signed by Raphael Adebayo of Centre for Liberty and Theophilus Agada of Concerned Nigerians Group, and sent to SaharaReporters on Wednesday, the groups said that the Counter Subversion Bill is enough proof that the Speaker neither serves the interests of his constituents nor the interests of the majority of Nigerians.
The statement reads, “We have followed with utmost vexation the unbefitting lack of restraint displayed by the leadership of the Lower Chamber of the Tenth Nigerian National Assembly.
“The Counter Subversion Bill, as proposed by Mr Tajudeen Abbas, the Speaker of the Federal House of Representatives and lawmaker representing Zaria Federal Constituency, was written in a fascist language, which is unacceptable to law-abiding and democratic Nigerians.
“The proposed Bill, which has now been shamefully withdrawn due to the strong opposition of peace-loving Nigerians, prescribed between 10-year and 25-year jail terms, N5 million, or all for such trivial reasons as citizens’ refusal to recite the colonial national anthem or exercise of their constitutionally guaranteed rights.
“We believe that the Counter Subversion Bill is enough proof that Mr Tajudeen Abbas neither serves the interests of his constituents nor the interests of the majority of Nigerians at the Green Chamber.
“We, therefore, use this opportunity to call on Mr Tajudeen Abbas to immediately resign his position as Speaker of the Federal House of Representatives and a member of the same house within the next seven days.
“This demand is of vital importance because Mr Abbas, through his fascist Counter Subversion Bill, has caused severe distress to Nigerians who believe their constitutionally guaranteed rights in a democracy were wickedly threatened.
“We equally call on the constituents of Mr Abbas, the good people of Zaria Federal Constituency, to keep a close eye on their representative’s actions in the next seven days.”
“We will be ready to support them in their constitutionally guaranteed right to recall Mr Abbas from office if he refuses to resign,” the statement adds.
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