Omoyele Sowore, Convener of the #RevolutionNow Movement, has strongly criticised the House of Representatives for introducing the Counter-Subversion Bill 2024.
This bill proposes severe penalties for Nigerians who fail to recite the national anthem among others.
Sowore, a former presidential candidate of the African Action Congress (AAC) in the 2023 general elections, described the bill as “buffoonery” and predicted that it will lead to an earlier-than-expected resurgence of the #EndBadGovernance movement.
Reacting to the House of Representatives’ introduction of the Counter Subversion Bill, Sowore in a post on his X account on Wednesday, said, “The buffoonery of this “House of Twerps” is the reason #FearlessInOctober #EndBadGovernancelnNigeria revolt might resume earlier than usual.”
Sowore, in an interview with SaharaReporters, called on the federal lawmakers to promptly withdraw the proposed controversial legislation or face a shutdown of the National Assembly.
“I am asking them to discontinue the bill as soon as possible or face a shutdown of the National Assembly,” he said.
The organisers of the recently concluded 10-day nationwide protests in Nigeria, dubbed #EndBadGovernance, have issued a stern warning to President Bola Tinubu’s administration, stating that they will resume the protests on October 1 if their demands are not met in full, as earlier reported by SundiataPost.
During an interview on News Central TV on Saturday, the final day of the protests, Sowore confirmed the ultimatum.
However, in a recent development, SaharaReporters reported on Tuesday that the House of Representatives had introduced the Counter Subversion Bill 2024. This proposed legislation stipulates that individuals found guilty of failing to recite the national anthem will face severe penalties, including a fine of N5 million, a 10-year prison sentence, or both.
Additionally, the proposed legislation stipulates that individuals who vandalise or destroy national symbols or places of worship shall face identical penalties, including a fine of N5 million, a 10-year prison sentence, or both.
The Bill, sponsored by Speaker Tajudeen Abbas, which is set for its second reading, where its general principles will be debated, “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 added among others.
