Counter subversion bill is parliamentary coup against Nigerians – Lawyer Inibehe, Ex-Minister Ezekwesili

Human rights lawyer Inibehe Effiong has criticized the House of Representatives for introducing the Counter Subversion Bill 2024, which seeks to impose severe penalties on Nigerians who refuse to recite the national anthem. Effiong denounced the bill as nonsensical, authoritarian, and a legislative attack on Nigeria’s democracy, aiming to undermine the country’s democratic framework.

Effiong made these comments in a post on his X account in response to the bill, which is sponsored by House Speaker Tajudeen Abbas and is approaching its second reading for a debate on its general principles. The proposed bill stipulates fines of N5 million and/or a 10-year prison sentence for those who refuse to recite the national anthem or who damage national symbols or places of worship.

Effiong stated, “Parliamentary coup plotters are out again to overthrow our democracy with this absurd and repressive bill. I hope Nigerians, regardless of their political views, will collectively reject and resist this outrageous proposal. The bill seeks to further erode our fundamental rights to freedom of expression and peaceful assembly. The House Speaker is trying to dismantle what remains of Nigeria’s democratic experiment. We must fight this bill in its entirety. If it passes, we will effectively lose our right to dissent in Nigeria.”

In a similar vein, former Minister of Education Oby Ezekwesili criticized the House Speaker and other lawmakers for their involvement in the bill, calling it a misguided effort that underscores their detachment from Nigeria’s real issues. Ezekwesili, also a former World Bank Vice President, suggested that the government should be prepared to “prosecute” her if the bill becomes law. She argued that the true subversion of Nigeria comes from the House Speaker and his colleagues, who, in her view, hinder Nigeria’s progress through their repeated public misconduct and poor governance.

Ezekwesili said, “The Speaker of the House of Representatives must know that the #CounterSubversionBill he introduced is a frivolous attempt that highlights the lawmakers’ lack of seriousness and relevance to Nigeria’s issues. I have publicly denounced the colonial and tribal versions of the national anthem and only stand by the real Nigerian anthem. Should this bill become law, I am prepared to be prosecuted. However, it is the House Speaker and his colleagues who truly deserve scrutiny for their consistent undermining of Nigeria’s progress through their egregious public errors and poor governance. Citizens have demanded an end to bad governance. The lawmakers continue to ignore these demands, remaining irrelevant as the country struggles.”