Group condemns proposed counter-subversion bill

The Take It Back Movement has condemned the Counter Subversion Bill 2024, sponsored by the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Tajudeen Abbas.

In a statement co-signed by the movement’s National Coordinator, Juwon Sanyaolu, and Public Relations Officer, Stephen Olabiyi, the group said the bill threatens Nigerians’ fundamental rights and contradicts the core principles of freedom of speech, movement, and assembly that underpin democracy.

The bill, which is reportedly awaiting its second reading, prescribes, among others, 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 TIBM demanded that the bill be discarded and not be passed into law while charging the House of Reps to prioritize more critical concerns such as widespread hunger and the pervasive poverty, which had severely impacted the people of Nigeria.

The statement reads, “We at the Take It Back Movement vehemently condemn the proposed Counter Subversion Bill introduced on August 14th, 2024, by Tajudeen Abass, Speaker of the House of Representatives.

“This bill threatens the fundamental rights of Nigerians, and it seeks to impose excessive penalties on citizens for refusing to recite the national anthem. It also criminalizes civil actions deemed subversive to the government.

“This proposed legislation contradicts the core principles of freedom of speech, assembly, and demonstration that underpin any democratic society.

“Hence, we demand that this bill should be discarded and not be passed into law; rather, the government should redirect its efforts toward tackling the underlying factors that contribute to discord and strife within our country.

“We further charge the House of Representatives to prioritize critical concerns such as widespread hunger, rampant mismanagement, and pervasive poverty, which have severely impacted the people of Nigeria.”

The group said it perceived the legislation as an effort to stifle the rights of Nigerians, adding that it “unequivocally” denounced the “proposed repressive legislation”, vowing to protect the constitutional rights of Nigerians.