The House of Representatives has introduced the Counter Subversion Bill 2024, which proposes a fine of N5 million or a 10-year jail term for Nigerians who refuse to sing the national anthem, ‘Nigeria, We Hail Thee’.
The bill also penalizes the destruction of national symbols, such as the flag, with the same fine or imprisonment.
Recall that former Minister Oby Ezekwesili and activist Aisha Yesufu have publicly refused to sing the new anthem, opting for the previous one, ‘Arise O Compatriots’. If the bill is passed, they could face prosecution.
The bill’s sponsor, Speaker Tajudeen Abbas, aims to prevent actions that undermine the government, according to Peoples Gazette.
However, critics argue that the bill infringes on freedom of expression and targets dissenting voices.
The proposed legislation has sparked debate about patriotism, national identity, and the limits of government control.
Meanwhile, a video posted on Ms Yesufu’s X page shortly after the president greenlit the ‘Nigeria, We Hail Thee’ anthem showed her sitting comfortably at a function and leafing through the pages of a magazine where other attendees stood to sing the new anthem.
“#NotMyNationalAnthem” was Ms Yesufu’s caption for the video, which gathered over two million views on X.
In other videos, the activist contended that given the country is battling its worst economic and security crises, the government had more pressing issues requiring immediate attention and action than reverting to the previously old anthem.
Amid heated debates on whether it was right or wrong to disregard the national anthem brazenly, Ms Ezekwesili threw her weight behind Ms Yesufu.
The former minister insisted that “whenever and wherever the national anthem is called for, I shall continue to sing #AriseOCompatriots as #MyNationalAnthem.”
“Definitely #NotMyNationalAnthem as I already publicly conveyed,” the 61-year-old former minister tweeted.
She accused Mr Tinubu and the Senate of not following due process to amend the legislation.
“The lawmakers @nassnigeria and the @NGRPresident grievously breached the constitutional provisions and process for amendment of legislation and therefore cannot foist another national anthem on us,” Ms Ezekwesili stated in June. “I refuse to join them in the Kangaroo Act of violating the Constitution.”
Should the parliament pass the bill and the president assents to it, the government might have good grounds to prosecute Mses Ezekwesili and Yesufu if they refuse to sing the anthem.
