Nigerians have reacted to the viral report that the House of Representatives has introduced the Counter Subversion Bill 2024 which aims to impose strict penalties on Nigerians who fail to recite the national anthem.... CLICK TO READ THE FULL NEWS HERE▶▶
According to the proposed legislation, citizens found guilty of refusing to recite the national anthem shall be fined N5 million, face a 10-year prison sentence, or both.
The legislation that should be passed will punish anyone who destroys a national symbol or a place of worship.
The Bill, sponsored by Speaker Tajudeen Abbas, is set for its second reading, where its general principles will be debated.
The Bill “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 also added among others.
In May, President Bola Tinubu signed into law the bill to revert to Nigeria’s old national anthem which was dropped by a military government in 1978.
The newly re-adopted anthem, which begins “Nigeria, We Hail Thee,” was written by Lillian Jean Williams in 1959 and composed by Frances Berda.
The reports have generated mixed reactions
chidimanuel1 wrote: Police: Hey stop there! We are on Stop and recite the National anthem.
Nobody: oga I no Sabi
Police: Officer arrests him. cell go full
razzyisking: Make Tinubu first recite am!!! Lead by example sir!!!
lastborn445 wrote: Prison go full button>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
rosythrone said: Thunder from Ogun state strike all these leaders and in fact strike their partners too for following werey pple
ceo_ironside commented: I did not refuse, I have memory loss I read and forget.. I want to bet that 80% of them old heads can’t recite it accurately..
litsoman001 wrote: Shey the national anthem na ritual oath?
