Activist, Aisha Yesufu has declared that she would prefer to spend twenty years in prison rather than sing the new national anthem signed into law in 2024 by President Bola Tinubu.... CLICK TO READ THE FULL NEWS HERE▶▶
In May, the National Assembly passed a bill reverting to the old national anthem, “Nigeria, We Hail Thee” from the previous “Arise O Compatriots.”
A bill sponsored by Speaker Tajudeen Abass, seeks to punish offenders who refuse to recite the new national anthem with a fine of N5 million or 10 years in prison.
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”.
Reacting to the Counter Subversion Bill 2024, activist, Aisha Yesufu has vowed never to sing or recognise the new anthem.
Explaining her reasons, Yesufu stated that the new national anthem was passed into law by “slaves masquerading as lawmakers.”
After President Tinubu signed the bill into law, a video showed Aisha Yesufu sitting while others stood as the new national anthem was being played at an event.
Taking to her X page, Aisha Yesufu wrote, “ I will choose 20 years in prison than sing Tinubu’s anthem passed by slaves masquerading as lawmakers in the National Assembly.”
The bill further states that, “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 offense and is liable on conviction to a fine of N3 million or imprisonment for a term of four years or both,” it added
