Former Minister of Education Oby Ezekwesili has sharply criticized Speaker of the House of Representatives Tajudeen Abbas and the National Assembly for proposing the Counter Subversion Bill 2024.
The bill, sponsored by Abbas, seeks to impose severe penalties on Nigerians who refuse to recite the national anthem. Under this bill, individuals could face a fine of N5 million, a 10-year prison term, or both, for non-compliance.
In a response posted on her X (formerly Twitter) account, Ezekwesili condemned the legislation as a misguided distraction that highlights the lawmakers’ detachment from Nigeria’s pressing issues. She expressed her refusal to sing the new national anthem, which was enacted into law by President Bola Tinubu in May, and challenged the National Assembly to take legal action against her.
Ezekwesili stated, “I am confident that Speaker @Speaker_Abbas and @nassnigeria are aware that the #CounterSubversionBill is a nonsensical attempt that underscores the lawmakers’ irrelevance to Nigeria’s real challenges. I will continue to sing the original national anthem, ‘Arise O Compatriots,’ and not the colonial version recently imposed.”
She further criticized the National Assembly, accusing them of undermining Nigeria’s progress through poor governance. “If anyone should be subject to a Subversion Act, it’s you and your colleagues who persistently hinder Nigeria’s advancement through your notorious public missteps,” Ezekwesili remarked.
“The citizens have called for an end to bad governance. You seem oblivious to their demands while the country suffers. Keep up with your irrelevancies if it serves you.”
