A new nationwide demonstration over the controversial National Anthem bill is being threatened by the Take It Back Movement, a rights advocacy organization that led the recently-concluded EndBadGovernance protests.
A bill designed to penalize Nigerians who refuse to recite the national anthem is currently on the House of representatives' floor, according to media reports.
The bill sponsored by Speaker Tajudeen Abbas aims to penalize individuals who destroy national symbols or refuse to recite the national anthem or pledge with either a fine of N5 million or 10 years of imprisonment.
On Wednesday, the Take It Back Movement issued a statement that strongly rejected the bill, stating that it jeopardizes the fundamental rights of Nigerians.
According to the statement signed by the organization’s National Coordinator, Juwon Sanyaolu, the “bill should be discarded and not be passed into law, rather the government should redirect their efforts toward tackling the underlying factors that contribute to discord and strife within our country”.
A nationwide protest was threatened by them if the bill was passed into law despite public outrage.
Part of the statement reads, “As a pro-people’s movement dedicated to justice and progress, we have observed significant public backlash against the bill, as citizens express their discontent.
“We perceive this legislation as an effort to stifle the rights of Nigerians, and we proudly stand with the people in raising our voices to condemn this unfair proposal.
“In solidarity with the people of Nigeria, we unequivocally denounce this proposed repressive legislation and vow to protect the constitutional rights of Nigerians.
“We will stop at nothing to protect whatever is left of our democratic rights as Nigerians, including mobilizing Nigerians to the streets if this draconian bill is not withdrawn immediately”, he said.
Recall that on the 1st of August,, young Nigerians took to the streets on a 10-day #EndBadGovernance protests. They went on the streets to demand economic and political reforms, with the aim of reversing certain government policies. Policies like the removal of petrol subsidy and the floating of the naira have led to Nigeria’s worst cost-of-living crisis in a generation as prices of goods and services more than doubled.
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