The Take It Back Movement (TIBM) has announced plans for nationwide demonstrations in response to the Counter Subversion Bill 2024, introduced by Speaker Tajudeen Abbas. The group has strongly condemned the proposed legislation, describing it as a threat to Nigerians’ fundamental rights and a contradiction to the core principles of freedom of speech, movement, and assembly that underpin democracy.
The bill, which is currently awaiting its second reading, seeks to impose severe penalties on individuals found guilty of various offenses. These include a fine of N5 million, a 10-year prison sentence, or both for refusing to recite the national anthem, destroying national symbols, defacing places of worship with intent to incite violence, or undermining the Federal Government.
In a statement co-signed by TIBM’s National Coordinator, Juwon Sanyaolu, and Public Relations Officer, Stephen Olabiyi, the group demanded that the bill be discarded and not passed into law. They called on the House of Representatives to prioritize more critical concerns such as widespread hunger, rampant mismanagement, and pervasive poverty that have severely impacted the people of Nigeria.
Speaker Tajudeen Abbas has clarified that the bill aims to bolster Nigeria’s anti-terrorism measures by targeting subversive activities. However, TIBM perceives the legislation as an effort to stifle the rights of Nigerians and has vowed to protect the constitutional rights of citizens, including mobilizing them to the streets if the bill is not withdrawn immediately.Omoyele Sowore, Convener of the #RevolutionNow Movement, has also strongly criticized the Counter Subversion Bill, describing it as “buffoonery” and predicting that it will lead to an earlier-than-expected resurgence of the #EndBadGovernance movement. Sowore has issued an ultimatum to federal lawmakers, calling for the prompt withdrawal of the proposed controversial legislation or face a shutdown of the National Assembly.
As the debate surrounding the Counter Subversion Bill intensifies, the Take It Back Movement and other civil society groups remain steadfast in their opposition, highlighting the potential consequences of the bill on Nigeria’s democratic freedoms.