By Olusola Adigun
A faction of the Labour Party (LP) led by Lamidi Apapa has called on the Attorney-General of the federation to institute a lawsuit against right activists Aisha Yesufu and former minister, Obi Ezekwisili for the their refusal to publicly recite the new national anthem.
President Bola Tinubu had in May signed a law to bring back then-old national anthem to replace the popular “Arise O’compatriots” but almost immediately after the signing, Ezekwesili announced her decision not to neither regard the national anthem nor recite it. In a similar development, popular #EndSARS Campaigner, Aisha Yesufu refised to joined others in reciting the anthem at a recent public function.
Spokesperson of the LP faction, Dr Abayomi Arabambi, in a statement on Monday, called on the government to immediately prosecute the two ladies for their civil disobedience.
Arabambi said: “It’s now very clear that this duo… appears to now demonically, satanically and irrevocably committed to their ungodly, aggressive, frightful attack on the Government of Nigeria by undermining our constitution since the declaration by INEC and subsequent sworn -in of Bola Ahmed Tinubu as president of Nigeria whose election was also constitutionally affirmed by the supreme Court.
“It is therefore pertinent at this juncture to remind those haters of our democracy that such actions are considered as an affront against the National Assembly, the Nigerian state and can incur serious legal consequences including death
“The Nigerian National Anthem Act stipulates that failure to stand during the rendition of the anthem is an offense punishable by imprisonment, fine and or both fine and imprisonments
Quoting section 37 of the Criminal Code Act, Arabambi claims that Ezekwesili a d Yesufu are “guilty of treason by their refusal to recognize or stand up during the rendition of Nigeria National Anthem”
He added “Their criminal actions is also a conclusion of their convictions to continue to insult and conduct themselves in acts capable of causing breech of peace laced with their embedded audacity, fury, daring, rage and devilish resolve to always denigrate the constitution of Nigeria and planned violent overthrown of the president and commander in chief of Armed forces.”
The LP National Publicity Secretary vowed that the faction of the party will seek legal redress on the marter if the FG fails to act.
“Once any form of inconsequential treatment is given to this noble demand, Labour party shall approach the federal high court for an order of mandamus compelling the NSA to arrest them because they are now political terrorists constituting a security threat to Nigeria” Dr Arabambi threatened
