By Ishaya Ibrahim, News Editor
Nigerians who are agitated that a sinister plot to push through a law in the House of Representatives that will criminalise protest was afoot can now heave a sigh of relief.
This is because the lawmaker behind the bill has promised to withdraw it on the floor of the House on Tuesday.
In an exclusive interview with TheNiche on Sunday, the lawmaker who moved the bill on the floor of the House on July 6, Hon. Emeka Martins Chinedu, assured that for the sake of peace, he had no choice than to withdraw the bill which had already passed First Reading, considering the angst it has generated.
Chinedu, a member of the opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), who represents Ahiazu-Ezinihitte Mbaise Federal Constituency of Imo State, caused a national uproar when he introduced a bill seeking to punish those who engage in mob action.
Entitled, “An Act to amend the Criminal Code Act, CAP 38, Laws of the Federation of Nigeria, 2004 to further preserve the sanctity of human life and property, and to provide specifically for mob action, prescribe punishment and other matters,” the lawmaker said the objective of the bill was to stop the incessant killing of innocent people through mob action.
But there was immediate pushback from wary Nigerians who saw it as an attempt to push through a law that will give the government the authority to jail peaceful protesters in the country.
While insisting that the bill has been misconstrued, misrepresented and misinterpreted, Chinedu, however said that having been advised by his constituents to withdraw the bill, he would do so on Tuesday.
“I have consulted with my constituents and other stakeholders and I have been advised to withdraw the bill and I am going to do that because it has been misconstrued,” he told TheNiche.
“So, for the sake of peace, I have decided to withdraw the bill on the floor of the House on Tuesday. I don’t want this needless controversy to linger. The bill was misconstrued, it was misrepresented and misinterpreted to mean a different thing from what its intent is. Therefore, I am going to withdraw it on Tuesday.”
But he said the experience has strengthened him rather than dampen his spirit.
“The saga has strengthened me. This is politics and in politics you get all sorts. So, if you are a politician, all manner of allegations are made against you, most times wrongfully. This is one of them but the most important thing is your conscience. If your conscience is clear and your motive is pure, you move on. I am happy that my people stand with me. They know the intent of this bill, they are behind me and have told me to be strong and I am strong.
“I am not in any way perturbed. I am still with my people and I have taken their advice and I will go ahead to withdraw the bill on the floor of the House on Tuesday.”