Following the public criticism that has greeted
the proposed anti-preaching law by the
Kaduna state government, the Catholic
Church of Nigeria has asked the state
governor, Nasir El Rufai to thread with
caution as no governor can be an emperor.
The Catholic Church's position was made
known by the Director of Caritas
International, Rev. Fr Evaristus Bassey, at a
press briefing by Caritas International, a
department under the Catholic Bishops
Conference of Nigeria (CBCN) in Abuja
yesterday March 22nd.
Bassey said although the laws are meant to
curtail the excesses of religious men in the
state, the content of the law appears to be
quite overbearing and will hamper the
constitutional rights of residents of the state
to freedom of religion.
"The fear is that even if the proposed bill
contains good aims, the proposed restrictions
would play into the hands of officials of state
who have a hegemonic mentality and would
allow them the freedom to persecute one
religion in favour of another. The principle of
separation of state and Church/Mosque
which springs from the supposed secularity of
the Nigerian constitution would be severely
battered if this bill is pursue in the way it is.
Governor El Rufai, who is quite dogged in the
pursuit of anything, given this tool, would
pursue ardently both what is good and what
may be divisive. We advise that Kaduna State
rely on existing laws and existing state
instruments of law enforcement, to maintain
religious harmony in Kaduna State instead of
reinventing the wheel.
The majority of Kaduna people appear not to
want this law, and their wishes should be
respected, as no governor is an emperor but
an elected official who should defer to the
people's will. The people's will is sovereign;
because of the potential abuses this bill could
bring when it becomes law, we opine that it is
not necessary" he said
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