Last week, Governor El-Rufai announced plans to pass new laws that would regulate preaching as part as a move to control noise pollution and to limit hate speech across Kaduna State. Measures he plans to introduce include bringing in a regulatory regime under which churches and mosques will have to obtain a licence before they can become operational.
However, religious clergymen have attacked the proposed move as anti-Christian, saying it is part of a grand plan to Islamise the state. In a bid to resolve the crisis, Governor El-Rufai asked his deputy Barnabas Bala, met with the Can officials at Government House, Kaduna to find a solution.
After the meeting, Bishop George Dodo, the chairman of the Kaduna State chapter of Can, said: “When we are through with studying the memo that will be sent to the Kaduna State House of Assembly we will appear at the public hearing and explain more. However, for now it would be premature to discuss the position of Can.”
On concerns raised by the public that the government is trying to muzzle religious freedom, Bishop Dodo said he does not think any governor has the power to enact law that will supersede what is in the constitution. However, the governor’s spokesman Samuel Aruwan, said the government is going ahead with introducing the bill.
Mr Aruwan added: “This is not a new law, it has existed since 1984, with amendments in 1987 and 1996. The bill, by virtue of Section 45(1) of the 1999 constitution, is in order and does not offend the provisions of the constitution.
"The provisions of the bill are in tandem with the constitution. There is nothing in the bill that suggests any effort to abolish, stop or derogate on the freedom of religion and religious beliefs."
Apparently, several Islamic groups including the Kaduna State Council of Imams and Ulamas, has rejected the controversial bill. In spite of the opposition, the state government insists that the Religious Preaching Bill is to protect the state from religious extremism and hate speech.
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