Chairman of Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN), South-South zone, Archbishop God-Dowell Avwomakpa, has called on Governor Nasir el Rufai of Kaduna to decriminalize proposed laws which make it illegal for clerics to operate in the state.
The new law states every preacher will have to go and get only one year license which is renewable every year meaning a preacher without a licence or an expired license risks two years imprisonment.
The new law in Kaduna State also criminalizes the use of CDS, Flash Drive and other communication gadgets except in religious building or inside their houses. The implication according to Archbishop Avwomakpa is that people will be arrested for listening to preaching or religious music inside their cars or in any open place except in religious buildings or their houses.
Those who preach without license, are guilty of offense punishable with two years imprisonment or a fine of N200,000.
Furthermore the CAN chairman for South South zone noted that since all preaching must be done within a building, it means public evangelism has been criminalized.
The Cleric called on governor El-Rufai to realize that the constitution allows Nigerians to freedom of worship and worshiping people pray for peace, unity and progress. Consequently the CAN chairman said nobody should do anything that will divide the country the way they divided South Sudan. To do such a thing, Avwomakpa noted the new laws in Kaduna State will not allow Nigeria to progress at the pace that President Buhari wants.
According to CAN “The Kaduna law means that people will not be allowed to go out for evangelism or move with vehicles fitted with PA systems to preach the word of God.”
via@Independent