Posted on: 11:23 Thu, 17 Mar 2016



The Kaduna state Governor, Nasir El-
Rufai who was represented by the
deputy Governor, Mr Barnabas Bala,
held a meeting with members of the
Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN)
in the state, to discuss about the
religious censorship bill and ask for
their support.

This coming barely few days after
the President of Omega Fire
Ministries (OFM) Apostle Johnson
Suleiman cursed Governor Nasir El-
Rufai, because of the controversial
bill.

Speaking to newsmen after the
meeting, El-Rufai’s spokesperson,
Mr Samuel Aruwan, said the
government will go ahead with the
bill.

He said “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.

“It merely seeks to ensure that
religious preaching and activities
in the state are conducted in ways
that do not threaten public order,
public safety, and to protect the
rights and freedom of other
persons,” Aruwan said.

The Kaduna state CAN Chairman,
Bishop George Dodo, on his part
said “I don’t think any governor
has the power to enact law that will
supersede what is in the
constitution.

“The constitution guarantees every
person the right to practice his/her
religion, I don’t think there is any
governor that can enact a law in
that regard.

“Governors ask for prayers in all
places of worship, so how would
they enact a law that will ban the
practice of religion.”

The Guardian reports that Islamic
scholars in the state have also
rejected the bill.