Posted on: 06:19 Mon, 18 Apr 2016



The Christian Association of
Nigeria, (CAN), Sabon Gari local
government of Kaduna State, has
noted that the issue of the proposed
religious bill before the state House
of Assembly seeking to regulate
religious preaching in the state, if
not properly handled could result
to religious crisis similar to 2000
Sharia crisis in the state.

It urged the Kaduna State
Governor, Malam Nasir Ahmad El-
rufai to withdraw his bill seeking
to regulate religious preaching in
the State adding that the bill was
capable of causing chaos.

The CAN branch said if governor
El-rufai does not withdraw the
religious bill, there was the
likelihood that what led to Sharia
crises in the year 2000, where lives
and properties were lost and
destroyed would re-surface.

CAN, while lamenting the Sharia
2000 crisis, said its escalation was
as a result of the then government’s
refusal to listen to the voice of the
people.

The group after a meeting at Zaria
on Sunday said any mistake would
lead to a repeat of unavoidable loss
of lives and properties, adding that
it would further expose Kaduna
state as a place where human lives
have no value.

“If that happens, God will hold us
responsible,” CAN said through its
Chairman, Rev. Abua Midauda
Gadzama.

CAN said categorically that El-
rufai’s religious bill was a threat
and would infringe the peaceful co-
existence of both Christians and
Muslims in the state.

“Another critical aspect of the bill
is the vesting of summary
jurisdiction to try violators to
Sharia and Customary Courts but
failed to specifically state who is
subject to these Courts.

“We can logically infer that
Muslims are the ones subjected to
Sharia Courts, but not so to
Christians being subjected to
Customary Courts.

Therefore, it is indefensible for the
Kaduna State Government to seek
to subject Christians to jurisdiction
of Customary Court.

“Most various ethno religious
violence crises that took place in
the past years are usually
orchestrated by bigoted fellows who
believe that their religion has been
defamed or blasphemed and they
have a duty to fight, maim, kill and
destroy all in the name of
defending their religion. Upon all
this, no one have been prosecuted
and convicted since the
promulgation of the 1984 Edict,”
CAN lamented.

The religious body further rejected
the representative of CAN, JNI,
Police, SSS, Head of Service among
others that would form the
ministerial body constituted by the
governor to help in regulating
religious activities in the state.

The group said when it comes to
voting people who will be
responsible for issuing licenses and
other serious decision, CAN would
not be equal representation,
thereby, describing most
government committees as being
biased.

“Kaduna State Government should
immediately retract the provocative
and unconstitutional expedition by
withdrawing the bill,” CAN said.

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