Lawrence Nwimo, Awka
Anambra State Governor, Prof Chukwuma Soludo, has been criticised for banning public preaching and crusading in the state.
Ikengaonline reported that the governor had claimed that public preaching, particularly in markets and parks, causes noise pollution and disturbance to residents, and that defaulters are likely to face N500,000 fine.
The governor also stated that his administration was cracking down on fake pastors and prophets in the state.
Reacting in a statement, Ifeanyi Ejiofor, the lead counsel for the Indigenous People of Biafra, IPOB, said the move by Soludo tramples on the rights of citizens, against “Section 38 (1) of the 1999 Constitution [as amended], 2023” that guarantees the right to freedom of worship.
He explained the governor’s reported declaration that, “all manner of public preaching, including crusades and outreaches that hitherto happened outside the church premises, have been criminalised,” under a yet to be identified law.
According to Ejiofor, rather than an outright ban, Governor Soludo “should have talked about ways of regulating and moderating such public preachings, to avoid the alleged noise pollution, which he purports to be the reason for the ban.
“Governor Soludo seems to be at his wit’s end in tackling the myriad of serious and critical issues facing our dear State.
“How does the prevailing insecurity in Anambra State relate to peaceful gospel preachers engaged in evangelism?
“These individuals are merely fulfilling their spiritual and biblical mandate – spreading the word of God and calling people to faith.”
