Clerics In Yola warns El-Rufai against Proposed Religious Bill
Governor Nasir El- Rufai of Kaduna state has been told to rethink pushing for the legislation seeking to regulate religious activities in his state, except he wants to incur the wrath of God, the Bishop of Anglican Diocese of Yola Reverend Marcus Amsani Ibrahim has warned.
The cleric who spoke with our correspondent yesterday, when interviewed over the proposed Religious Preaching Bill before the Kaduna House of Assembly, said the bill when passed into law is likely to have a backlash on religious activities, particularly the christian gospel.
Bishop Marcus said, because of the discrimination which might be encountered in the issuance of the license, the bill could end up stifling the gospel of Christ.
He therefore stated that El-Rufai risked bringing doom on himself and the state.
He said the government should be bold enough to deal with any individual or preacher, found wanting instead of bringing a law that will have to make all preachers to obtain a licence.
"The bill is out to stifle the gospel of Christ because in the end how many Christians will be be given the license to preach.
This is because in the issuance of the license there might be discrimination," Bishop Marcus said.
Querying why the government should contemplate bring such a piece legislation, the cleric however speculated that it might have caused by the recent El- Zakzaky issue.
" Maybe there are preachers who will preach insulting and provocative messages, maybe that is why they are doing it.
He however, warned that whatever could have been the motive behind the bill, nobody he added can give God rules.
" Let me tell you any kingdom that they want to legislate on religion. Let me tell you that kingdom will not stand.
He added, "We are not preaching doom on anybody but one thing I know. Whosoever that wants to stop the gospel then is bringing doom to himself".
Bishop Peter Makanto who equally condemned the bill, charged the Christian Association of Nigeria, CAN to ensure it takes up the issue with the Kaduna state governor.
He said it was now up to CAN, to raise an alarm and pile pressure on Kaduna state government to drop the proposed religious preaching bill in the interest of peaceful coexistence.