Niger State Governor, Umar Bago, has disclosed that henceforth preachers in the state must first submit their sermons for approval before relaying the massage to their congregation. Governor Bago made this statement yesterday while responding to questions during an interview on TVC. According to the governor, this is part of some aspects of the law seeking to regulate preaching in the state.
Bago said, “I didn’t ban evangelism… For everyone going to sermon on Friday, he should bring his scriptures for review, and it’s normal. Even in Saudi Arabia, this is done.
“We cannot say because you have been given the opportunity to be a cleric, you will go out and preach the gospel that is anti-people, anti-government and you think it’s normal,” he said.
The Governor was asked whether the step was out of fear of indoctrination of the populace. He replied in affirmation that it was in that direction.
He added, “We want to be able to see what they are preaching, hear what they are saying. We are working together with security agencies; the Department of State Services, DSS, the Police, Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps, NSCDC, and the military.”
The development is generating controversy across media space with some alleging that this amounts to religion censoring.
Consequently, the Director General of the Niger State Religious Affairs, Umar Farooq, had directed that anyone interested in preaching in Niger must obtain a licence, emphasizing that preachers had two months to obtain such licences.
“It is true, the State Government has banned preaching. Any preacher who wants to preach must secure a licence between now and the next two months,” He concluded.