The
Christian Association of Nigeria( CAN) Kaduna State chapter has said it
does not think Governor Nasir el-Rufai’s religious bill before the
state House of Assembly, will ban or stop Christians from practising
their religion.
Speaking with journalists in Kaduna, after its meeting with Kaduna State deputy governor, Mr Barnabas Yusuf Bala, on Wednesday, the state chairman of CAN, Bishop George Dodo,who led the 12-person CAN delegation,said el-Rufai’s proposed bill would follow the laid down constitutional procedures on religious practice.
“I don’t think any government has the power to make any law that will supersede what is in the constitution and the constitution guarantees every human being the power to worship.
“So I don’t think there is a government that will enact a law in that regard. After all government is always asking the people whether Muslims, Christians, traditionalists, to pray for government, so how will they bring a law that will ban religion.
“The position of CAN is that our final decision will be when we are through with the study, our memo will reach the state House of Assembly for the public hearing, where we will explain more but for now it will be premature to say this is the position of CAN,” he stressed.
However, he expressed appreciation for the meeting and assured the government that CAN is preparing its position for submission to the House of Assembly and the state executive.
Meanwhile, Kaduna State government, on Wednesday, explained that the Religious Preaching Bill aims to protect the state from religious extremism and hate speech.
Mr Barnabas Yusuf Bala, the deputy governor of the state, told a delegation of the Kaduna State CAN that the government had a duty to ensure that religious violence no longer threatens the state.
He said the Kaduna State government is always committed to ensuring that religion could be practised in a safe and secure climate.
Speaking with journalists in Kaduna, after its meeting with Kaduna State deputy governor, Mr Barnabas Yusuf Bala, on Wednesday, the state chairman of CAN, Bishop George Dodo,who led the 12-person CAN delegation,said el-Rufai’s proposed bill would follow the laid down constitutional procedures on religious practice.
“I don’t think any government has the power to make any law that will supersede what is in the constitution and the constitution guarantees every human being the power to worship.
“So I don’t think there is a government that will enact a law in that regard. After all government is always asking the people whether Muslims, Christians, traditionalists, to pray for government, so how will they bring a law that will ban religion.
“The position of CAN is that our final decision will be when we are through with the study, our memo will reach the state House of Assembly for the public hearing, where we will explain more but for now it will be premature to say this is the position of CAN,” he stressed.
However, he expressed appreciation for the meeting and assured the government that CAN is preparing its position for submission to the House of Assembly and the state executive.
Meanwhile, Kaduna State government, on Wednesday, explained that the Religious Preaching Bill aims to protect the state from religious extremism and hate speech.
Mr Barnabas Yusuf Bala, the deputy governor of the state, told a delegation of the Kaduna State CAN that the government had a duty to ensure that religious violence no longer threatens the state.
He said the Kaduna State government is always committed to ensuring that religion could be practised in a safe and secure climate.
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