Governor Umar Bago of Niger State has said it is mandatory for preachers to submit their sermons for approval.

Speaking on TVC’s Politics on Sunday, the governor clarified some aspects of the law seeking to regulate preaching in the state.

“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.”

Asked if it was out of fear of indoctrination, the governor said, “It’s in that direction. 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, which first became public earlier in the month, has generated controversy.

The Director General of the Niger State Religious Affairs, Umar Farooq, had said anyone interested in preaching in Niger must obtain a licence, emphasizing that preachers had two months to obtain their 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.”

“All they need to do is to visit our office, get and fill out the form, after which they will have to face a panel that will screen them before they can start preaching,” Farooq had said.

Reacting to the development, the Chief Imam of the Federal University of Technology, Minna, Bashir Yankuzo, had said, “My opinion is that preaching is a command. The government is not paying anyone for doing the job; people are preaching in order to earn the pleasure of God. So, the government cannot dictate who to preach to and who not to preach.

“But at the same time, if there are people who are going out of their way to cause security threats, using abusive words and so on, then government can have control over that in order to maintain peace and security.”

The secretary of the Christian Association of Nigeria, Niger State Chapter, Raphael Opawoye, had said the Christian body was not aware of the ban.

“The Christian Association of Nigeria is not aware of the ban. We shall come up with a statement when we are officially informed,” he had said.

But an Islamic scholar, Uthman Siraja, had described it as an infringement on religious rights.

“The ban on preaching is an infringement of freedom of worship and religion. The best thing for the government to do is to invite and penalize any preacher who incites the public in the cause of his preaching,” he had said. (Daily Trust)