By Okey Maduforo
Special Correspondent, Awka
Anglican Bishop of Niger West, Johnson Ekwe, has reminded Kaduna State Governor, Nasir el-Rufai, that Nigeria is a secular state where freedom of religion of every citizen is guaranteed.
He was reacting to the directed by Rufai that organisers of religious assembly or open air activities get the approval of government before embarking on such functions.
“El-Rufai cannot behave as if Kaduna State is another country. He is bound to be guided by the Constitution, which states that every Nigerian has the right to live in any part of the country and practise his religion without any interference,” Ekwe said.
He asked the federal government to call El-Rufai to order over “obnoxious laws against Christians,” stressing that some churches have been marked for demolition by the state government.
But former President General of Ohanaeze Ndigbo, Dozie Ikedife, expressed support for the order, insisting that stiffer penalties be imposed on affected churches or mosques.
His words: “I support El-Rufai. Do you know the health implication and hazards that attendant to noise pollution? God is not deaf and you do not need to shout and preach to those who do not want to listen to you.
“This is embarrassing and it disturbs the peace of the neighbourhood both in churches and mosques. You do not need to disturb people in the name of worshiping God.
“I would have even loved the idea of imposing more and higher penalties on such people and make sure they pay dearly for it. You cannot be causing public nuisance in the name of religion.
Ekwe also condemned the activities of Fulani herdsmen who kidnap and kill people with impunity.
He said herdsmen recently killed two people and raped two women in Awgu, Enugu State, and lamented that police arrested 76 indigenous farmers and allowed the herdsmen to go free.
To him, that was evidence that the herdsmen were getting the backing of the federal government.
“One wonders who gave them such sophisticated weapon as AK47,” Ekwe added.