PFN scribe joins Bishops to condemn Soludo’s ban, imposition of N550k fine
By Jeph Ajobaju, Chief Copy Editor
Banning open air Gospel preaching in Anambra is misguided, says the Pentecostal Fellowship of Nigeria (PFN) in adding its voice to the objection raised by Bishops and other Nigerians after Governor Chukwuma Soludo slammed the restriction with a N500,000 fine on defaulters.
Soludo effected the ban last week to control noise pollution, but PFN Assistant Secretary (South South) Blessed Amalambu insisted at the weekend that “Christians will not sit idly by as someone tries to stifle what God has established.”
He urged Soludo, a fellow Christian, to rethink his stance, and urged him to consult legal experts to analyse the sensitivity of the policy so as not to infringe on the rights of Christians.
Amalambu also sought amendment of the Constitution to ensure equal representation for all faiths.
He counselled Soludo to allow free preaching of the Gospel in public for the benefit of those who do not attend church.
Soludo was captured on video during his visit to Ochanja Market in Onitsha on March 8 where he upbraided an open air Gospel preacher, telling him:
“If you want to preach the Word of God, go to your church. You are causing noise pollution here. You cannot come to a marketplace and disturb everyone.
“If you want to preach, go to a church. Those who want to listen will come to you; you cannot force people in the market to hear your message.
“This is a marketplace, not a church. You are violating the law. You cannot take over a public space and turn it into a church. Otherwise, you will be charged for using this space.
“You will pay ₦500,000 because we cannot allow this. We have banned loudspeakers in markets due to noise pollution, which affects people’s eardrums.
“You cannot force people to listen to your preaching. We are cracking down on fake pastors and prophets in Anambra.”
Church leaders, other Nigerians react
Christian leaders and other Nigerians on Facebook have since risen up against Soludo for going against preachers who use loudspeakers in public spaces, particularly markets.
The International Secretary of the Ecumenical Synods of Bishops, Archbishops, Apostles, and Senior Clergy in London, Osazee Williams, described the move as an “attack on the Body of Christ.”
Williams questioned the logic behind restricting preaching in public spaces, stressing that such restrictions could have a broader negative impact on society.
“The attack on the Body of Christ has come in various forms, and this is just one of them. I don’t believe the Governor fears God. There are people who need to hear the Word of God, and for many, the only place they can do so is in the market or on the streets,” he told Sunday PUNCH.
“The earth is the Lord’s and the fullness thereof. The Governor could have simply asked that the sound be reduced, perhaps suggesting that instead of using microphones, other means could be explored.
“There are people who will never go to a church due to their trade, but when they hear the Word of God, their lives change for the better.”
“Some people come to the market to steal, to kill, or engage in other vices, but when they hear the Word of God, they change their ways. It’s a vital tool in transforming lives.”
The Archbishop of the Methodist Church of Nigeria in Lagos, Isaac Olawuyi, said even though there is a possibility that certain abuses and unbecoming attitude of some pastors might have informed Soludo’s decision, the ban is an affront to Christian freedom and must be resisted.
Before making the pronouncement, he argued, Soludo should have consulted with Christian stakeholders in Anambra or put in place mechanisms to checkmate the activities of fake clerics instead of limiting Christian freedom.
Olawuyi argued that it is a mandate for Christians to preach the Gospel anywhere, provided there is no violation, violence, or public disturbance, urging the Christian Association of Nigeria and PFN in the state to rise against the ban.
Said he: “I cannot see anybody in Nigeria speaking against Christian freedom because we have such freedom to preach the Gospel, and it is a mandate. So, for a Governor to do that shows he is going against religious fundamental rights, and he should be challenged.”
When reminded that Soludo was referring to “loud preaching,” Olawuyi said: “The Governor is just playing on words. He is being misguided by certain people in certain quarters. CAN and PFN, as religious stakeholders in the state, should see the Governor.
“If they should go out for true evangelism and hold crusades, let the Governor go ahead and arrest all of them. Let’s see what will happen. I think the Governor did not really mean what he said; maybe he is just trying to counsel people.”
Reaction on social media
Some Facebook users chipped in their views as follows:
Abbaty Ibn Muhammad Zakir
“If loudspeakers in markets cause noise pollution, what about political rallies, traditional festivals, and other public events that use them? Why single out religious preaching?
“If the concern is truly about public disturbance, then all activities that generate noise should be treated equally. Also, who determines who is a ‘fake’ pastor or prophet?
“Religious freedom is a constitutional right, and policies like this should not target specific groups unfairly.”
Arthur Uneze
“If a government decides to ban preaching in markets to maintain order, then the same principle should apply to politicians who turn these same spaces into rally grounds during campaigns.”
Read also:
