El-Rufai Abolishes Vigil, Other Christian Observances in Kaduna State
Governor Nasiru El-rufai is with his Kaduna State Religious Preaching Regulation Law effectively banning night vigil, Christmas eve, Easter and New year eve celebration for Christians, says Istifanus Daniel of the Coalition of Christians with Conscience (CCC), Kaduna.
In a statement signed by Daniel and the Secretary of the coalition, Paul Musa, the coalition said that the law, which is termed, The Kaduna State Religious Preaching Regulation Law, 2019, contains several areas that will directly affect the worship mode of Christians in Kaduna State.
A part of its provisions criminalizes “Any person who plays a religious cassette or uses a loud speaker for religious purposes between the hours of 11pm and 4am.”
This is very disturbing as it means that Christians cannot hold night vigils, celebrate Christmas, Easter and New year eve in the evenings which fall typically within those hours.
The provision is also divisive as our Muslim brothers are allowed to say their prayers at 5am after the ban for Christians.
That this law seeks to ‘accredit preachers’ and appoint regulators of faith means that it is the state government that will determine what is preached or not. Has the state purged itself of its own political woes as to move into the sphere of faith? Surely, we are not in a theocracy but a democracy. The state and faith must be well separated. It is surprising that politicians who use thugs and take over the streets with loudspeakers do not have laws that will regulate them yet think that worshippers are the people to be regulated.
The law also defines a designated place of worship as a building constructed with permission sought for and obtained from the Kaduna State Urban Development and Planning Agency (KASUPDA) for the purpose of religious worship.”
In many states of northern Nigeria, Christians are not allowed to buy land and build churches, imagine how difficult it will be for Christians in Kaduna state to obtain permit to build churches if this law is passed.
We the CCC wish to draw the attention of the Kaduna State Government of the violation of our faith which this law will bring. We urge the Governor to reconsider its position and not pass this into law.
Registration for the Law Week is still ongoing and multiple registration channels have been provided by the Law Week Committee towards a seamless and hassle-free registration experience for participants.
This includes payment at the banks or through POS at the Lagos NBA branch office. Participants can also download the registration form and pay through the payment gateway indicated on the branch website.
The registration rates are below:
- 1 – 7 years: N3,500
- 8 – 15 years: N5,000
- 16 – 19 years is 10,000
- 20 years and above is N15,000
- SANs and Benchers N25,000
Interested participants are to make their payments to the Nigerian Bar Association, Lagos Branch at Access Bank. The Account Number is 0728253326. Please return the registration form to the branch office with proof of payment.
For enquiries, please contact:
Nkem Agboti
08035739791
nagboti@gmail.com.
Uche Nwadialo
08098030060
u.nwadialo@gmail.com
Oluyemisi Iwajomo
08064112076
oiwajomo@babalakinandco.com
Newswire, we present the world of law and the issues that engage them. This edition is yet again, ‘Mind-blowing’. Go get your copy(ies) Now!
Do you need to be heard? Or your articles published? Send your views, messages, articles or press release to: newswiremagazine@yahoo.co.uk >>> We can cover your (LAW) events at the first Call: 08039218044, 08024004726
