So Kaduna state is planning a law that seeks to regulate how religious preaching (both Islamic and Christian) is done on the streets of
Kaduna, both in terms of content and noise level. Kaduna is of course a state
with a long history of religious clashes. The bill is still with the state
House of Assembly for consideration.
As expected, religious bodies are not happy and are planning a showdown with the government.
Look, I know people are naturally not happy, especially
since we have elevated religion over common sense. I am aware that some messages are being circulated among Men of God to instigate public retribution on the state government. But instead of threatening
violence and death on the state Governor (as at least one Pastor has done, stupidly),
there are move civil ways of doing it.
One, religious bodies should use their influence to lobby
the Kaduna State house of assembly not to pass the law, or at least have sections they’re
not happy with expunged from the bill. The Lawmakers are Muslims and Christians
and I am sure will be willing to hear everyone's opinion. They can also be made to hold
public hearings on this.
The second option, if the bill is eventually passed in a
form the religious organizations are not happy with, is to approach the court of law to contest the
law.
These are some of the options available in a democracy, and the ways things are done in any sane society. Our
religious leaders should not descend so low as to instigate violence against a
government or pray for calamity on a Governor because of a law that actually
has a lot of merits, if you try to see things beyond your
ultra-religious prism. But Nigeria,
like I always say, is not governed by the Bible or the Quran. Religion should
not be used as an excuse to promote unlawful behavior.
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