Amidst controversies generated by the recent ban on public preaching, including market places in the State, the Anambra State Governor, Prof. Chukwuma Soludo, has dismissed claims that he banned evangelism in the State.
This is as he clarified that his focus was strictly to curb noise pollution. A practice that is already prohibited under an existing public health law.
Recall that Governor Soludo has faced criticism after a viral video showed him confronting an unidentified street preacher in a market on Saturday.
In the video, Soludo was heard ordering the preacher to stop causing a disturbance. This was as he reminded him of the law against noise pollution.
The Governor, therefore, advised him to take his preaching to a church or a designated space. He warned that violators risked a fine of ₦500,000.
But few hours thereafter, the Governor’s action attracted chains of criticism from the Christian kingdom.
This is as as some religious leaders and human rights activists accusing the Governor of infringing on the constitutional right to freedom of worship.
However, in a statement by the Commissioner for Information, Law Mefor, on Tuesday dismissed these claims. This is as the Commissioner insisted that Soludo’s remarks had been misinterpreted.
The statement read: “The Anambra State Government wishes to address the misconstrued reports surrounding Governor Chukwuma Soludo’s recent encounter with an itinerant preacher at Onitsha Market.
“The Governor’s remarks were wrongly interpreted as a ban on evangelism. Whereas his concern was solely about noise pollution, which is prohibited under an existing public health law.”
According to him, Soludo was enforcing the Anambra State Public Health Law 2006, which prohibits excessive noise in public places, including markets.
He said, “To clarify, the Governor referenced the Public Health Law 2006, which forbids noise pollution and preaching in inappropriate places like markets using loudspeakers.
The Governor advised preachers to conduct their activities in Churches. Or designated locations where people can willingly participate without disrupting others’ daily activities,” the statement added.
Mefor further cited past legal actions on the issue. He noted that in 2019, a magistrate’s court in Nnewi upheld the law against a Church. The Church had violated noise pollution regulations of the State.
He said, “The public is, therefore, advised to disregard any claims suggesting that Governor Soludo has banned evangelism. Or public preaching in Anambra State.
“Instead, we urge citizens to comply with the Public Health Law and respect the rights of others,” the Commissioner said
source: Punch