Senator representing Kaduna Central, Shehu Sani, on Sunday reacted to the ‘Religion Bill’ aimed at ‘regulating’ religious activities in Kaduna State, sponsored by Governor Nasir El-Rufai, by saying freedom of worship is a constitutional right of every citizen of Nigeria that no governor, legislature or president can deny her people.
He said the bill when passed will be against the provision of the constitution of Federal Republic of Nigeria which gave every Nigerian right to worship.
The bill, which is currently enjoying second reading in the state assembly, was enacted in 1984 but was touched in 1992 and 1996 all under military rules.
The lawmaker added that the said bill was promulgated during military era and shouldn’t have been revisited at all especially now that the country has fully returned to democratically governance.
The Senator stated this when he received Arewa Guild of Online Publishers in Kaduna.
According to him, Kaduna, been a fragile state, do not need such a bill now because the state has suffered serious religion crisis in the past, hence the need to sponsor bills that will fast-track its economic development.
He said, “the right to worship is a fundamental right. Even the senate has no right to throw any law that is not in line with constitution.
“There is already a law that can check excesses not only in religion but also other infringement on fundamental rights of others.
“Kaduna is a fragile state that religion plays a key role. No government, no governor, no president, no legislator can take away people’s fundamental right,” he added.
Already, the bill is generating serious tension and controversies as different interpretations are emerging because many paragraphs of the bill are shady, unclear and pose hidden agenda.
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