Bishops kick as Soludo bans loud market preaching
Religious leaders have tackled the Anambra State Governor, Prof. Chukwuma Soludo, for going against preachers who use loudspeakers in public spaces, particularly markets.
The governor accused the clerics of causing noise pollution and public disturbances.
In a viral video that circulated on social media on Saturday, he warned that loud preaching at market squares disturb traders and would henceforth attract a N500,000 fine.
The governor, who was addressing traders believed to be at Ochanja Market in Onitsha, said, “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 N500,000 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.”
But the governor’s statement attracted criticism from some religious leaders and Nigerians on Facebook, who saw the pronouncement as a move against religious freedom, which, to them, remains a constitutional right.
In his submission, the International Secretary of the Ecumenical Synods of Bishops, Archbishops, Apostles, and Senior Clergy in London, Archbishop Osazee Williams, described the governor’s move as an “attack on the body of Christ.”
Speaking in an interview with Sunday PUNCH, Archbishop Williams questioned the logic behind restricting preaching in public spaces, stressing that such restrictions could have a broader negative impact on society.
He stated, “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 added, “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.”
The archbishop also highlighted the social impact of preaching in public spaces, especially for people who might be involved in criminal activities.
He stated, “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.”
Similarly, the Archbishop of the Methodist Church of Nigeria in Lagos, Most Rev. Isaac Olawuyi, noted that even though there is a possibility that certain abuses and unbecoming attitudes of some pastors might have informed the government’s decision, the decree is an affront to Christian freedom and must be resisted.
He said before making such pronouncements, the governor should have consulted with Christian stakeholders in the state or put in place mechanisms to checkmate the activities of fake clerics instead of limiting Christian freedom.
He argued that it was a mandate for Christians to preach the gospel anywhere, provided there was no violation, violence, or public disturbance, urging the leadership of the Christian Association of Nigeria and the Pentecostal Fellowship of Nigeria in the state to rise against the decree.
Olawuyi said, “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 told that the governor was referring to “loud preaching,” the archbishop 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.”
On Facebook, a user identified as Abbaty Ibn Muhammad Zakir wrote, “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.”
Another user, Arthur Uneze posted, “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.”
