‘Submit sermon for approval’: Gov Bago trying to gag free speech in Niger – Lawyer

Activist lawyer, Maduabuchi Idam, has tackled Governor Umar Bago for saying preachers in the state must first submit their sermons for approval before relaying to their congregation.

Idam said Bago’s directive is an attempt to gag free speech and police religion in the state.

In a statement he signed, the activist lawyer said the governor’s directive raised concerns considering the level of insecurity in Niger State.

He said: “The Governor of Niger State asking clerics to submit their sermons for approval before they are preached to the congregation is the highest attempt, in recent times, to gag free speech and by extension police religion.

“To think that a Governor in a state like Niger, ravaged by insecurity, is not preoccupied with intelligence gathering and strategic efforts on reclaiming all local governments under siege by bandits within the state— is a big concern about what the priorities of some Nigerian leaders are .

“A client of mine who hails from Chiroro Local Government in Niger State has always expressed how helpless residents of his local government have become. According to him, they almost pay rent to bandits just to spare their lives given that the state government has become incapacitated.

“Sadly, the governor has confirmed that he is busy with his mobile radio held to his ear, listening and monitoring the content of every sermon preached by a preacher in the state.

“The governor should pay more attention to intelligence gathering regarding security in the state other than sermons preached in religious homes.”