Omoyele Sowore, human rights activist and former presidential candidate, has criticized Niger State Governor Umaru Bago over his directive for preachers to submit sermons for review.
He questioned why a governor would involve himself in religious preaching, stressing that such matters fall outside the duties of any public office. He argued that laws exist to regulate inflammatory preaching if necessary, but it is wrong for a governor to pre-approve sermons without understanding the religious texts himself.
Sowore stated that any attempt to muzzle religious freedoms, associations, or thoughts is unacceptable and goes against basic democratic principles.
In Sowore’s words: “What is the business of a governor asking—is he a preacher? If the governor wants to become a preacher, he should resign and go and join the priesthood. It’s not his business to decide what if a preacher is engaging in inflammatory preaching. I think there are laws that the states can use to rein them in. But to tell a preacher to come and submit their sermons to you in advance… does the governor of Niger state know what is in there? Does he know anything about the Quran? I am opposed to any attempt to muzzle the right of people to freely practice their religion, associate, or hold a thought.
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