As debate continues over a proposed law seeking to regulate public preaching and hawking, the Pentecostal Fellowship of Nigeria (PFN) has urged President Bola Tinubu to reject the legislation, insisting that the country’s attention should remain on worsening insecurity and economic hardship rather than religious activities.
The Christian body argued that Nigerians are grappling with rising living costs, unemployment and security challenges, making the bill a misplaced priority. It maintained that government resources and legislative efforts would be better spent addressing issues that directly affect citizens’ welfare.
Speaking after the National Executive Council meeting of the PFN in Lagos, the organisation’s National Secretary, Bishop David Bakare, questioned why lawmakers considered the legislation necessary when existing laws already regulate public conduct.
According to him, the country’s problem is not the absence of legislation but the inability of authorities to implement the laws already in place.
He also faulted the proposal to classify preaching in commercial vehicles as a traffic-related offence, describing the provision as difficult to justify. Bakare argued that several genuine traffic and public safety concerns remain unresolved, making the focus on religious preaching appear misplaced.
Beyond its provisions, the PFN expressed concern about the possible consequences of the bill, warning that it could be interpreted as an attempt to restrict Christian activities. Bakare said legislation touching on religion requires broad consultation because of its sensitivity in a multi-faith society like Nigeria.
He noted that many Christians already view the proposal with suspicion and cautioned that its passage could unnecessarily strain relations between religious organisations and the government.
Rather than signing the bill into law, the PFN urged President Tinubu to return it to the National Assembly and allow for wider engagement with religious leaders and other stakeholders before any further action is taken.
The fellowship also questioned the progress of the legislation, saying it was unclear how far it had advanced in the House of Representatives following reports of its passage by the Senate.
For the PFN, the debate is not simply about public preaching. It is about ensuring that legislative priorities reflect the realities facing Nigerians. The organisation insists that until the country makes meaningful progress in tackling insecurity, hunger and economic hardship, proposals such as the anti-preaching bill should remain far down the list of national priorities.
By Ezeana Emmanuel
Aregbesola Says He Left Office Without Owning a House After Eight Years as Osun Governor
Former Osun State Governor and National Secretary of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), Rauf Aregbesola, has said he completed his two-term administration without owning a personal house, describing the claim as evidence of his modest lifestyle while in office.
Speaking to supporters in a video that surfaced online on Thursday, Aregbesola challenged anyone who doubted his assertion to produce proof that he owns a house in Osun or elsewhere.
According to the former governor, he spent his entire eight years in office living in a residence owned by a friend in the Amuta area of Ilesa rather than in a personal property.
“I’m the first governor in Nigeria to govern a state for eight years without owning a house of my own. I stayed in my friend’s house for eight years as governor in my fatherland. Whoever says what I’m saying is not true should come out and show me the house I own,” he said.
The remarks come as Aregbesola intensifies political activities ahead of the next governorship election in Osun State. Now serving as the National Secretary of the ADC, he has taken a leading role in mobilising support for the party following the launch of its governorship campaign in Ile-Ife earlier this week.
Although the former governor did not explain the circumstances behind his living arrangement, he presented it as a reflection of his personal integrity and challenged critics to disprove his account.
Aregbesola served as governor of Osun State from 2010 to 2018 before joining the administration of former President Muhammadu Buhari as Minister of Interior. Since leaving the All Progressives Congress (APC), he has become one of the leading figures in the ADC and has been actively involved in repositioning the party ahead of future elections.
His latest comments have drawn attention online, with supporters describing them as a testament to prudent leadership, while critics have questioned the relevance of the claim amid ongoing political campaigns in the state.
The statement adds another dimension to the political conversation in Osun as parties continue to position themselves ahead of the next electoral cycle.
