A Christian cleric, the Prelate of Methodist Church Nigeria, Dr Sunday Ola Makinde, has warned the Federal Government against the call for licensing of religious preachers in the country, explaining that religious preaching is not a secular thing that government can regulate.
In a release signed by the Public Relations Officer of Methodist Diocese of Ogbomoso, Mr Olubukola Adio, the Prelate gave the warning at the 17th annual synod of the diocese, held at Methodist Church Cathedral, Arowomole, Ogbom, last week. Prelate Makinde said that licensing of pastors by the government would only defeat the sacredness of religion.
His words: “Christians will never support government’s involvement in licensing or regulating the preaching of pastors. Ministers speak ‘thus says the Lord’ and thus the conscience of the nation. Whenever government regulates preaching, religion is finished and becomes secular.”
