El-Rufai replaces controversial preaching edict with preaching regulator

Gov. Nasir el-Rufai on Friday inaugurated the Preaching Regulatory Council to stem rising religious crises that spark up conflict in the state.

The inauguration took place at the Kashim Ibrahim House, Kaduna.

He said religion must not be used for economic and political exploitation.

According to El-Rufai, a religious preaching edict has been in place in the state since 1984, but his administration failed to implement it after reviewing the laws in 2016.

His attempt then was met with opposition, even within the state assembly.

In place of the edict, the council now has the responsibility to ensure that religion in the state is practiced in a manner that will not inconvenience others.

The governor still maintained his administration is ready to tackle any negative religious practice in the state.

The regulatory preaching council comprises senior religious leaders from the Christian and Islamic faiths as well as traditional leader and public office holders.

The APC state has been locked in a legal battle with the Isamic Movement of Nigeria  aka Shiites whose religious rites always pit the movement against the state.

Their leader Ibrahim El-Zakzaky was recently acquitted after spending close to six years in detention  on terrorism charges after his followers clashed with the convoy of then COAS Tukur Buratai in Zaria.