{"id":122270,"date":"2025-09-15T17:54:00","date_gmt":"2025-09-15T16:54:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/pointblanknews.com\/pbn\/?p=122270"},"modified":"2025-09-15T17:54:00","modified_gmt":"2025-09-15T16:54:00","slug":"clerics-must-submit-sermons-for-approval-gov-bago","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/pointblanknews.com\/pbn\/news\/clerics-must-submit-sermons-for-approval-gov-bago\/","title":{"rendered":"Clerics must submit sermons for approval – Gov Bago"},"content":{"rendered":"
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By Myke Agunwa<\/div>\n
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Niger State governor Umar Bago has ordered preachers in Niger state, to submit their sermons for review before it is made public.<\/div>\n
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Speaking during an interview on TVC\u2019s Sunday Politics\u2019, Bago denied placing ban on evangelism in the state but added that sensorship of sermons is done in other climes.<\/div>\n
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He added that the state government wants to know what the preachers would be saying to avoid \u201canti-people and anti-government\u201d sentiments.<\/div>\n
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\u201cI didn\u2019t ban evangelism. The religious affairs said for anybody going to sermon on Friday, he should bring his scriptures for review,\u201d he said.<\/div>\n
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\u201cIt\u2019s normal. Even in Saudi Arabia, it is done like that. We cannot say because you have been given the opportunity to be a cleric, you will go out and preach some gospel that is anti-people, anti-government and you think it\u2019s normal.<\/div>\n
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\u201cWe want to be able to see what they are preaching, and hear what they are saying.\u201d<\/div>\n
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This is not the first time the Niger state government would be making pronouncements of this nature.<\/div>\n
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In August, Bago ordered the commissioner of police to seal off Badeggi FM radio station over alleged incitement.<\/div>\n
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In April, the governor ordered the arrest of Minna residents with dreadlocks and directed that their hair be trimmed.<\/div>\n
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He had claimed that the decision was part of a broader effort to curb crime and social vices. The order had elicited a backlash.<\/div>\n
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