Methodist Prelate urges calm over bill to control Christianity

The Prelate, Methodist Church Nigeria, His Eminence, Dr. Oliver Aba, has urged Nigerians to be calm over the bill seeking to create a National Centre for Christian Education (NCCE) in Nigeria.

Aba made the call at a press briefing marking the end of the 40th Annual Council of Methodist Bishops held in Enugu on Sunday.

The News Agency of Nigeria reports that the bill, which has passed second reading in the Senate, is said to regulate and set standards for the practise of Christianity in Nigeria.

It was sponsored by Sen. Binos Yaroe, representing Adamawa South Senatorial District.

Aba said when some members of the Christian faith were against it, he reached out to a Christian Association of Nigeria Leader in a state who told him not to be afraid of the bill.

“He told me that the bill will be good for all Christians in Nigeria, adding that the whole idea was brought by the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN).

“So let every Nigerian be calm, and let us see what will become of it,” he advised.

Speaking during the opening of the council’s meeting, the Chairman, CAN, Enugu Chapter, Rev. Emmanuel Edeh, told newsmen that the bill would benefit all Christians in Nigeria.

He explained that the intent and purpose of the bill were not to grant Christians permission to preach or tell anyone about Christ.

Edeh noted that there was a big misconception about the bill, adding that the bill never came from the government but from CAN.

“The truth is that many Christians and Clergy have not understood what the bill is all about.

“As a member of the National Executive Council of CAN, many media houses have published the impression so far from the content of the bill.

“It is a Christian affair that there should be a board or commission that represents them at the national level,” he said.

The chairman said the commission or board should be a way of guiding and checking the activities of Christians in the nation on some of the activities and practises.

He further explained that the bill would not take away from any denomination's in-house educational arrangement.

“Catholic, Anglican, Methodist, and others have their own education commissions, and if the bill is allowed to see the light of day, the smaller churches struggling to have schools can have boards to run to.

“Just like CAN stood their ground when President Buhari in 2020 signed into law the Company and Allied Matters Bill conferring the Corporate Affairs Commission to regulate Christians and Charity organisations,

“If it had been fought on individual denominations, nobody would have won the battle.

“So I see this bill as a way of Christians coming together to coordinate and see that the theological content and some other teachings and activities are coordinated on what the Bible provided for,” he added.