Religion

Governor Soludo Warns Gospel Preacher: “A Market Is Not A Church” (Video)

March 8, 2025
2 Min Read
Governor Soludo Warns Gospel Preacher: “A Market Is Not A Church"

Governor Soludo Warns Gospel Preacher: “A Market Is Not A Church” (Video)”

By Oge Onyeanusi Onitsha

Anambra State Governor, Prof. Charles Soludo, has issued a stern warning to a gospel preacher conducting loud sermons in a market, describing the act as noise pollution and an illegal disruption of business activities.

Confronting the preacher, Soludo firmly stated:

“You cannot do that here. If you want to preach the word of God, you go to your church. You are causing noise pollution. You cannot come to the market and begin to disturb everybody else. If someone wants to listen, they will come to your church to hear you. You can’t force everybody to hear you, especially in the marketplace, where people have come to trade.”

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The governor further emphasized that markets are designated for business, not religious activities, warning that the preacher could face legal consequences for violating public order laws.

“I could have asked them to arrest you because you are contravening the law. You don’t come out, take a place, and start preaching—it’s noise, and it’s illegal.

“Everybody has freedom of worship, but you don’t go to the middle of a market and turn it into a church. Otherwise, we will be charging you for this place—maybe 500,000 naira each day you come here to preach.”

Governor Soludo’s remarks highlight the growing concern over noise pollution and the enforcement of laws to maintain order in public spaces.

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While religious freedom is a constitutional right, he insists it must be exercised within the appropriate settings to avoid infringing on the rights of others.

The governor’s statement has sparked mixed reactions. While some traders and residents support his stance, arguing that markets should be free from distractions, others believe that street preaching is an essential part of evangelism and should be accommodated within reasonable limits.

As the debate continues, authorities in Anambra State are expected to enforce regulations that balance religious expression with public order in commercial spaces.