The controversy surrounding Anambra State Governor, Prof. Chukwuma Soludo, arose after a viral video showed him confronting a street preacher in a market. In the video, the governor orders the preacher to stop causing a disturbance, citing the law against noise pollution. Soludo’s remarks sparked criticism, with some accusing him of banning evangelism, while others defended his actions as necessary to enforce public health laws.
In response, the state’s Commissioner for Information, Law Mefor, clarified that the governor’s comments were misinterpreted. He emphasized that Soludo’s focus was on addressing noise pollution, not banning evangelism. The Public Health Law of 2006 prohibits excessive noise in public spaces like markets, and Soludo was simply enforcing this law. He advised preachers to conduct their activities in designated areas, such as churches, where they wouldn’t disturb the general public.
The Commissioner referred to previous legal actions on noise pollution, including a 2019 case where a magistrate’s court in Nnewi upheld the law against a church violating noise regulations. Mefor urged the public to disregard the claims that Soludo had banned evangelism and to adhere to the Public Health Law, which seeks to balance public health with the rights of individuals.