By Okechukwu Onuegbu
A public affairs analyst and resident of Onitsha, Onitsha North Local Government Area, Anambra State, Mr Victor Ononye has sought urgent intervention of governor Chukwuma Soludo to end noisy pollution at the metropolitan city.
Ononye, who made the call at Onitsha, alleged that preachers from different churches partition places like American Quarters Community Onitsha, position their loudspeakers to residential houses while preaching, playing gospel songs or praying even at odd hours of the day.
According to him, "American Quarters was the first European settlement and also the residential home of the first President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria,Dr Nnamdi Azikiwe. The noisy preachings with use of extraordinary ear-drum-piercing loudspeakers, drums and trumpets are serious health hazards to the residents.
"Most of the pastors and preachers shout at the top of their voices, preaching fear into the public, condemn the government of the day, insinuate hate and selection division and above all act as laws unto themselves. There are also the emotional and religious blackmail of an imminent doomsday and the rest of bigotry which divide the people. All of these have become a nightmare to the helpless residents.
"Note that some of these crusades, rallies etc, are done at very odd hours, in the early hours of the day or late in the evening when residents were supposed to be having their desired rest thus adding to their sufferings and misery. With these uncontrolled rallies and preachings targeted at residential neighbourhoods, it makes nonsense of the government's planned urban settlements," he alleged.
He urged the government to mandate that church crusades and outreaches be restricted to open fields outside residential areas, while the churches already in residential areas be made to stop night vigils, fit their buildings with noise proof materials as well as dismantle loudspeakers.
"That pastors be given occasional trainings, seminars and certificates by relevant ministries inorder to curb high rate of illiterates among pastors some of whom defy constituted authorities and also commit atrocities. That officials of the government should stop approving erection or conversion of residential buildings to churches in residential neighborhoods," he added.
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