'Ban On Religion Programmes Uncalled For'

Two foremost Christian leaders, the Most Rev. Adebola Ademowo and Rev. Dr Olubunmi Okogie, have expressed reservations against suggestions to ban religious programmes from the media to check crises.

They spoke in separate interviews with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) at the weekend in Lagos. Ademowo, Anglican Bishop of Lagos and Archbishop of Lagos Province, said such suggestions were tantamount to a misconception of issues.

He said those calling for the discontinuation or banning of religious programmes in the media were only indulging in a huge joke, stressing: "We are not going to retrogress but progress."

According to him, the media play an important role in the dissemination of religious ideas all over the world, and that Nigeria should not be an exception.

"If people are saying that religious programmes should be cancelled, then they are dragging us back to where we were 25 years ago and that will be primitive," he remarked.

Ademowo added: "I know that on DSTV, there are some stations which show religious programmes for 24 hours. A lot of people have been blessed through these programes."