A former lawmaker who represented Kogi West Senatorial District, Dino Melaye, says government has no business sponsoring religious activities including marriages.
Melaye made this statement during an appearance on the KAA Truths podcast.
He blasted governments at the state and federal levels for allocating huge amount of public funds for religious activities instead of investing in essential infrastructures like roads and hospitals.
According to the African Democratic Congress, ADC, chieftain, religion is a personal matter that should not involve state funding.
Melaye said, “Government has no business sponsoring religious activities including marriages. It’s so wrong that government now starts funding religious activities. What is the function of the churches? What is the function of the billionaires who have made money and can sponsor people on religious pilgrimage?
“And there is no chapter in the Quran or the Bible that says if you don’t go to Mecca or Israel for pilgrimage, you will not make heaven.
“Then why will government be spending billions of naira that is supposed to be meant for development? You know the state of our roads and hospitals in this country.
“We cannot prioritize our spending. What is the business of government with religion? That we are spending hundreds of billions annually to send people to Mecca and Jerusalem?”