Katsina – The controversy over the recently-promulgated law banning preaching in Katsina State has been attributed to lack of adequate consultation before its promulgation.

An Islamic scholar, Gambo Tudunwada made this assertion in Katsina on Sunday at the meeting organised by the state branch of the Jama’atul Nasrul Islam (JNI).

The  law was officially dubbed “the Katsina State Religious Education and Preaching Board and for Incidental Matters Law”.

It seeks to regulate religious activities in the state.

Tudunwada said there was no involvement of Islamic scholars from all the Islamic sects in the state.

He said the state government should have invited all the Ulamas to intimate them on its plan to enact such a law .

“The state government should have done what late President Umaru Yar’Adua did when he was the governor of the state and he introduced the Sharia law,” Tudunwada said.

According to him, the late Yar’Adua handed over the issue of Sharia introduction to the Islamic scholars whom he (Yar’Adua) said were responsible for its implementation as they deemed fit.

He also noted that the state government should have publicised its plans to promulgate the preaching law in the media so as to enlighten the public.

In his contribution, Malam Kabir Ibrahim, an Islamic scholar from Rimi, called on the state government to bridge the communication gap between it and the entire Ulamas in the state.

“This is very essential, especially on issues relating to Islam,” he said.

In his address, the state governor, Alhaji Ibrahim Shema, represented by his deputy, Barr. Abdullahi Garba said the law was intended to improve Islamic education, Islamiyya schools and preaching, among others .

“Those charged with its implementation are mainly Ulamas from all the sects in the state,” he said.

Shema said a committee had been set up to receive complaints and observations on the law for a possible amendment.(NAN).