The Senior Special Assistant to the Kogi State Governor on Cybercrime, Promise Emmanuel, popularly known as Kogi Rebel, has reacted to a viral video showing a woman criticising Muslims over the use of a road during Friday prayers.
The video, which has generated discussions on social media, reportedly showed the woman expressing displeasure over the practice of Muslims temporarily occupying or blocking portions of the road while observing the weekly Jumat prayer.
Reacting to the development, Emmanuel argued that both Christians and Muslims can engage in religious practices that may inconvenience other members of the public.
In a post shared on his Facebook page, the governor’s aide acknowledged that blocking roads in a manner that disrupts movement during prayers could be problematic.
However, he questioned why some Christians who criticise the practice do not apply the same standard to certain Christian evangelism activities that may also affect members of the public.
According to him, some Christians go from house to house to preach the gospel without prior invitation, while others preach publicly in commercial buses where passengers may simply want to enjoy a quiet journey.
He therefore urged people to consider the broader issue of mutual respect and inconvenience when discussing religious practices in public spaces.
Emmanuel’s comments followed the circulation of the video and have since added another dimension to the online conversation, with social media users weighing in on religious tolerance, public space and the limits of religious expression.
The issue has also renewed discussions about the need for religious activities to be conducted in ways that respect the rights and convenience of other members of the public.
While religious freedom allows individuals and groups to practise and propagate their faith, activities carried out in public spaces can sometimes create disagreements when they interfere with traffic, businesses or the personal space of others.
