Former Deputy Speaker of the Ogun State House of Assembly and Assistant Pastor in Charge of Province in the Redeemed Christian Church of God (RCCG), Pastor Remmy Hazzan, has defended the All Progressives Congress (APC) Muslim-Muslim presidential ticket ahead of the 2027 general elections while also throwing his weight behind the proposed N50,000 fine for preaching inside commercial vehicles.
Speaking during an interview on a radio programme Hazzan argued that President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s leadership should be assessed on competence, performance and national development rather than religious identity.
According to him, President Tinubu has consistently demonstrated religious tolerance, noting that his marriage to Senator Oluremi Tinubu, an ordained pastor of the Redeemed Christian Church of God, reflects a longstanding commitment to religious coexistence and mutual respect.
Hazzan maintained that the APC’s decision to retain a Muslim-Muslim ticket was influenced more by political realities than religious considerations, stressing that no religion has been marginalised under the current administration.
“The best of us should govern the rest of us. Leadership should be based on competence and capacity, not merely religious affiliation,” he said.
The cleric also urged Christians to become more actively involved in governance, insisting that politics should not be abandoned to individuals lacking moral values.
“For too long, the church was made to believe politics is dirty. But if something is dirty, it needs cleaning, and that cleaning is best done from within,” he stated.
On the controversial Federal Road Safety Corps Amendment Bill 2026, which proposes a N50,000 fine for preaching in commercial vehicles, Hazzan said Christians must obey the law if it is eventually passed and signed by the President.
He explained that the proposed restriction should be viewed primarily from a public safety perspective rather than as an attack on religious freedom.
According to him, preaching inside moving vehicles could distract drivers and jeopardise the safety of passengers.
“Every driver requires total concentration. If a preacher succeeds in diverting a driver’s attention from the road, the lives of everyone in that vehicle may be endangered,” he said.
Hazzan noted that churches would undertake appropriate sensitisation and reorientation of members should the legislation become law.
“If the law is signed today, churches will have to educate members on how to comply. The Bible teaches obedience to lawful authority,” he added.
While expressing support for the proposal, the former lawmaker said the exact scope of the legislation would only become clear after a full review of its provisions, suggesting that certain situations, such as preaching in stationary vehicles, may be treated differently depending on the final wording of the law.
He further urged churches to remain focused on promoting good governance, accountability and moral leadership without becoming overly partisan, stressing that religious institutions have a responsibility to guide public office holders and hold them accountable when they deviate from ethical standards.
“The church should continue to advocate good governance and maintain mechanisms for correcting members who abuse public trust,” he said.
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