The bill against the practice of same-sex conjugal relationship is probably not the most urgent issue requiring the attention of our federal lawmakers. But by passing the bill and thereby outlawing same-sex relationships, the Senate only endorsed the largely pervasive resentment of Nigerians to a matter that is abhorrent to our nature and culture.
The bill provides for a 14-year jail term for anyone entering into same-sex marriage or civil union. It also stipulates a 10-year jail term for any person who directly or indirectly makes a public show of same-sex amorous relationships. Those persons, clubs, societies or organizations and all those who register, aid and abet such unions, would be liable on conviction to 10 years imprisonment. The bill further specifies that where same-sex marriages or unions had been contracted abroad, such contracts will not be recognized in Nigeria.
To become law, the bill will have to be endorsed by the House of Representatives before going to the President for assent.
Not unexpectedly, the Senate’s action has set off outcry especially from abroad. The critics claim that Nigeria’s stance will put a wide body of persons at risk, and allegedly bridges human rights. But as the Senate President, David Mark has pointed out, what is at stake is our values - the values of the vast majority of Africans.
The issue of same sex marriage, already unpopular in most African countries, could have been allowed to continue its furtive journey but for the condescending speech of British Prime Minister David Cameron who chose, of all places and without provocation, the Commonwealth Heads Of Government Meeting (CHOGM) in Australia, to lecture Africans on the beauty of same sex marriage, and additionally to warn them, like erring school children, that such a stance could cost them aid from Britain.
By making this statement, Cameron has shown an astonishing ignorance of African sensibilities surrounding this subject. He has thus inflamed dormant passions. For the African whose culture is a continuum between the ancestors, the living and the unborn, anything that threatens to sever that umbilical cord of his being is anathema. Sexuality in Africa is not seen as a private matter, it is an event that concerns the entire community, thereby giving it meaning.
Nigeria is dominated by two great religions - Christianity and Islam. Both religions condemn homosexuality and same-sex marriage as an aberration. The African did not become anti-gay because of his religion; he was anti-gay before the arrival of those religions. In fact, many African languages do not have a name for same-sex relationships. Today, it is safe to say that most African governments frown at homosexuality and impose forms of punishments for its practitioners. Ghana has rejected British foreign aid if predicated on the tolerance of homosexuality.
The Tanzanians have said much the same thing. Zimbabwe’s position on homosexuality is famously known. Now Nigeria, Africa’s most populous nation, is saying the same thing. Even in South Africa with a so-called liberal constitution, cohabitation with gays has proved problematic with ‘corrective rapes’ now taking place there.
Same-sex marriage is thriving in western societies and all those voices proclaiming that marriage is a union between a man and a woman are being hectored and ridiculed by a vocal minority into acquiescence. The Anglican Communion headed by the Queen of England has fractured on the issue of homosexuality. Many in the United States of America are opposed to homosexuality, so is the church in Latin America and Asia. Surely, David Cameron must be aware of these great world movements. He should have moderated his language accordingly.
The Nigerian Senate is not your best-loved Senate, given the members’ indefensibly high emoluments and less than sterling performance; but in passing the anti-gay bill, it has enjoyed widespread support and improved its standing in the eyes of Nigerians. Questions may remain as to the urgency of the bill, and also its effectiveness in seeking to resolve an issue by outlawing it. Such debates will certainly continue as has been going on in other parts of the world. But this country does not meddle into how other countries make their laws. Similarly, Nigerians should not be pilloried into conforming to other people’s agenda for whatever reason.
Most annoying however is the recent text by the President of the United States of America, Barrack Obama who has directed all the American Foreign envoys to preach the Anti-gay rights in their respective countries and noted that any country that refuse to toil the line will be denied Aids. This is utterly disgusting and sad. It is also an insult that African countries and leaders should not condone. One will expect the African Union to promptly issue statements to bring the erring-president of the gay to line as to the glaring differences in African and American culture.
This Day newspaper has reported that President Obama has ordered US Diplomats abroad to fight for same sex marriages around the world. I am shocked by this unfortunate decision; if it is true. If President Obama is thinking of using this to win the next election in the USA, he will likely fail out. Was he born by homosexual parents? Why is he not a homosexual himself?
It will also make meaning if Obama demonstrates his commitment to homosexuality by divorcing his wife and picking another man as a partner. Let us witness the first same sex marriage as the White house by President Obama and any other man of his choice (which are in abundance in USA)and the world will take him seriously. If he is so pleased with marrying a woman and turning around to ask others to support men marrying men and women marrying women, I think that he does not deserve to continue to remain as the president of the USA.
His purported memo to the US Missions abroad is not only “humanly wrong”, it is universally wrong and Godly wrong. Perhaps the best option is for the US Government to create a state for same sex couples and mobilize them from all over the world to become US citizens. In this way, he doesn’t need to worry about other nations. Let him provide opportunities for such citizens in USA where their rights can be best protected.
The US agencies should thus begin the process of granting free visas to all persons with same sex interest and “nature” in order to protect their rights by the nation that has the “best human rights records and practices”.
In fact, the Europeans have just demonstrated their lack of knowledge and utter ignorance about African cultures and sovereignty. How do one explain this to our grandfathers in the village? How do one preach this is a right? I can just imagine trying to explain to my grandfather in the village that there’s a right for a man to marry another man; he’ll cry for me and most certainly assume our ancestors are angry with me and that am probably mad and will direct me to be chained before I enter the market. It is an abomination. Nigerians should resist it in totality and let the Americans go to hell if they care to.
One can pardon the Europeans on one condition. They have ugly women and that is enough to discourage a man from marrying. Not in this part of the world where an average lady is a beauty to behold with beautiful curves at the right places. I will be damned to be a gay. But God forbid.
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