Nigerian Government To Ban Same-Sex Marriage (And Relationships!)

I put this somewhere else on the board, but I can't find it... here's my opinion.

I met the announcement with mixed feelings. On one hand, I am angry and disgusted; on the other hand, I find it a little funny. I'll tell you why but first, a context. Let's air some dirty laundry.

In a country whose agricultural and petroleum treasures have birthed horrendous poverty and inequality; where babies sleep under rat-infested bridges with gigantic garbage dumps serving as their chief protection from the elements; where an entire ecosystem of lush mangrove in the Delta region have turned into dark wells of liquid poison because of unchecked environmental pollution; where roads are so bad, people install metal cages beneath their cars to prevent accelerated damage; where the tax-collection system is so broken, only corporations pay taxes and when they do, they only pay a fraction of what's required by law; where it's normal to have electricity for just 2 hours a day; where 1% of neighborhoods have running water for a couple of hours each month and others don't know what running water is; in this country, a ban on gay marriage reflects more than just misplaced priorities - it reflects the government's appalling disconnection with reality and basic common sense.

The absurdity of this ban manifests itself even more when it's viewed in the context of Nigeria's moral topography. In a country where government officials routinely loot the treasury; where the policemen openly accept 20 cent bribes from unregistered commercial vehicles (some cars don't even stop at police blockades, they just fling currency notes out the window); where human beings are kidnapped everyday for ritual murder with little recourse to justice for their families; where female  dorms at its most prestigious universities have become whorehouses where students barter their youth and pussies to government officials and wealthy patrons for money to buy books and feed themselves; where it's most powerful politicians and wealthiest business men have an average of ten wives, the best of them having as many as twenty-four; in this country, a preemptive ban on gay marriage is beyond hypocritical - it's comedy.

Archibishop Akinola, head of the Nigerian Anglican Church, thinks homosexuality is "Unnatural and Unafrican". How would he know? Christianity only became a mainstream religion a few decades ago. Does he find universities, electricity, monogamy and his fancy Archbishop costume "Unafrican" too? What about its sister religion, Islam? African or Unafrican? I'll the history books judge. Be assured that he'll hate the verdict.

Here's the real tragedy. The planned ban and the illegal status of homosexuality in Nigeria only affect poor gay people. The rich are not bound by laws. Homosexuality in the upper echelons is a hobby, not a life-threatening reality. It's well-known that a military dictator that ruled the country in the 90s, routinely had sexual affairs with members of his military cabinet and others (their wives complained publicly but no one gave a mess). I have pretty friends who attend gay parties at ultra-exclusive polo clubs where the gay rich indulge themselves in the presence of police escorts and army guards. For these people, these laws don't matter. It's the working poor that will pay the price and that's a damn shame.

I am one of the lucky ones. I can sit behind my laptop, write fancy protests online while sipping diet coke in the safe confines of my nice apartment, receiving an education that costs more than 100 times Nigeria's income per capita - I have relatively little to worry about. The unlucky ones don't have such privilege. They only scrape by, trying to survive under the terror of a morally bankrupt state and under social anihilation for being who they are. For these brave ones, I cry. For these precious ones, I am filled with unpacifiable rage. Oppression of one is oppression of all.  Aluta Continua Victoria Acerta!

Seun and that gizzer from Belgium  not worth replying your posts. trust Me. We have done it in Jamaica. Made all batty bwoy them run and go hide.
ready fe pick up me uzi again and shot nuff bwoy dead.

Trust me.
ready fe kill FE what i believe in.
BATTY BWOY(ALL GAY AND LESBIAN FE LOCK UP AND them BETTER SHUT UP)


RASTAFARI I 4 EVER

I don't think a jail term will solve their problem.
What the gay people need is a rehabilitation centre where they can be taught how to use their tools on the opposite sex!

Ooh, morality at its finest:
(emphasis added)

Homosexuality is the root of all evil?1111 What's that you say, homosexuals are eroding the moral conscience of Nigerians? Lock them up for a sexual orientation and practise between consenting adults? 

http://www.swagga.com/rasta.htm

Righteousness = marijuana = more than 5years in prison

Rastafari is a movement of Black people who know Africa as the birthplace of Mankind and the throne of Emperor Haile Selassie I -- a 20th Century Manifestation of God who has lighted our pathway towards righteousness, and is therefore worthy of reverence.

The Rastafari movement grew out of the darkest depression that the descendants of African slaves in Jamaica have ever lived in -- the stink and crumbling shacks of zinc and cardboard that the tattered remnants of humanity built on the rotting garbage of the dreadful Dungle on Kingston's waterfront. Out of this filth and slime arose a sentiment so pure, so without anger, so full of love, the Philosophy of the Rastafari faith.

Religions always reflect the social and geographical environment out of which they emerge, and Jamaican Rastafarianism is no exception: for example, the use of marijuana as a sacrament and aid to meditation is logical in a country where a particularly strain of 'herb' grows freely. Emerging out of the island of Jamaica in the later half of this century, the religious/political movement known as Rastafarianism has gained widespread exposure in the Western world.

Rasta, as it is more commonly called, has its roots in the teachings of Jamaican black nationalist Marcus Garvey, who in the 1930s preached a message of black self empowerment, and initiated the "Back to Africa" movement. Which called for all blacks to return to their ancestral home, and more specifically Ethiopia.

He taught self reliance "at home and abroad" and advocated a "back to Africa" consciousness, awakening black pride and denouncing the white man’s eurocentric woldview, colonial indoctrination that caused blacks to feel shame for their African heritage. "Look to Africa", said Marcus Garvey in 1920, "when a black king shall be crowned, for the day of deliverance is at hand".  Many thought the prophecy was fulfilled when in 1930, Ras Tafari, was crowned emperor Haile Selassie 1 of Ethiopia and proclaimed "King of Kings, Lord of Lords, and the conquering lion of the Tribe of Judah". Haile Selassie claimed to be a direct descendant of King David, the 225th ruler in an unbroken line of Ethiopian Kings from the time of Solomon and Sheba. He and his followers took great pride in being black and wanted to regain the black heritage that was lost by loosing faith and straying from the holy ways.
Rastafarians live a peaceful life, needing little material possessions and devote much time to contemplating the scriptures. They reject the white man's world, as the new age Babylon of greed and dishonesty. Proud and confident Rastas even though they are humble will stand up for their rights. Rastas let their hair grow natually into dreadlocks, in the image of the lion of Judah. Six out of ten Jamaicans are believed to be Rastafarians or Rastafarian sympathizers. The total following is believed to be over 1000 000 worldwide.  1975 to the present has been the period of the most phenomenal growth for the Rastafarian Movement. This growth is largely attributed to Bob Marley, reggae artist, and the worldwide acceptance of reggae as an avenue of Rastafarian self-expression. Marley became a prophet of Rastafarianism in 1975. The movement spread quickly in the Caribbean and was hugely attractive to the local black youths, many of whom saw it as an extension of their adolescent rebellion from school and parental authority.

but he said With it came some undesirable elements, but all true Rastas signify peace and pride and righteousness.

I almost said my dear Ijebu man then realized that I could go to jail for 5 years for an innocent statement, or maybe I can settle police, anyway please refer to my earlier post on the bandwagon effect…..

hey nefryn(dammit i can't get thiz manz name right)
if u think all homoz n lez shld have rights and be allowed because they can't control it itz their sexual orientation then a woman that likes fuckin a horse shld be given a right because she can't control it 'God made her that way'
sorry I'm late for ur replies this thread is growin and i can't keep up

That's funny  I guess the unintended consequence of this law would be an increase of the gay population in Nigeria.

Hey there .. it's a newbie who has been lurking on the boards for a while and have not bothered to reply until now..

I am really dismayed about the intolerance and the vituperations of the so called 'born-agains' here. I am a straight person who has many friends who are homosexual (even Naijans) and trust me, they are the same as you and me. Reading about the law which our obviously moral and just President wants to pass into law sickens me to the core and as others have said, is subject to tremendous abuse.

When the legislators and senators and even governors sleep around like crazy and then shout out to all about how moral they are in fighting the homosexual trend, the hypocrisy makes me sick..

I could go on but others have said a lot already .. Anyways, hi, and this is my first post

welcome abroad 

@Bibi
whats that saying about 'the road to hell is paved with good intentions'..  I won't even call this good intentions. Tafa Balogun got a mere 6 months for looting police funds, yet the government is advocating 5 years for homosexuals, isn't that like killing an ant with a sledgehammer?

An old (educated) aunt of mine in Nigeria was lamenting awhile ago that her son in the US was probably an 'homosexual' because he was sporting 'corn rows and ear rings'
If she could make that assumption what do you expect our 'highly educated and enlightened' police force to do. Or who do you think is going to enforce this laws??

Not that Europeans and Americans don't see anything wrong with it. True it's different and strange if you think about it but being homosexual doesn't make you a criminal.
what you said about America 100 or 200 years ago is totally correct. They wouldn't have seen anything wrong in jailing homosexuals. they also wouldn't have seen anything wrong in keeping slaves and hanging innocent people as witches (at least most of them).

Not that this generation don't believe in God, they are just more tolerant toward individuals regardless of sexual orientation or background.
gays are actually also being discriminated in the United States even though it's not rampant and it's illegal. That's why you have many associations adn programs for "gay awareness" to stop the discrimination against them. (i have one in my schoolyou could get suspended  for harrasing or discriminating against people).

who knows 100 years from now, this Nigerian Government will be making public apology speeches just as many white supremacist and ku klux klan former members/ supporters (the ones who are still alive at least) are doing for their actions in the past. (my english teacher shows is the documetaries in class.)

This law will definitely be repealed but later on as Nigeria becomes more tolerant of others.

I don't even see what the point is. you jail a homosexual for 5 years, he comes out he's obviously still an homosexual, he goes back in jail and the cyle goes on till he dies.
what next? "let's start hanging homosexuals"
Hitler did the same. The holocause wasn't on jews only.  He tried to exterminate through mass murder: the jews, blacks, homosexuals and any people  he considered will contaminate his "superior" race, class.
i wouldn't be excited or happy about it.
But what would YOU do? send him to jail for 5 years, 5years, 5years, 5years....... ? (gays don't and can't turn straight. at least i've never heard of such a case).

I wouldn't be surprised if a Nigerian parent was murdered or fired from work or attacked for standing up for their gay child.

because they know they are going to be discriminated against and oppresed.  
Nigerians don't tolerate people with  disabilities either?. what a shame.
At least the American blacks got their freedom.
Homosexuals will get their too as the world starts to be more acceptive and less intolerant (Hitler comes to mind).

 
In my opinion, the government should concentrate more on banning illegal contrabands, jailing domestic violence and child labor offenders and building the economy and security rather than using homosexuals as scapegoats for their failure like the jews were in different places at different points in time. (the nigerian government is probably the most corrupt one in the world. let them do something about themselves first!!)
this illeberal law does't even make sense. what's the purpose of it? if not to make the homosexual minority in nigeria scapegoats or make known to the world how intolerant  they are.

"with out freedom there can be NO liberty" John Locke a 17th century political philosopher - the USA constitution is based heavily on his ideas.
in order to be free others "persuits" have to be tolerated ,not accepted, just tolerated. if it cause no physical harm to anyone but those involved (unlike incest which would impact the whole family) then leave them to it if God objects he can deal with them when they meet up.

if i felt that Nigeria suffered from a state of TO MUCH liberty perhaps some control on this issue could be tolerated or if perhaps our police were honest and never locked up innocent people on little or no evidence but as we are all know this happens daily. to me it is just another excuse to control people. pity the poor brother unfairly charged with this most anti social of crimes.

love it, and yes yes F**K U Too

This is about the best bill initiated by this Government . It is not only not part of our culture but it is not part of our religious life . Therefore it is a welcome development on the part of govt. It is an under statement to refer same sex marriage as a foreign culture because no culture allows recklessness in its public and private life for fear of undue contamination on weaker souls .It is only due to fears as not to be branded dictatorial or totaliatorial and to extend the rules of fundamental human Rights that nations allows the desires of a few to control the wishes of the majority. The govt has done well not to submit to this subtule blackmail from non-conformists, deviants and psychos. 

its mostly the Nigerians in diaspora that are more american or european than Nigerian that are supporting homosexuality. The average Nigerian people at home detest this.  How else can you explain when people like Menike and vickel will use the "F" word against all nigerians. At best, their arguement for homsexuality is not for nigerians, but for the detestable life they live in their society.

Anyway, I'm against any form of homosexuality. Its against our culture, our beliefs, etc. A girl was jailed for bestiality last year in Benue state, where was the likes of menike and pendelite then? Pendelite is against gayism in children but adults. If people are born gay, then there should be no difference whether child or adult in our reaction to the issue??.

On the issue of jail sentence, I believe its even inappropriate. If sharia can cut off peoples arm for stealing, I believe the same should find equal meature to the sexual tools of the homos.

Nigeria is always unwise, when it come to making life better.

imaging
steal a used hand set worth of =N=1500,you will be killed
steal =N=10,000,000,000 or more you will crowned or awarded Grand Commander Order of the Niger

imagin
take bribe and be called sence man
refuse bribe and be called foolish man

imagine
sleep and take expo to exams (jamb, Neco, and almighty weac) and get A1 to C4
read and refuse expo at exams (jamb, Neco, and almighty weac) and get C6 to F10 or result canceled

now the big one

imagin
marry as gays and go to jail
80 years marrys a toddlar and be high chief

who wan be mogu?
ans: non Nigerian