FOUR months after President Goodluck Jonathan signed the anti-gay rights into law, there has been continued pressure from the United Nations (UN), European Union (EU) and other international human rights bodies on Nigeria to review the law.
The anti-gay rights law, which was signed January 2014 prohibits marriage between same sex: man and man, woman and woman; stipulating 14 years jail term for those who breach the law.
The Minister of Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Aminu Wali, who was at a forum in Abuja yesterday where he was confronted with the issue, explained to the European Union (EU) group ambassadors led by the EU Ambassador to Nigeria, Erian Mishel, the rationale behind the law, maintaining that Nigeria had had a track record on the observance of all the resolutions, treaties and human rights.
He asserted that Nigeria respects the dictates of human rights, adding that the country’s stance was the wish of the majority of Nigerians.
“Now Nigeria is in the fore front supporting all the resolutions, treaties and protocols on human rights and I happen to be a representative to my country when we negotiated together with the President of the General Assembly at the Human Rights Council with Nigeria occupying privileged positions at various occasions. We abide by all the conditions and dictates of human rights.”
“Our position is very clear in that respect. Of course we have our own challenges. I know recently a lot of comments coming up from the head of EU has gone into the sections of the media to comment the situation of same-sex marriage in Nigeria, which I think has made the headlines all over the world, but let me be very clear on that, that is something that we are not going to query because we have to respect the overwhelming majority.”
“There is no government that would not respect the wishes of his own people and go against the contrary religion of his own people. And this is a law that has been passed by the National Assembly.
“The law had 100 per cent support in the National Assembly. Of course that is the feelings and opinions and the generality of the people of this country. These things do happen, they accept it.”
“We are only respecting the wishes of the people of the country. We come from different culture and we come from different backgrounds. So, I do appeal to you to understand our culture and religion.
“Nigeria is basically a very religious society. So we have to respect the feelings and also respect the opinion of our people. I hope this should explain to your country and to your population that this is something we cannot be able to go along with.”
Source: Guardian
