Law against same-sex marriage is in tandem with our cultural belief
The raging global controversy over same-sex marriage has been expanded by a formal Nigerian standpoint with President Goodluck Jonathan signing the Same Sex Marriage Prohibition Bill 2013 into law. Interestingly, it is reflective of the contentious debate that notable Western nations, the United States of America (USA) and Canada, as well as the European Union (EU), have separately criticised the new law, with a common thread alleging a violation of “fundamental human rights.” Indeed, Canada reportedly cancelled Jonathan’s scheduled state visit in February on account of issues related to the law. Instructively, the prominent international rights organisation, Amnesty International, also expressed grave misgivings, and described the law as “discriminatory.”
It would appear that these negative reactions to an essentially local development mirror the burden of countries in the context of a so-called global village. The line between internal and external affairs seems to have become so blurred that outsiders now take it for granted that they have a say in another country’s domestic issues.
American Secretary of State, John Kerry, and Canadian Foreign Affairs Minister, John Baird, who issued statements saying that their countries were “deeply concerned”, hinged their positions on the question of rights and freedoms. Kerry argued that the law “dangerously restricts freedom of assembly, association and expression for all Nigerians,” adding that it is “inconsistent with Nigeria’s international legal obligations and undermines the democratic reforms and human rights protections enshrined in its 1999 Constitution.” Also expressing concern about the anti-gay law, the High Representative of the European Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy and Vice President of the Commission, Catherine Ashton, in a statement declared that “The European Union is opposed to discrimination on the grounds of sexual orientation.”
In a significant sense, these voices could be regarded as belonging to interlopers, which was implied by the country’s presidential spokesman Reuben Abati, who said, “We have received enquiries from some foreign embassies on why the bill was signed into law and told them our cultural values do not tolerate same-sex marriage.” He added: “More than 90 per cent of Nigerians are opposed to same-sex marriage. So the law is in line with our culture and religious beliefs as a people. And I think that this law is made for a people and what the government has done is consistent with the preference of its environment.”
The country’s criminalisation of homosexuality, which means that anyone in a same-sex marriage or union would face up to 14 years in prison, also makes it illegal for anyone to operate or participate in gay clubs, societies and organisations, or to officiate, witness, abet or aid the solemnisation of same-sex marriage, which attracts a 10-year jail term. In addition, such partnerships concretised overseas are considered void in Nigeria. Fundamentally, the law states that “Only a marriage contract between a man and a woman shall be recognised in Nigeria.”
At bottom, this disagreement is actually about cultural evolution. It is not only illogical but also domineering for the West, which claims to accept the actuality of human and cultural diversity, to insist that its own cultural perspective must prevail. It goes without saying that even the reality of increasing globalisation must accommodate the idea of cultural sovereignty. What is more, the fact that the law emerged from a democratic process, which the West is always quick to promote, should be a validation.
It qualifies as meddlesomeness, this apparent disrespect for the country’s own viewpoint on publicised same-sex relationship. It should be pointed out that the world is far from an agreement on this oddity, and no one should assume the authority of forcing it down the throats of people who have different values. It is objectionable that the Canadian spokesman, perhaps speaking the minds of the gay supporters’ circle, went to the extreme of explicitly calling for the repeal of the law.
