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Tag: same-sex marriage

  • Same-sex marriage controversy tears century-old Taraba church apart

    Same-sex marriage controversy tears century-old Taraba church apart

    • Congregation in disarray as presiding bishop quits
    • Taraba govt places ban on worship centres

    The United Methodist Church Nigeria (UMCN) recently celebrated its 100 years of existence. For decades, the local church had battled with series of crises triggered by ethnicity and leadership tussle. Lately, the same-sex marriage controversy has joined the fray, resulting in the eventual splitting of the church.

    Already, the presiding bishop, John Wesley Yohanna, has resigned his position, turning church members into sheep without a shepherd. Bishop Yohanna, who was due to retire at the end of this month (September), has opted for the church’s international arm, Global Methodist Church, which was formed after the May resolution of the General Conference in Charlotte, United States, where homosexuality and gay marriage were approved.

    Among the resolutions at the said conference were the “removal of restrictive language related to LGBTQ (lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and queer) people” and “removal of the language that the practice of homosexuality is incompatible with Christian teaching.

    Others include the removal of the ban on the ordination and appointment of self-avowed practising homosexual clergy and removal of language that made the ordination of self-avowed practising homosexual clergy and performance of same-sex weddings chargeable offence”.

    Bishop Yohanna had also found himself in the eye of the storm within the church circles where he was fingered in the arrest and deportation of two bishops, Bishop John Scholl from the US and Bishop Eben Nhiwatiwa from Zimbabwe, who were alleged to have come into the country to oversee the election of a new bishop to succeed Yohanna.

    In an interview with The Nation, Yohanna cleared the air on why he left the United Methodist Church and his role in the arrest of the two bishops.

    He said: “When I became a bishop there was nothing like homosexuality. Marriage has been between man and woman. We have always voted it out when we go to the general conference.

    “It has been our stand in this church that whenever homosexuality is legalised, we can’t continue to stay. This year’s May general conference, the UMCN voted to legalise the practice of homosexuality. We promised that whenever it is legalised, we would worship in the global Methodist Church.

    “In 2022, they also had a gay consecrated for the church. In UMCN, when a bishop is consecrated, he or she is consecrated for the whole church. Those bishops can come to Nigeria and perform episcopal functions. The laws of this country are against that.

    “Also, as members of the church in Nigeria, we felt if we continued to remain in the UMCN, we would contravene the laws of this country and we felt it is inappropriate.

    “For us, the laws of Nigeria take precedence over any other constitution of the church, therefore we align with the Global Methodist Church.

    “Therefore, I am no longer in the UMCN as of 29th of July 2024. I resigned from the council of bishops.

    “On June 1, I informed the government of Taraba State that this is what the church is into now. Since then, the church has legalised homosexuality and I can’t continue to serve as a clergy and bishop.

    “Bishop Nhiwatiwa happened to be the President of the African College of Bishops in which I was a member. When I resigned, I had no communication from them, except Bishop Tracy, the President of the council, who wrote on behalf of the other members of the council appreciating me and telling me they are okay and accepted my resignation.

    “So, when he came, I had no information about his coming. The last person who came as far as I interacted with him from the council of bishops was Bishop Scholl. He took his flight to the USA.

    “If there are problems between him and the security operatives, I don’t know anything about it, because I am not immigration. And if there are issues with him coming here, they had better contact the immigration officers.

    “What would it profit me if I stop him from coming to Nigeria? After all, I am no longer in the UMCN. I belong to the Global Methodist Church.

    “I have worked with Bishop Nhiwatiwa peacefully. I only disagree with same-sex marriage; that is all.”

    He also said the policy called ‘regionalization’ by the church was unacceptable to him as it does not spare the church from the influence of the LGBTQ. Regionalization is meant to ensure certain countries, especially African countries, who do not accept the same-sex marriage to operate by different set of rules from the ones agreed upon by the general conference in Charlotte US in May.

    Yohanna added: “There is what they call regionalization. They want the church to be regionalised. In other words, the church in the US can practise homosexuality while those in Africa would not practise homosexuality.

    “But then we go to the same conference. The same homosexual bishop will preside over the conference and do a lot of episcopal function and then we continue to meet together, and you say you are not part of the church that legalised homosexuality?

    “You cannot say the Bible is divided. That is why some of us felt that this is misleading. This is deception and can’t be condoned.”       

    Asked if he would take a legal action against those accusing him of stirring the current crisis, Yohanna said: “As a bishop, I want to comply with the word of God. For now I am not thinking of any legal action against anybody because that is not the best way.

    “As a Christian, I feel there are other avenues that can handle the matter. Moreover, who is the greatest judge? God is the greatest judge. Only God can tarnish your image.

    “But for people to be formulating lies on me, God knows.”

    Yohanna frowned at those who accused him of stopping them from attending the annual conference when the court had already settled the matter, saying they were being sponsored by groups that supported the LGBTQ.

    He added: “How can I stop them when they went to court to stop me from conducting the annual conference?  

    “A superior court order nullified the earlier order that was given. If they want to attend the conference, why did they go to court to stop the annual conference I was going to conduct?

    “They went ahead to conduct another illegal annual conference. The bishop is the only one that presides over the annual conference, and when the bishop is absent, he would elect a pro-tempore president who will preside but would not do ordination. However a bishop must be there.

    “I was there, they illegally appointed a pro tempore to conduct the annual conference. But because they speak for homosexuals, those people in the US are listening to them.

    Read Also: Everyone criticising blessings for same-sex marriage will eventually accept it – Pope

    “There are groups in the US who are sponsoring them, otherwise going by the constitution, they have already been barred.”

    In view of the ongoing crisis in the church, Yohanna called on members of the church to “be calm and seek peace”.

    Regionalization not meant to promote LGBTQ but inclusivity – Waziri

    A journalist and member of the United Methodist Church, Salisu Waziri, said the crisis in the church was not all about LGBTQ. According to him, the policy of regionalization was liberal, inclusive enough and considers countries who do not accept same-sex marriage or homosexuality.

    He said: “In order not to scatter what the church has built over the years, they decided to come up with this idea of regionalization so that countries who their constitution does not allow them to practice same-sex marriage can worship God and still be members of the United Methodist Church without having to associate with the church.

    “That does not mean that any clergy man can be sent from any other country to come and be a pastor here in Nigeria. He would not join any couples.

    “All that would matter to bring the church together is at the General Conference that takes place once in four years.

    “When we go there it would be a discussion based on the growth of the church. The issue of same sex marriage would not be brought up in the discussion.

    “It can only take effect in a country where such a law allows that. It cannot be practiced in Nigeria where the laws do not allow for the practice of same sex marriage.

    “I want to repeat that the council of bishops or any other leadership in America or the global body of the church cannot and will never send any clergy that is sympathetic to homosexuality to come and work. It would not work.

    “And the reason why the bishop was sent to Nigeria, in the first place, was because Bishop John Wesley (Yohanna) resigned and there was a vacuum in leadership.

    “So they sent Bishop Scholl, who was not a gay person himself, who has a wife and children, to come and kick start the process of reelecting a new indigenous bishop in Nigeria so that he can replace Bishop John Wesley.”

     We never recognised John Wesley for 12 years – Rev. Doppah

    In the ensuing drama, one of the prominent figures of the church narrated how the crisis festered and why the Taraba State Government had to intervene.

    The Director, Connectional Ministry, United Methodist Church, southern conference, Rev. Dr. Philip Micah Doppah, also said that they never recognised the bishop of the church throughout his administration, which indeed underscores the deep dimension of the crises in the church.

    In an interview with The Nation about the state of affairs in the church, Doppah went down history unearthing the ugly path the body of Christ had endured leading to the present situation.

    He said: “In the 12 years, we never recognised him (Yohanna) up to the time he resigned.

    “Now, at the 2024 General Conference, John Wesley was appreciated by the council of bishops and the entire delegates that gathered at Charlotte. I was there.

    “The election of a new bishop is supposed to be held in December this year for his replacement. Because of his desire not to leave the office, he decided to join a new denomination.

    “One faithful morning, he declared that they had joined the Global Methodist Church. Twenty four hours after the declaration, he now said that he has resigned from the UMC.

    “He removed all the emblems and signboards at the secretariat.

    “If John Wesley went to the General Methodist Church, nobody would say no to it. He is at liberty since he has resigned.

    “He should have started on a virgin land. After all, the United Methodist Church promised an incentive for those that followed the correct formula of leaving.

    “The correct timeline for leaving to another denomination expired in December 2023. Once you follow that timeline they promise $25 million to those that would leave to start their new denomination.

    “Even the GMC promised heaven and earth. And that was why the government closed down all UMC churches.

    Genesis of crisis

    The United Methodist Church (UMC) is a global church that traces its roots back to the revival movement of John and Charles Wesley in England as well as the Great Awakening in the United States. It originated in 1908.

    The mission of the United Methodist Church and of predecessor Methodist bodies began in Nigeria in 2022. However, the United Methodist Church Nigeria annual conference began in 1992 with headquarters in Jalingo, Taraba State. The Nigeria annual conference is further divided into the northern, central and southern conference, covering Taraba, Gombe and a few other states.

    But the history of the church in Nigeria is replete with crises due to scorch-earth ethnicity, leadership tussle and the controversial LGBTQ issue that has crept into the church. As a result, lives were lost, people injured, properties destroyed, families and friends lost and enemies created in what supposedly should be a united ‘House of God’.

    In Taraba, the headquarters of the church in Nigeria, the crises pre-date the state itself and saw at least four elected governors in the state trying to resolve them without success. As a matter of fact, the crises have deep historical, social and economic roots which make it quite complicated.

    Added to these is the international dimension to it. At the moment, the feuding parties have retreated into their trenches as the Taraba State Government has taken over the matter.

    The Nation investigation revealed that the crises continued to fester because the leadership of the church is heavily funded by the church in the United States. The local church contributes a paltry 14% of the entire budget of the church, according to an official, Rev. Dr. Philip Micah Doppah.

    Funding for the church has therefore become a bait that often pitches the local church in the episcopal area of the church. Besides, the ethnic and cultural complexity of the state, which extends to governance and politics, has affected the church a great deal.

    In his article titled The Long Backstory of UMC Conflict in Nigeria, David Scott, says: “The pattern in the UMC in Nigeria is not just ethnic conflict among the three groups – those from the south, central, and northern areas. The pattern is ethnic conflicts that repeatedly pull in and involve the international church, with Nigerians seeking to enlist either its aid to calm conflict or its power to resolve conflict in favour of one group or another.

    “This, then, is the true pattern in the current conflict in Nigeria: ethnic factions in the church that seek to draw powers from the international church and civil government into internal Nigerian church conflict, along with actors from outside Nigeria that wittingly or unwittingly allow themselves to be drawn in.

    “This is a complex pattern, and there is a lot to unpack here: questions about mission strategy, local decision-making and international relations within the church; about ethnic conflict and peace and reconciliation efforts that seek to address it; and about branches of the church in one nation, whether the United States or Nigeria, that seek to use other branches of the church as pawns in their own games.”

     Taraba govt places ban on worship centres

    Meanwhile, the Taraba State Government, in its usual manner of intervention each time the crisis rears its ugly head, has placed a ban on worship in all UMC and GMC churches in order to avert a breakdown of law and order.

    In a recent letter signed by the Secretary to the Government of the state, Barrister Gibon T. Kataps, all churches are to remain closed “pending the resolution of the crisis within the shortest possible time”.

    The letter reads: “All signposts bearing Global Methodist Church are to be removed immediately pending the resolution of the matter.”

  • India Supreme Court declines to legalise same-sex marriage

    India Supreme Court declines to legalise same-sex marriage

    India Supreme Court has declined to legalise same-sex unions, dashing the hopes of millions of LGBTQ+ people seeking marriage equality.

    The court instead accepted the government’s offer to set up a panel to consider granting more legal rights and benefits to same-sex couples.

    Activists and same-sex couples said they were disappointed by the judgement and would continue their campaign.

    The court in India was considering 21 petitions by same-sex couples and activists.

    The five-judge bench had held extensive hearings in April and May and the deliberations were “livestreamed in public interest”.

    The petitioners had argued that not being able to marry violated their constitutional rights and made them “second-class citizens”.

    They had suggested that the court could just replace “man” and “woman” with “spouse” in the Special Marriage Act – which allows marriage between people from different religions, castes and countries – to include same-sex unions.

    The government and religious leaders had strongly opposed the petitions. The government had insisted that only parliament could discuss the socio-legal issue of marriage and argued that allowing same-sex marriage would lead to “chaos” in society.

    On Tuesday, the judges agreed with the government, saying that only parliament could make law and the judges could only interpret them.

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    They accepted Solicitor General Tushar Mehta’s proposal on behalf of the government to set up a committee, headed by the country’s top bureaucrat, to consider “granting queer couples” rights and privileges available to heterosexual couples.

    Two of the judges, including Chief Justice DY Chandrachud, favoured civil union and granting the same “benefits that married people enjoy” to same-sex couples.

    The chief justice also read out a long list of directions to the government, asking them to ensure the end of all discrimination against the “queer community” and to protect them from harassment and violence. Justice Chandrachud also said that “queer and unmarried couples” could jointly adopt a child.

    But after all the judges had spoken, and the majority of three judges on the bench did not back his list, it became clear that Justice Chandrachud’s directions will remain just that – directions.

    BBC

  • Bill on same sex marriage inspired ‘Busted’, says producer

    Bill on same sex marriage inspired ‘Busted’, says producer

    It is not the run-of-the-mill Nollywood story, but producers of ‘Busted’, an advocacy movie feel obligated to fill the gap created by dearth of awareness on same sex marriage, after the Senate passed a bill on the issue.
    Producer Lisa Onu said she is disappointed that no adequate structure has been implemented to follow up on the bill, “especially on sensitization and counselling” of the young ones on this major global issue.
    Onu whose previous efforts include ‘Different Women;, ‘Anambra na Imo’, ‘Priceless’, and ‘My sister and I’, said ‘Busted;, apart from following an unusual theme, is her first cinema standard movie.
    “I will encourage people to go see the movie and experience the intrigues and thrills on the lifestyle of these people. A lifestyle that has never been displayed like this in our Nollywood movies before. It’s educating and informative,” she said.
    Onu who also acted in the movie said, “I always try my best to bring it on.”
    She boasted of other cast members who she described as a combination of matured minds in both acting and life, and younger talents to mingle with excitement to bring on their best.
    “I have veterans like Liz Benson Ameye: a beautiful actress and a minister of God; Paul Obazele: A strict man by nature and a fantastic actor and leader too; Kate Henshaw: I always admired Kate with her humble nature, an advocate, a very fantastic and tolerating act, and the handsome likes of Ik Ogbonna and Bryan Okwara. We also have beautiful actresses like Vanessa Onu, Chika Kalu and Janelle Ezeanaka; 2016 Most Beautiful Girl UK – all introduced into Nollywood for the first time.”
    According to Onu, the Busted set was her most successful set ‘because there were a lot of debates that went on but at the end of the day the aim of the project was achieved.”
    She noted that the audience being targeted by the movie include “parents; especially mummies, boarding school staff, churches and the government.”
    “We plan to exhibit at some states with the approval of State First Ladies in order to reach out to families and especially secondary schools. It is part of the sensitization I talked about,” said the producer.
    A controversial love story directed by Pat Oghre and Damijo Efe-Young, ‘Busted’ tells the story of Queen, a girl child born into a decent home but whose father’s strictness and mother’s ignorance led her into the arms of a maid who changed her entire being. Now as a grown woman, unknown to her parents, Queen has a different understanding to life and has taken to a new lifestyle.
    She eventually meets ‘The Love of her life’, Blessing; another beautiful young lady who willingly surrenders to the lifestyle due to the economic hardship. Unfortunately for the lovers, the Nigerian law sector has passed a bill in the constitution against the act of same sex marriage. Ignoring the Biblical belief and what the society thinks of them, the law becomes the tussle that leads to the test of their love.

  • Buhari praised for rejecting same-sex marriage

    Buhari praised for rejecting same-sex marriage

    A religious leader and founder, One Love Family, Sat Guru Maharaj, has commended President Muhammadu Buhari for resisting the pressure mounted on him by United States of America to lure Nigeria to recognize same-sex marriage.

    Describing Buhari’s action as a mark of patriotism, Maharaj described same-sex marriage as evil and un-African. He said: “Our President has done well. He deserves kudos for refusing to bow to the dictates of imperialism. What does the United States take us for? Same-sex marriage is an abomination. It is not only uncultural, but also un-African. It is another form of imperialism, but thank God, President Buhari resisted US moves.”

    While describing actions being taken so far by Buhari as positive, the religious leader urged Nigerians to support the President’s efforts to reposition the country for greatness. He implored Buhari to sustain the war against corruption and other vices, which he said has hindered Nigeria from realizing its potentialities.

    Maharaj added: “Nigeria is destined to be a great nation, but we must be ready to tackle corruption. Henceforth, let public officers be made to swear with local deities like Ogun, Sango, Esu, Sigidi and a host of others, then there will be sanity; public officials no longer respect the Quran and the Bible. Ask them to swear with Ogun the god of iron, or Sango the god of thunder, you see them becoming jittery.”

    He urged elected leaders to seek the input of traditional rulers in the day-to-day running of the country’s affairs, adding that they can also add value to governance.

  • Niger Delta Anglican Diocese vows to resist same-sex marriage

    Niger Delta Anglican Diocese vows to resist same-sex marriage

    The Bishop of Niger Delta Diocese, Church of Nigeria, Anglican Communion, Rt. Rev Ralph Cornelius Ebirien, has vowed that the church would never support same sex marriage or relationship despite the appointment of a Nigerian as the Secretary General of the Anglican Communion worldwide.

    Rev Ebirien, who spoke at an event to mark the fifth anniversary of his ordination as the sixth spiritual head of the diocese, said the appointment of Bishop of Kaduna Anglican Communion, Bishop Idowu Fearon as ?the next Secretary General of the Anglican Communion worldwide, has received the blessing from the church but noted that the primate of the Anglican communion had told Fearon the Nigerian church would not accept same sex marriage.

    He said, “Same sex marriage is a problem to Anglican Church worldwide; Church of Nigeria is against it and we want to thank the immediate past President of Nigeria, Goodluck Jonathan who said no to it.  Our primate said no to it, all of us said no to it. The primate said Bishop Idowu Fearon is on his own, someone has been appointed to oversee his Diocese in Kaduna. Our answers remain ‘No’, according to the bible and we will continue to say No.

    Rev Ebirien began his journey as a young Deacon in 1982 and was consecrated Bishop on January 10th 2010.

    He said his greatest achievement as the Bishop of the Niger Delta Diocese was his ability to resolve a very serious crisis affecting the number two church in the Diocese. He said God’s grace was with the members of the church and others who played one role or the other to ensure that peace took the position of the crisis.

    He also recounted the contribution of the church during the flood disaster in Niger Delta communities and other humanitarian service rendered by Diocese. He said because of the terrain where most of their churches are planted, the church had always had to do more in the area of social service delivery.

    “We are indeed very happy that God is guiding us. It is not easy, but God was on our side with the support of Diocese. Since we came onboard we have made some strides in the area of discipline, we had some challenges in one or two churches. The crisis affected the Diocese badly, that church, St. Cyprian where crisis erupted is the number two church, but God assisted us to solve the matter successfully. And that is one of the greatest achievements of my leadership.

    “We have two people on scholarship; we also have plans to increase our temple in the area of training. Before I came here the church hospital was closed down. But now, we have reopened it with modern medical equipment. We have also acquired 20 plots of land; we bought lands for new church buildings and there is also plan to have a new Bishop’s court. These are some of thing we have achieved.

    “During the flood crisis, especially in the Niger Delta region, we reached out to people; about four communities were assisted with food items, clothing and other consumable materials. We have always identified with them even when there is no flood we also visit them. More of our churches are along the creek and sea that is another challenges but we don’t allow any of these challenges to deter us from doing the work of God. One of our pastors fell sick and the church sent him to Indian. With the little available to us we have also assisted other members of the society who solicited for our help in one way or the other.”

    Rev Ebirien also commended his wife for bringing the women in Anglican Communion together and teaching them in a Godly ways on how to respect their husbands and to take care of their families.

    He said the church is devoting interest to training and re-training of the leaders of the church and also establishing a youth church.

    He listed another challenge facing the Niger Delta Diocese community as the migration from rural to urban areas, noting, “Everybody today wants to travel out of his or her community and some of these people are so important to their church in the community.

    “Some time when you go to the rural area to preach you discover that some of the churches are empty. When you try to find out the reply is always that they travel out because of job or school. So it is our duty to see how we can link with those members of the church who have left the villages to towns.”

     

  • Adeboye condemnes same-sex marriage in US

    Adeboye condemnes same-sex marriage in US

    The General Overseer of the Redeemed Christian Church of God, Pastor Enoch Adeboye, has condemned the recent United States Supreme Court ruling supporting same-sex marriages across the country as satanic and demonic.

    Adeboye made this known at a Special Prayer and Thanksgiving Service for security operatives held last week at the national headquarters of RCCG, Throne of Grace, Ebutte- Metta, Lagos.

    The theme, Divine security for the Nigeria Police Force and their family, brought together hundreds of police men and officers from across the country.

    According to him, the recent national approval given by the apex court on same-sex marriage in the US is from the pit of hell. He said it is unfortunate that America who started in the spirit is now living in the flesh.

    Pastor Johnson Odesola, speaking on behalf of Adeboye, said that the United States of America had long deviated from the fundamental foundation of God which their forefathers laid.

    He noted that America is on its way to the valley as backsliding, moral degeneration and ungodliness continue unabated in the country.

    He said: “It shows the end of time and level of degeneration. The same-sex marriage is from the pit of hell and a backsliding victory for America.”

    He challenged Africa to rise against any ungodly pressure from the West to legalise same-sex marriage, as it is against nature and unAfrican.

    He also called for prayers for the protection and fear of God for the police as they discharge their statutory duty of securing lives and properties.

    “You that are protectors also need divine protection, and even the best police in the world require divine protection,” the preacher said. He urged them to put their confidence in God who is able to build the wall of defence around them.

    The Inspector General of Police, Mr. Solomon Arise, remarked that the security situation was gradually improving in the country, owing to the improvement of training of members of the force.

    Arase, who was represented by Assistant Commissioner of Police, Administration (Lagos), Ngozi Iloh, expressed appreciation for the programme, saying it would boost the morale of the officers.

    The Assistant Inspector General of Police-in-Charge of Counter Terrorism, Yahaya Garba Audu, described the programme as very rewarding.

    He advised the organisers to give the programme more publicity in the future so that the turn out will be more than what they saw.

    “If enough publicity is made for subsequent programmes, I quite believe that a lot of officers from all over the country would attend.” Audu added that the security agencies in the country were doing their best to nip terrorism in the bud.

    “Our challenge is that these terrorists are faceless, striking here and there. Today, they are in Maiduguri, tomorrow they are in Jos.

    “All we can do is to make arrest because if we embark on shoot-at-sight, innocent persons would be involved and we would be indicted for human right abuse,” Audu stated.

  • Is same sex marriage practicable in Nigeria?

    Marriage is the legally or formally recognised union of a man and a woman. In some jurisdictions, it is considered two persons the same sex as partners in a relationship. Same sex marriage means the union between two persons of the same sex. A gay is a homosexual person, especially a man sexually attracted to people of the same sex and not to people of the opposite sex while a lesbian is a homosexual person, especially a woman sexually attracted to persons of the same sex and not to people of the opposite sex. British gay rights artist Peter Tatchell argued that the term gay is merely a cultural expression which reflects the status of homosexuality within a given society, claiming: “Queer, gay, homosexual in the long view, they are all just temporary identities. One day, we will not need them at all.”

    My major grouse with gay marriage right as recently ruled in the United States is that it is not a possible development in Nigeria, not even in the nearest future. Some people believe that it is a matter of time before Nigeria eventually succumbs to the pressure from the West. In a world where America virtually influences a chunk of policies around the world, such fears are not out of place.

    Following the controversies stirred by the gay rights debate in 2013, the practice has come to be endorsed by one of the most powerful nations on earth. Going by our cultural standpoint, it one cannot imagine gay marriage happening in an African setting, especially Nigeria, even though question has been asked as to how long our supposed cultural standards hold against the threat of alienation by the western world. But one should not forget that Nigerians believe in African tradition. Marriage is one of the institutions in Africa which is defined as the coming together of man and woman to become husband and wife as opposed to the definition of gay unions.

    Marriage is an important aspect of the African culture. And an un-married adult is seen as irresponsible. His views may not be taken seriously, especially when it borders on marital discourse.Though culture, according to sociologists, is man-made and subject to changes and modifications. Yet, the same culture is also said to be stable. The firmness of African culture will make it practically difficult to be  heralded by an alien culture whose ugly tenets irritate the ears. It is easy for an American to openly declare their gay or lesbian status, no thanks to the proliferation of liberal proclivities of its people. But it is extremely hard for a Nigerian to do same.

    It is worthy to note that there was a time adultery in America was punishable by public shame and social alienation but today it is no longer seen as immoral. Same could be said about same sex marriage. One needs not say much as the world has evolved in our time. The Catholics that kiciked against gay right in the United States could not openly stand against it anymore. We are gradually witnessing the erosion of our values and the subsequent obliteration of our moral fabric.That is scary and it portends danger for the future of our value system.

    God has used America to remind the world that the end is nearer than we imagined. Evidence in the two major holy books – Bible and Qur’an –both condemn sex marriage. So, what America has done is a blessing in disguise, a reminder that the world has reached its limits as eter riage. So, what America has done is a blessing in disguise, a reminder that the world has reached its limits as eternity beckons.

    The traditional belief in Judaism, Christianity and Islam that God forbids homosexuality evident in the Old Testament where the entire city of Sodom and Gomorrah basked in untold depravity. In clear terms, the Bible admonished in Leviticus 18:20 that “you shall not lie with male as one lie with a female; it is an abomination.”

    In the QuranQ7, 80-82, we see reference to homosexuality in the story of Lot. Lot said to his people, “You commit such an abomination; no one in the world has done it before. You practice sex with the men instead of the women. Indeed, you are a transgressing people. With this plethora of injunctions, one can safely say that same sex marriage and homosexually are prohibited by God.

    Minds may think about the possibility of such a bill to be sponsored in our legislature. If it escapes the readings, what could be the reaction of our new president? The MuhammaduBuahari I know will certainly make a volte-face. He is known as a disciplined, religious and well cultured African man. In this regard, if anyone is going to legalise gay marriage in Nigeria, it just won’t be him.

     

    Ganiu, 200-Level English, UNILAG

  • Amor Vincit Omnia

    Amor Vincit Omnia

    America sanctions same-sex marriage as ‘victory for love’. Oh love, I am coming home!

    Some decades back, a Yoruba musician sang about some future date when bush rats would be shooting hunters. (Lojo’waju o, okete a ma yinbo f’oloko), he said. That musician must have been speaking metaphorically, though. But his message is not lost: that a time would come when things stranger than fiction would be happening. I had always expressed optimism that I would have been long gone before bush rats would be shooting hunters. Alternatively, I should be a bush rat myself. Or better still; if I happen to be around at that time, humans must have developed more potent weapons that would make the guns the bush rats would turn against them look like a child’s toy.

    But that time that I had thought would take eternity to come if it ever did appears to be here, with as many as 21 countries legalising same-sex marriage, the United States being the latest of such countries. Other countries that had done same since the Netherlands went that way in 2001 include Argentina, Belgium, Brazil, Canada, Denmark, France, Iceland, Luxembourg, New Zealand, Norway, Portugal, South Africa, Spain, Sweden the United Kingdom and Uruguay. With the judgment by the American Supreme Court on June 26, it would appear that supporters of gay marriage in the United States finally had the last laugh. That day would therefore forever remain indelible in their minds, given the bitter contest and activism for the soul of the marriage institution between the ‘naturalists’ (the one man one wife people) and the ‘un-naturalists’ (those in support of gay marriage).

    Five judges voted for gay marriage while four opposed it. Expectedly, the judgment has elicited reactions that could be described as mixed; or simply different folks, different strokes. Whilst those in support of the judgment have been celebrating across the country, those who object to it also have expressed their dissatisfaction. Indeed, to demonstrate how shocked some Americans were about the court’s decision, some counties initially refused to issue marriage licenses to same-sex couples after the judgment, with their officials insisting that doing that also offends their religious sensibilities. But it is apparent it is only a matter of time for all across the country to comply with the judgment.

    Although there is a 25-day period after a decision is handed down where individuals can petition the Supreme Court for a rehearing, hopes of supporters of traditional marriage would appear dimmed because the court had almost never granted any rehearing.

    So, what are the likely consequences of this judgment that has been variously described as ‘freedom for marriage’ and ‘victory for love’, for the rest of the world, now that the all-powerful America has pitched its tent with those that many people feel are depraved? I mean how does it feel when a man decides to take on another man from behind, in the name of marriage? Or when a woman has to do it orally with another woman? Or, when it has to be done differently through ways that were not contemplated by God as enshrined either in the spirit or the letter of the holy writ, the Bible?

    Holy Moses! When God created man and woman, He did so for some purposes, among which is procreation. Again, God first created man and then created woman to be his helper. Let’s even assume that same-sex marriage does not in any way hamper the help-mate aspect of the relationship; that is, that man can still help man and woman can still help woman in same- sex marriage, what of the aspect of procreation? Are we not going the way of the Tower of Babel? Or Sodom and Gomorrah?

    Of course, nothing here suggests that homosexuality is new even in our own country. Indeed, one has heard several tales, some sounding like moonlight tales, about its prevalence in very high places and even among some students in a particular part of the country. Moreover, the competition among leisure spot owners and some hoteliers in Lagos for the pockets of their clients has pushed many of them to engage young girls and ladies of between 18 and 38 years of age to work as strippers and dance provocatively nude in their bars. In some cases, the girls even reportedly engaged in anal sex in the open. It was the 14 years imprisonment by the National Assembly for gay sex that has reduced the activities of these girls and their patrons who at the height of arousal reportedly engaged in homosexuality, also openly.

    Of course, too gonorrhea we know; syphilis we know, even staphylococcus we know as sexually-transmitted diseases (STDs). As a matter of fact, a time there was when gonorrhea became so common in the country that it was referred to as a sickness of the famous (arun gbajumo). When in the late 1980s (or thereabout) I wrote a piece titled “The danger down below”, I had thought that the Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome (AIDS) was going to be the height of the consequence of sexual perversion.  But, with same-sex marriage, the worst is  probably yet to come.

    With this latest development, it would appear that America has passed the mundane stage of ‘victory for democracy’ that we perpetually celebrate whenever a court gives any judgment in our favour in Nigeria. That appeared settled many years ago in America, their America. In America, what is in vogue is ‘freedom for marriage’; ‘victory for love’, etc. In effect, in America, love conquers all (Amor Vincit Omnia).

    But America has to be careful about this its usual ‘one-cap-fits-all policy all over the world. It must resist the temptation to impose this as world standard as it tried to do by threatening Nigeria with sanctions when the then President Goodluck Jonathan signed the anti-gay marriage bill into law last year. This was even as America’s Supreme Court was yet to give its blessing to same-sex marriage. As I have always argued on this page, one man’s meat is another man’s fish (please pardon my adulteration of the original saying). The rest of the world too should have the right to freely decide whether given their socio-cultural circumstances, they want it gay or straight. That is the beauty of democracy.

  • Same sex marriage is anathema to religious tenet – Don

    A lecturer of Islamic Studies at the Kwara State University (KWASU), Malete, Dr AbdulKadir Sambaki has described same sex marriage as anathema to religious tenets.

    Sambaki, who condemned same sex marriage in its entirety, told newsmen on Saturday in Ilorin that anyone who engaged in the unholy alliance was destined for hell fire.

    The lecturer, who also described the act as devilish, said that people should remember what happened to Sodom and Gomorrah in the holy book and run away from the unholy relationship.

    “Marriage is a sacred institution involving only the male and female partners for the purpose of companionship, procreation and peaceful co-existence.’’

    He condemned the unwholesome practice of an unholy engagement between same sex known as homo-sexuality and lesbianism, adding that the practice was unacceptable before Allah.

    Sambaki noted that no doctrine of scriptural references accept the sinful act of same sex couple, describing the practice as barbaric, disease-prone and against the basic laws of nature.

    The don attributed most strange diseases in the society presently to the ugly trend of the same-sex union.

    The lslamic studies lecturer advised the people to desist from the practice so as not to incur Allah’s wrath.

  • ‘Buhari ‘ll not support same sex marriage’

    A group, the Buhari Volunteer Network, yesterday denied insinuation by the Peoples Democratic Party Presidential Campaign Organisation (PDPPCO)  that the All Progressive Party presidential candidate, General Muhammadu Buhari, will collaborating with western nations to support same sex marriage if elected as President.

    The group said General Buhari will not support same sex marriage.

    Its National Co-ordinator, Comrade Olayemi Success, who spoke with reporters in Abuja said General Buhari will not revert the existing law on same sex marriage.

    The  Director, Media and Publicity of PDP Presidential Campaign Organisation, Chief Femi Fani- Kayode, has alleged  that Buhari  was considering repealing the anti-gay laws designed to get the support and endorsement of western governments.

    Success said: “General Buhari is a candidate of millions of Nigerian citizens and suffering masses who are demanding for change in the way and manner the country- Nigeria is currently being governed.

    “ There is no relationship between General Buhari and any western nation concerning gay marriage and such pervasive orientations that are not in conformity with our cultures and values.