President Muhammadu Buhari has foreclosed a possible shift in Nigeria’s anti-gay stance. He told a joint session of the United States (U.S.) Senate and House Committees on Foreign Affairs that Nigeria’s law abhors same-sex marriage. The President said sodomy is illegal and abhorrent to Nigeria’s culture.
The President’s Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Mr. Femi Adesina, said his principal was “point blank” in declaring Nigeria’s position on gay marriage and rights.
In statement, Mr. Adesina explained that the matter was not pushed at the session President Buhari had with President Barack Obama on Monday. “The issue of gay marriage came up here yesterday,” Mr. Adesina tweetedWednesday.
“PMB was point blank. Sodomy is against the law in Nigeria, and abhorrent to our culture. Talks shifted to another matter once PMB emphatically stated Nigeria’s stand on same sex marriage. The issue was not pushed,” Adesina said.
Besides Nigeria’s criminal laws which outlaw gay acts and union, the country in 2014, approved an anti-gay law with stringent penalties for homosexual relationships. Under the law, gay persons risk up to 14 years imprisonment if convicted.
Also criminalised in Nigeria is the meeting of homosexuals; operating or attending a gay club, society or organisation. Anybody engaging in public shows of outlawed same-sex and intimate affection may be jailed for up to 10 years.
Nigeria has been under intense pressure from the U.S. government which opposes the laws.
Credit: www.cknnigeria.com/
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