beyond banning same-sex marriage

By Sonnie Ekwowusi (This Day, Lagos) - Opinion

January 24, 2006: In a major pre-emptive move that is now receiving public applause, the federal government has approved a Bill which, if passed into law by the National Assembly, would have the effect of banning the "same-sex marriage" in Nigeria. The new law, according to the Minister for Justice and Attorney General of the Federation, Chief Bayo Ojo (SAN), will provide for outright prohibition of two misbehaving men entering into what they wrongly perceive as marriage or two misbehaving women entering into what they wrongly perceive as marriage. The punishment for doing such a stupid thing is a five-year jail sentence without the option of fine. Also any persons or institutions, which expressly or implicitly, aid or abet such an aberration, would equally receive the same jail sentence of five years.

In fairness, the federal government deserves our congratulation for taking this bold and courageous step in ridding the country of what is fast turning into a festering sore. Gay liberalists in the world are fighting hard to change the natural way normal people look at things. They want marriage to be defined as a union of any two, not a union of a man and a woman. Whenever a gay marriage takes place anywhere gay people ensure that it is given wide publicity in the media.

Last year, the CNN showed music superstar, Elton John shamelessly holding the hand of one stone-headed man in gay marriage. Homosexuality was legalised in South Africa last year. It is a common knowledge that homosexual practices thrive in Nigeria especially among members of the urban elite. Shockingly enough, homosexual practices take place in some secondary schools in Nigeria. One hot afternoon in one secondary school a gay student in JSS11 was sighted giving a hot pursuit to one of his classmates. Members of the Nigerian Association of Homosexuals meet from time to time to discuss issues of vital interests especially the issue of enforcing what they consider as their "right" to homosexuality and "same-sex marriage". They practice fraternity among themselves. The rich homosexuals dole out money to the poorer ones. I suppose the lesbians in Nigeria are also well organised.

Shortly after the legalisation of homosexuality in South Africa last year, the homosexuals in Nigeria had their first public meeting in Abuja. After the meeting, some young Nigerian homosexuals paraded themselves on TV and even granted interview to press men. The Nigerian homosexuals stormed the venue of the last International AIDS Conference in Abuja last December in protest over their "lost right". Having sensed what was cooking up, the federal government swung into action and approved this bill that seeks to outlaw "same-sex marriage".

Obviously the Nigerian Association of Homosexuals and lesbians are going to put up a stiff opposition to the banning of "same-sex marriage". First they would want to win the sympathy of the Nigerian public on the matter. Thereafter they will try to lobby the members of the National Assembly to reject the new "same-sex marriage" bill. To buttress their argument they may refer to Spain and South Africa as "progressive" countries, which have legalized "same-sex marriage". They may even take the government to court. There they will argue that "same-sex marriage" gives them pleasure and physical fulfillment in life. And if it does, it is morally good and so should be made available for every one who cares in accordance with strict moral neutrality and principle of tolerance. This argument which seeks a revision of natural law thinking is fundamentally faulty. It is predicated on lack of understanding of human nature. Marriage is not just a means of sharing pleasure or even promoti ng feelings of closeness. Every culture in history has recognized the begetting and education of children as the overriding purpose of marriage. The claim by gay marriage liberalists that the law ought to be morally neutral about marriage is in itself a moral claim, which is not morally neutral. So when gay marriage liberalists make this type of claim they contradict themselves. Essentially, whereas in Europe and America traditional marriage and the family have collapsed in Africa they are great assets. It is in the traditional marriage and the family that the safety nets and social security for welfare of the African people are embedded. Since the raison d'être of government is to promote the welfare of the people, then African government must try to preserve traditional marriage and family. Besides if "same-sex marriage" is not outlawed in Nigeria, it will lead to the bastardization of our inheritance law.

Advocates of legalisation of "same-sex marriage" in Nigeria should know by now that Nigeria is different from South Africa. Every society grows at its own pace and according to its unique culture, tradition and heritage. We cannot allow ourselves to be enslaved by the emerging universal culture. Westernization cannot be our sole yardstick for measuring progress in fashion and music and entertainment. A few years ago two young homosexuals were caught cohabiting somewhere in Niger Delta State. What was the reaction of neigbours? They picked up big sticks and thrashed the hell out of them. As Mr. Frank Nweke, Minister for Information, recently observed, the reason for banning "same-sex marriage" in Nigeria is to preserve our value system. The Hon. Minister is right. In Europe and America where family values have been destroyed one may clamour for gay marriage but not here in Nigeria. Our political system may be in a mess but some of our values are still in tact. You see how the Anglican Church Nigeria has refused to be a part of the madness to legalize homosexuality and gay marriage in the Anglican Church, world body.

But banning of "same-sex marriage" is not enough. "Same-sex marriage" is a symptom of a deep-seated problem. There is a new wave of sensuality and hedonism and eroticism sweeping across the world today more than before and Nigeria, for all you know, is not immune from this wave. Cultural globalization has brought in its wake strange foreign lifestyles which have enthroned a permissive culture. Look at the indecent exposure by women. Look at foreign TV programmes. These days a decent human being cannot sit down in front of the TV and watch all foreign TV programs. The other day I was in a house of a friend and I couldn't watch the musical program of Silverbird Television. Therefore if the Federal government wants to tackle "same-sex marriage" from its root, it must start by banning the importation of foreign films, music, fashion and entertainment that are against Nigerian heritage.

The government must review the topics in our secondary school curricula. In many public secondary schools today they are teaching them immoral topics like homosexuality, giving and receiving pleasure, infertility by using contraceptives, safe-sex with condom, masturbation, etc under the guise of Integrated Science. In the Comprehensive Sexuality Education (Trainer's Resource Manual) prepared by an NGO called Action Health Incorporated masturbation is presented to young students as something they can indulge in that would give them sexual pleasure. This is the kind of immoral instruction that lures young students into homosexual activities and "same-sex marriage" in the future. Masturbatory acts, by its nature, instrumentize the bodies of those engaging in it in a way that cannot but damage their integrity as human beings. So if the government wants the ban on "same-sex marriage" to be effective, it must begin by banning the aforesaid Comprehensive Sexuality Education Manual a nd pornographic Integrated Science in our schools.

Finally, banning of same-sex marriage on paper is one thing; enforcement of the ban is another thing. In this country most of our laws are not enforced let alone obeyed. Our Criminal Code and other laws are replete with dead laws that are never enforced. For example, abortion is illegal Nigeria but some hungry medical doctors are still busy procuring abortion for quick money. Even Nigeria is a signatory to an international Convention prohibiting child pornography. But go to Cyber Cafes and Business Centres and see children browsing raw pornography. The tragedy is that policemen who ought to prosecute offenders are busy extorting money on the highways. Therefore the ban on "same-sex marriage" will not be complete unless the Federal Government devise ways of enforcing the new law otherwise it will be a dead law.