Britain asks Nigeria to rescind decision on gay marriage

Britain asks Nigeria to rescind decision on gay marriage

The Nigerian government on Thursday disagreed with the British government over the recently passed same-sex marriage bill as the Senate president, David Mark insisted that the law is irrevocable in spite of the threat by the foreign nations to withdraw assistance to Nigeria on account of that law.

While the British government called on the Nigerian government to rescind its decision to punish individuals who engage in same sex marriage with 14 years imprisonment, the Nigerian government said that the foreign mission should hold whatever assistance or aid to Nigeria tied to such gifts with ulterior motive.

Criticism

The British Prime Minister, Mr David Camevon, said that Britain would not give any assistance or aid to countries that were opposed to same sex marriage.

The British High Commissioner in Nigeria, Mr Andrew Lyod, who held a closed door meeting with the Jigawa State governor, Alhaji Sule Lamido, asked the Nigerian government to rescind its decision on punishing individuals involved in same sex marriage.

He insisted that such a law infringes on the fundamental rights of choice and association.

The Canadian government has also condemned the passage of a bill criminalising same-sex marriage and gay activities in Nigeria by the Senate, saying that the bill, if assented to by the Nigerian President, Goodluck Jonathan, would trample upon the fundamental human rights of homosexuals and gay people.

The Canadian government, in a statement by its Foreign Affairs Minister, John Baird, on Thursday, called on Nigeria to reverse the bill so as to allow all its citizens to enjoy basic rights.

Baird said: “Canada calls on Nigeria to immediately ensure that all its citizens enjoy basic rights. A bill passed by Nigeria’s Senate would, if ratified, disregard basic human rights and fundamental freedoms.”

 NP/Adekusibe/Williams