Yes, I am the Great Naija Oracle and I am an embodiment of
the Nigerian culture and tradition...I am Nigerian through and through and it
would definitely not be out of place or surprising if I shout from the roof-top
that I detest homosexualism. But right now, going by the happenings in our
nation...I am going to take a rather unpopular stand, which I am used to
anyways. I am going to pitch my tent with the gays as against the Nigerian
Legislature and Judiciary and this is why.
In 2011, the Nigerian Senate passed a bill called Same
Gender Marriage (Prohibition) for an Act to prohibit marriage between persons
of same gender, solemnisation of same and for other matters related therewith. As
at late 2012, the bill had unanimously passed the second reading in the
Nigerian House or Representatives and in no distant time, may become law.
In the light of the above, the international community
especially the United States of America and the United Kingdom had threatened
to withhold aids from Nigeria and other countries that plan to toe the path of
not recognising gay rights. Our lawmakers had however, called their bluff and
went ahead, "zealously" to pass the bill from one reading to the
other. Please do note the word "zealously".
Nigerians have also reacted to the bill with majority
backing it and a few against it. The bill has also been largely blown out of
proportion by Nigerians as majority have understood it as criminalising every homosexual
act where, in earnest, all it stands against is the 'Solemnisation in matrimony
of people of same sex'. In a nutshell, this bill does not seek to criminalise
sexual relationships between people of same sex; rather it seeks to make the
union in marriage of such persons a crime. You may want to click here for a
copy of this bill.
As earlier stated, the Same Gender Marriage (Prohibition)
bill is for an Act to Prohibit Marriage
Between Persons of Same Gender, Solemnisation of Same and for Other Matters
Related Therewith. It is different from the Same Sex Marriage (Prohibition)
Act of 2006 which was an Act to Make Provisions
for the Prohibition of Relationship Between Persons of the Same Sex,
Celebration of Marriage by Them and for Other Matters Connected Therewith.
The 2006 Act, which sought to criminalise homosexualism in its entirety didn’t see
the light of day.
Even though the Same Gender Marriage (Prohibition) bill is
yet it become law; Nigerians have already started meting out jungle justice on
people of same sex caught in 'the act'; ignorant and overzealous Officers of
the Nigerian Police Force have also been seen “enforcing a law” that does not exist.
While it is now clear that the said bill is not as harsh as
most Nigerians have made it out to be; I, however, wonder at the essence of such
a bill and the reason so much zeal was put into it by our distinguished and honourable
lawmakers. I sit back and wonder why the Universal Head of the Goat Kingdom
would rule that it has been prohibited for Goats to purchase and don human
clothing...do Goats wear human clothes? Why the ban?
Nigerians are predominantly Christians and Muslims with a
negligible few as pagans. None of these religious groups embraces homosexualism
and since these same groups have been conferred the power to join people in marriage;
it is highly unlikely that they would wed people of same sex. Truth be told, the
occurrence of same-sex marriage in Nigeria is not anywhere close to being as
popular the bill which seeks to halt it. The brouhaha about the bill actually
got people talking about a hitherto irrelevant issue. And this brings me to the nitty-gritty of this
divination..."Relevance".
Nigeria has been and is still in penury due to the excesses
of corrupt leaders and public office holders who loot our treasuries and public
funds dry. We have series of cases where public funds have been blatantly
looted and little or nothing was done to the highly-placed criminals.
Do you remember the 2008 probe in the power sector? Have you
forgotten what played out? The 'Prober'- Hon. Ndudi Elumelu - got roped in and
now the probe, the 'prober' and 'probee' have all disappeared with billions of
Naira.
In 2012, there was a probe in the petroleum sector...do you
recall what happened? The 'Prober' - Hon. Farouk Lawan- got roped in and the
usual shenanigans have been employed by the great cabal in governance. With
time, Nigerians would forget, and one day, would wake up to ask "what
happened to the probe? Where are the 'Prober' and the 'Probee'? But by then, it
would have been too late.
Going ahead, do you recall how our 'Outstanding' judiciary
cleared Ex-Deltan Governor- Ibori - of all wrong-doings only for him to be
convicted for same criminal charges in the United Kingdom and is presently
serving jail term? Please, before you go on reading...pause in silence for a
minute in respect to our 'Outstanding' Judiciary.
Do you remember Chief Bode George who was guilty of an N85
Billion scam, sentenced to just 30 months in prison without the option of fine?
He spent his term at the V.I.P section of the Kirikiri Prison, never wore prison
clothes and enjoyed meals prepared by family and friends. He was released in
2011 amidst pomp and pageantry...most of the movers-looters-and-shakers of the
country were at hand to celebrate with him including the governors and the
great Olusegun Obasanjo. Look at the scenario, he was convicted of an N85
billion scam; sent to a hotel-like prison and after 2 years was asked to go and
enjoy his loot. Perfect Business!
Do you recall when Andy Uba was caught and indicted by the
United States Government for having smuggled in $170,000 dollars aboard the
Nigerian Presidential Jet? The United States District Court of Portland seized the
said amount which they believed was laundered on behalf of the then President,
Olusegun Obasanjo. What happened afterwards? Back in Nigeria, both Obasanjo and
Uba walked scot-free. Uba is presently a
member of the Nigerian Senate while Obasanjo is an 'elder statesman'.
Lucky Igbenedion was indicted for having looted Edo to a
total amount of N44 Billion (N19 Billion was discovered in 2008 and N24 Billion
in 2011). After all the rigmarole, the man had to pay a fine of N3.5 Million and today he walks
freely with his loot and would definitely be receiving allowances as an ex-governor
of Edo state. The United States found this so appalling that they banned him
from stepping into their Country.
Who sigh? With all the money he stole, he can probably
afford a vacation to heaven. I no blame them Americans shaa, the man is pretty
dangerous and might even steal the White House at the slightest opportunity.
Chief Priest, can you please shut up?!
I’m sorry Great one…Keep speaking, your servant listens.
Most recently; John Yakubu Yusufu, a former Director in the
Police Pensions Office was convicted of N32.8 billion fraud but was given the options
to pay N750, 000 (0.2% of what he stole) as fine or a 2 year jail term in the
VIP section of a certain Prison. His Lawyer paid the fine on the spot. Even if
Mr. Yusufu chose a 2 year jail term, he would wish for another opportunity to
loot billions and either pay the law 0.2% of it or take a 2 year vacation in a
hotel called prison.
The list goes on and on. X-ray both former and presently
serving State Governors and you would shudder...but let me ask you? Do you know
a certain Blessing Effiong? I would kill myself if you do! She is a 19 year old
girl and she spent 4 years in prison for an alleged phone theft.
What about a Mr. Julius Aderoju? He stole a motorcycle
valued at N120, 000 and was sentenced to 3 years in prison with hard-labour.
I am not saying that petit thieves shouldn’t be
punished...but it baffles me how, in the same country and the same legal
system, a petit thief is subjected to greater amount of punishment than a
grand-scale thief; I really cannot comprehend it. The only sense I can make out
of it is the apparent message that "If you want to be protected by law in
Nigeria as a thief, then don't be a small-time thief! Steal really big".
Now who is to blame for all these? The Legislature or the
Judiciary? In an apparent answer to these questions; Okey Wali (SAN) - the President
of the Nigerian Bar Association - opined that the Judiciary isn't to blame for
the mild sentences which corrupt public office holders receive. He suggested
that there exist very weak anti-corruption laws in Nigeria. Okey Wali went
ahead to point out that the country's penal code was ordained in 1916 and
should have been reviewed long before now.
In other words, going by the assertions of Okey Wali, the
onus falls back on the legislature whose duty it is to review the country's constitution
and laws and this is done by the passage of bills. Even though this makes sense
to a very large degree, the Judiciary cannot be without blame. The Ibori-EFCC
case is a perfect example of where the Judiciary has been an utter disappointment; so many other instances are abound.
This now brings us back to the essence of this divination...with
Nigeria in the shackles of corruption which threatens the very core of our existence
as an entity - the shackles of corruption which has made us 'almost-men' who
have never really attained expected heights even though the capabilities exist;
the shackles of corruption which has seen the elevation and not alleviation of
poverty - one should expect that every arm of government, especially the
legislature, would work towards tackling corruption and setting Nigeria free
from its grip.
Nigerians have suggested death sentence for people found
guilty of misusing public funds and I seriously buy that idea; but it is one I know
would never be passed into law because of the kindred spirit that exists
between the top-office holders and because it would be akin to one shooting
himself in the legs. If they are not thieves, why are they scared of bringing
about an act that would severely punish anyone found wanting? Instead of
"desperately" seeking for a review of constitution especially as it
concerns corruption; our Law-makers chose to assiduously work towards a bill
that would 'prevent the nonexistent matrimony of homosexuals'.
One popular defence line which our lawmakers have adopted
with regards the Same Gender Marriage (Prohibition) bill is that
"homosexualism is alien to our culture, so everything humanly possible
must be done to make sure it is curbed". Therefore, an enormous 14 year
incarceration period is being touted for people found 'guilty' when this bill
eventually becomes law. But because corruption is part and parcel of our
culture unlike homosexualism, it must be encouraged by asking for just 0.2% of
the total money which a corrupt public office holder stole. It is appalling that soonest in Nigeria, being a homosexual would land you a 14 year jail term
while stealing billions of public funds would land you 2 with an option of paying
a negligible amount as fine.
I must reiterate that I am Nigerian through and through and
that I despise homosexualism. It is profane. But realistically speaking, what
two adults of same sex do in private has no effects whatsoever on the economy
of our Country Nigeria and on the lives of their next door neighbors but the
blatant looting of public funds does...so in the words of Hon. Patrick
Obahiagbon "Parliament must rise and fix culpability where culpability
is".
As much as I despise homosexualism, if I were asked to
choose between a corruption-free Nigeria where homosexualism is accepted and a
homosexualism-free Nigeria where corruption is accepted, I would pick the
former without thinking twice.
Nigerians, please
wake up from your slumber and request for relevant laws from your lawmakers. Don’t
be fooled by the tricks of a bunch of thieves who are proposing irrelevant laws
in order to appear busy while in earnest all they are avoiding are those laws
that would ‘negatively’ affect their purses but put Nigeria on the path to
glory.
The Oracle Has Spoken!!
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