Govt denies endorsing gay diplomats as there is media controversy around the globe
THE Federal Government Monday denied media reports of endorsing same
sex marriage and the accreditation of foreign diplomats who are gays in
the country.
Some media organisations had in their weekend publications alleged that the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Olugbenga Ashiru accredited some foreign diplomats who are gays.
However, the Ministry in a statement by its spokesman, Ogbole Ode stated: “For the avoidance of doubt, at no time did the Honourable Minister, either in his public engagements or private encounters, endorse or suggest the endorsement of gay marriages and/or rights in the country. The Nigerian position on this issue is very clear, and Ambassador Ashiru has, at every opportunity or forum, reiterated that foreign countries should not impose their values on Nigeria.
“At his recent engagement with the diplomatic community on 19th July, 2013, the Minister made the point that whilst Nigeria is not against any country legalising gay marriages, no country should force that on Nigeria, for the reason that Nigeria and majority of Nigerians are against gay marriages and gay rights, as they are not part of our customs, religions, or laws.
Meanwhile, apex Islamic organisation in the North, Jama’at Nasir Islam (JNI) has condemned plans by the Federal Government to support gay and child marriages in Nigeria, while urging all Muslims to distance themselves away from such practices.
A statement by the Secretary General of JNI, Dr. Khalid Abubakar Aliyu, urged Muslims to embark on intensive prayers in the last 10 days of the Ramadan fast and lamented that the country was drifting into immoral tendencies, which may have negative effects on the nation’s social structure.
Aliyu, who also called on all Muslims to engage in prayers for the nation, added, “we therefore, urge Muslim brothers and sisters to pray fervently, especially for the Ummah against all manner of conspiracies in the name of gay marriage, and early or under aged marriage as now being touted with seeming impunity in the country”.
In a related development, Edo women based in Nigeria, Europe, America and other parts of the world have expressed shock on the decision of the senator representing Edo Central in the Senate, Odion Ugbesia to support the clause on child marriage.
In a letter dated July 29 sent electronically to The Guardian, the women threatened to invoke Section 69 (a) of the 1999 Constitution, which makes provision for the recall of a lawmaker if he or she was not longer doing the biddings of his constituents.
With copies addressed to the Senate President, David Mark, the governor of the state, Adams Oshiomhole, two other senators from the state and several others, the women said they were appalled that the senator did not take cognizance that the controversial clause also negates Section 277 of the Child Right Act which stipulates age 18 for adulthood, a situation which made it more important that the clause be removed.
But in his reaction yesterday, Ugbesia told The Guardian that he did not vote for under-aged marriage as being “mis-presented,” adding that there are more serious matters that Nigerians should bother about in the review of the constitution.
However, Medical Consultant-General, Muslim Medical Volunteers, Dr. Haheem-Deen Ekemode, has urged Nigerians to differentiate between when a culture allows for a man to be attached to a girl and when there is said to be marriage.
Ekemode made this call, yesterday at a media briefing organised by a non-governmental organisation, Nigerian Virgin Girls, an initiative that upholds ethos of virginity among young Nigerian girls.
Ekemode, who is a renowned gynecologist, said he supports early marriage, but not in the sense of girls being married off at 12 or 13 years, stressing that marriage should be from age 16 upwards. He advised that marriage should be done between 24 to 28 years, because after this age women are likely to develop fibroid.
He said: “A child can betrothed to a man at any age, even at birth, but intercourse in these arrangements should take place when the girl is 16 years. It is the ideal advice in gynecology. This is because it is at 16 that the girl is fully matured to bear a child. The 12-year-old’s body is not developed enough to tolerate child bearing. When this is done, the common complication is Vesico Vaginal Fistula (VVF), which affects the urinary bladder. A girl-child can be attached to a man, as is in some cultures, but sexual intercourse should be when the girl is 16 years. Any thing below this, the law should be allowed to take its full course.”
Founder of the NGO, Princess Adunni Adediran said the initiative was borne out of the need to address the increasing rate at which young Nigerians take to abortion, contract sexually transmitted diseases and neglect the age-long culture of abstaining from sex before marriage.
To uphold the virtue of virginity, she said the NGO had organised beauty pageants for virgins, during which the virgins underwent certification by an experienced gynecologist and won awards for their feat at the end. However, she said the initiative suffered setback due to low level of patronage by well-meaning Nigerians.
Some media organisations had in their weekend publications alleged that the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Olugbenga Ashiru accredited some foreign diplomats who are gays.
However, the Ministry in a statement by its spokesman, Ogbole Ode stated: “For the avoidance of doubt, at no time did the Honourable Minister, either in his public engagements or private encounters, endorse or suggest the endorsement of gay marriages and/or rights in the country. The Nigerian position on this issue is very clear, and Ambassador Ashiru has, at every opportunity or forum, reiterated that foreign countries should not impose their values on Nigeria.
“At his recent engagement with the diplomatic community on 19th July, 2013, the Minister made the point that whilst Nigeria is not against any country legalising gay marriages, no country should force that on Nigeria, for the reason that Nigeria and majority of Nigerians are against gay marriages and gay rights, as they are not part of our customs, religions, or laws.
Meanwhile, apex Islamic organisation in the North, Jama’at Nasir Islam (JNI) has condemned plans by the Federal Government to support gay and child marriages in Nigeria, while urging all Muslims to distance themselves away from such practices.
A statement by the Secretary General of JNI, Dr. Khalid Abubakar Aliyu, urged Muslims to embark on intensive prayers in the last 10 days of the Ramadan fast and lamented that the country was drifting into immoral tendencies, which may have negative effects on the nation’s social structure.
Aliyu, who also called on all Muslims to engage in prayers for the nation, added, “we therefore, urge Muslim brothers and sisters to pray fervently, especially for the Ummah against all manner of conspiracies in the name of gay marriage, and early or under aged marriage as now being touted with seeming impunity in the country”.
In a related development, Edo women based in Nigeria, Europe, America and other parts of the world have expressed shock on the decision of the senator representing Edo Central in the Senate, Odion Ugbesia to support the clause on child marriage.
In a letter dated July 29 sent electronically to The Guardian, the women threatened to invoke Section 69 (a) of the 1999 Constitution, which makes provision for the recall of a lawmaker if he or she was not longer doing the biddings of his constituents.
With copies addressed to the Senate President, David Mark, the governor of the state, Adams Oshiomhole, two other senators from the state and several others, the women said they were appalled that the senator did not take cognizance that the controversial clause also negates Section 277 of the Child Right Act which stipulates age 18 for adulthood, a situation which made it more important that the clause be removed.
But in his reaction yesterday, Ugbesia told The Guardian that he did not vote for under-aged marriage as being “mis-presented,” adding that there are more serious matters that Nigerians should bother about in the review of the constitution.
However, Medical Consultant-General, Muslim Medical Volunteers, Dr. Haheem-Deen Ekemode, has urged Nigerians to differentiate between when a culture allows for a man to be attached to a girl and when there is said to be marriage.
Ekemode made this call, yesterday at a media briefing organised by a non-governmental organisation, Nigerian Virgin Girls, an initiative that upholds ethos of virginity among young Nigerian girls.
Ekemode, who is a renowned gynecologist, said he supports early marriage, but not in the sense of girls being married off at 12 or 13 years, stressing that marriage should be from age 16 upwards. He advised that marriage should be done between 24 to 28 years, because after this age women are likely to develop fibroid.
He said: “A child can betrothed to a man at any age, even at birth, but intercourse in these arrangements should take place when the girl is 16 years. It is the ideal advice in gynecology. This is because it is at 16 that the girl is fully matured to bear a child. The 12-year-old’s body is not developed enough to tolerate child bearing. When this is done, the common complication is Vesico Vaginal Fistula (VVF), which affects the urinary bladder. A girl-child can be attached to a man, as is in some cultures, but sexual intercourse should be when the girl is 16 years. Any thing below this, the law should be allowed to take its full course.”
Founder of the NGO, Princess Adunni Adediran said the initiative was borne out of the need to address the increasing rate at which young Nigerians take to abortion, contract sexually transmitted diseases and neglect the age-long culture of abstaining from sex before marriage.
To uphold the virtue of virginity, she said the NGO had organised beauty pageants for virgins, during which the virgins underwent certification by an experienced gynecologist and won awards for their feat at the end. However, she said the initiative suffered setback due to low level of patronage by well-meaning Nigerians.
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