The issue
this essay will address is one that requires no flowery introductions. On the 7th
of January, the Nigerian presidency signed into law a bill which
comprehensively criminalized homosexual unions, acts and sympathies. For the
purpose of the law, ‘civil union’ included homosexual adult independent
relationships, caring partnerships, civil partnerships among others. The
overwhelming majority of Nigerians who have applauded this law did on various
grounds which I have summed up thus: culture, religion and public choice. I do
not agree with this majority. And I will justify my deference by logically and
systematically attacking these bases in order to prove that this law is: first,
a clamor for public support and patronage and second, a prejudiced attempt by a
powerful majority to oppress a minority.
CULTURE
The
presidential spokesman, Reuben Abati said about the act of homosexualism, “…it
is not our culture…” and millions of Nigerians echoed in agreement. What is
culture? If memory serves correctly, it is simply the totality of a people’s
way of life, key word being totality, not
majority. My social studies class also taught me that culture is diverse and
changes with respect to people, place and time; true to this, the numerous
Nigerian cultures have undergone transitions. Christianity, health care,
education and technology are all additions to the Nigerian cultures in response
to the demands of the three referrals listed above – people, place and time.
And more additions occur as these referrals continue to transform daily. Where
then, lay the boundaries defining ‘our culture’ as a nation?
