"AN UNJUST LAW"

The issue this essay will address is one that requires no flowery introductions. On the 7^th 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?

Lagos Ranks No. 3 In Annual Millionaires List

Lagos has the third highest number of millionaires on the continent. This is according to the latest annual New World Wealth report, which revealed the Nigerian city has 9 800 millionaires.

A DEBT THAT MUST BE PAID

Specimen A: In the year 1861, civil war broke out in the country we all know today as the United States of America. The war originated from the attempted secession of the Southerners from the Union, a move which the Northerners perceived as a violation of the essence of the American republic and so, rejected. Ergo, war broke out between the Southern states which had formed themselves into the Confederate States of America and the Northern states which were called the Union. By the year 1865 when the war ended, casualties numbered over half a million on both sides.

Fast-forward to the year 1900, thirty-five years later, the United States had established itself as the world’s foremost industrial nation. Overall, the nation experienced a stunning explosion in the scale of industry and in the pace of production.

Specimen B: May 30, 1967, civil war broke out in the country we all know today as Nigeria. The war was fuelled by the attempt of the South-easterners to secede from the country Nigeria. The move was condemned by the Nigerian government as injurious to the country’s oneness and a catalyst for an extensive disintegration of the nascent republic. Ergo, war broke out between the South-easterners who called themselves the Republic of Biafra and the Nigerian government. By 1970 when the war ended, casualties numbered well over two million on both sides.