Anti-Gay Bill: FG Cautions On Nigeria’s Sovereignty

The Federal Government has told the U.S and other countries opposed to the Senate’s passage of a bill banning same sex marriage to respect Nigeria’s “independence, democracy and sovereignty”.

The Minister of Information, Mr Labaran Maku, said while briefing State House correspondents after the Federal Executive Council (FEC) meeting presided over by President Goodluck Jonathan that Nigeria had the right to legislate for its people.

Maku,who was responding to questions on the opposing stance of the U.S to the bill, said although the passage by the Senate had not made the bill a law, Nigeria reserved the right to make laws based on the peoples’ values and culture.

“Let me make the point clear, our country is an independent country and we reserve the right to make our laws without apology to other countries.

“Between Europe, America and Africa there is a huge culture gap, some of the things that are considered fundamental rights abroad also can be very offensive to African culture, tradition and to the way we live our lives here.

“I say this, though the bill has not become a law, but sometimes we get worried by comments that are made.

“The truth of the matter is, our democracy will be guarded by Nigeria’s interest and values,” he said.

Maku said Nigeria reserved the right as an independent nation to live under laws that were democratically passed by the National Assembly and assented to by the President.

The Senate recently passed the bill outlawing same sex marriage and prescribed 14 years imprisonment for offenders.