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Anti-gay Law: Why United Nations Must Leave Nigeria Alone!

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un high commissioner for human rights

Navanethem Pillay

Sovereignty is the supreme, absolute, and uncontrollable power by which an independent nation is governed and from all specific political powers are derived; the international independence of a nation, combined with the right and power of regulating its internal affairs without foreign interference.

Sovereignty in extension is however, the power of a nation to do everything necessary to govern itself, such as making, executing, and applying laws; imposing and collecting taxes; making war and peace; and forming treaties or engaging in commerce with foreign nations.

If the United States, the United Kingdom, the United Nations or any other pro-gay abiding nations or body believe this definition to be true, then why the hell will they not let Nigeria be? Why the hell are they distracting our leaders from concentrating on major national issues? Couple of days ago i read a report filed by the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, Navi Pillay, referring to Nigeria’s anti-gay law as “draconian and illegal”, a law made by the lawmakers and generally accepted by all Nigerians. In the report, she also stated that the United Nations are still willing to hold back their SANCTION switch on Nigeria if and only if she will overturn the law prohibiting same-sex marriage. Personally, i find the Commissioner’s remarks insulting and condescending to the Nigerian federation. In 20 years, ever since the office of the Commissioner for Human Rights was created, this is the first time a Commissioner is coming to Nigeria, only to provoke additions by telling Nigerians to approve same-sex marriage.

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Nigeria is a sovereign nation and as such, should not and will not be told how to operate, what law to implement and which not to. The United Nations has lost respect in the eyes of many since the leadership of the organization soften and subjected itself to the United States of America. It is unheard of for a visitor to come into a man’s home and tell him how to arrange his furnitures. The United Nations and her wielding masters should understand that the government of Nigeria as well as its people, does not respond well with threats. This is most likely the first time that Nigerians are unanimously agreeing on one thing and pushing them to do otherwise could be catastrophic.

Our law is our law and we stand by it. The ones we don’t like we contest it but this very one, we like and has declared it incontestable. If a Nigerian finds himself in the U.S. for instance, he/she is expected to operate in accordance to the laws of the land, not protest and or violate it and so also should any non-Nigerian who visits Nigeria. Simply put, i don’t care about the number of gay or lesbian couples “making out” on a Broadway in the U.S. or any other country for that matter, i have to accept and live with it if i choose to visit countries that accepts them, but i also expect them to do same when they are in my own country otherwise, they will have to face the law that applies to such, it’s as simple as that.

Under the leadership of Kofi Annan, the United Nations had decency and reputation, Ban Ki-Moon has thwarted overnight, that decency and reputation. Nigeria, the largest country in Africa, is a sovereign nation with territorial boundaries and the United States or anyone for that matter, must respect that.

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I sure hope Navi Pillay, the United Nations Commissioner for Human Rights will take this message back to her modern day colonial masters and advise them strongly, on adherence.

 

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Jeff Okoroafor is a leading member of a new generation of civic advocates for government accountability and democratic change in Nigeria. The Citizen Affairs Initiative is a citizen-driven governance initiative that enhances public awareness on critical issues of service quality in Nigeria. It encourages citizens to proactively seek higher standards from governments and service providers and further establishes new discussions in communities about the standards that citizens should expect and deserve from those they have given their mandates. Jeff is the Managing Director of SetFron Limited, a multimedia development company that is focused on creative and results-driven web, mobile app, and ERP software solutions. He is the co-founder of the African Youths Advancement and Support Initiative (AfriYasi), a non-governmental not-for-profit organisation that provides tertiary education scholarship for young people from low-income homes in Nigeria. He is a Fellow of the Young African Leaders Initiative and the United Nations World Summit Awards. A Strategic Team member of the Bring Back Our Girls movement, and a member of the National Technical Committee on the Establishment and Management of Missing Persons Database in Nigeria. Jeff holds a Bachelor and Postgraduate diploma degrees in Computer Science, and a Certificate in Public Administration from Ghana Institute of Management and Public Administration, GIMPA.

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