“Donald Duke Doesn’t Understand or Respect Human Rights.” – Pamela Adie

Presidential aspirant Donald Duke recently sat down with entertainer Falz and broadcast journalist Laila Johnson-Salami on an episode of their show, On The Couch With Falz and Laila, and talked about his plans for a Nigeria under his presidency.

Amongst the issues that came up were his plans for the Nigerian LGBT community, during which he remarked, “I’m straight. I don’t understand the emotional feelings a gay person would have toward someone of their sexuality. I don’t understand it. But I would not criminalise them. I would ensure that they have the protection of the law. But if they want to exhibit their sexuality, then that’s an affront on the current norms of society.”

His remarks were received with mixed reactions from members of the community on the social media, ranging from those who are willing to vote for him and give him a chance on the “half bread is better than none” sentimentality, to those who were riled by the roundabout political-speak of the ex-governor.

“He says he won’t allow gays to show their sexuality. That is criminalizing,” writer Elnathan John tweeted.

“His entire pathetic attempt at allying himself with the LGBT community is nauseating and an extremely cheap albeit very strategic move. It’s the same old propaganda wearing a new cloak,” tweeted another heavily-skeptical Nigerian LGBT member.

“I think he’s proposing a slight improvement on the current law,” another tweep, Chinyerem Barbara Chiwike opined. “It’s not much but it would criminalise raiding of private functions and dwellings by the police. I feel it’s a tiny step forward, but a step nonetheless.”

LGBT rights activist and co-founder of The Equality Hub, Pamela Adie, also weighed in with a twitter thread, at once acknowledging that Duke has the right intentions but still has a long way to go in terms of doing right by the LGBT community in Nigeria.