“I Would Not Criminalise Gay Nigerians.” – Donald Duke reveals of his intended presidency
On The Couch With Falz and Laila has seen rapper Falz and broadcast journalist Laila Johnson-Salami interviewing presidential candidates and affording Nigerians an opportunity to get to know the crop of people whose intention it is to lead the country.
There have been disastrous interviews, in the likes of Olasubomi Okeowo, whose shocking lack of depth and required knowledge for various topical issues made the video of his interview go viral.
Public speaker, Fela Durotoye has also sat on the couch with the hosts, and most recently, former Cross River State governor, Donald Duke has also taken to the couch to air his views on how he intends to lead the country.
“I think we are an under-performing and under-achieving nation and the basis of our problem is poor leadership,” Duke says of the country whose mantle of leadership he aspires to take over in 2019.
He talked about his policies on a wide range of issues including education, security and the police, the remuneration and pensions of public office holders, and electricity.
On the issue of the highly contentious special anti robbery squad (SARS) and if he would scrap the agency, the presidential aspirant said categorially, “Of course I would. Because I do not subscribe to the force where people carry arms and they’re not in uniform.”
Donald Duke went on to bring up the issue of LGBT rights in Nigeria.
“I don’t understand the emotional feelings a gay person would have toward someone of their sexuality,” he stated to an unasked question. “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,” he went on, “then that’s an affront on the current norms of society.”
“How would you define exhibiting their sexuality?” Falz cut in to ask.
And Duke answered with the description of his travel to the States, where he observed two men kissing at the airport.
“Can you have a gay person in your cabinet?” Laila asked.
“His sexuality is private to him,” the former governor answered. “I don’t want to know if he’s gay. It’s not my business. My business is if he can perform the assignment that he’s been assigned.”
Check below for the section of his interview that handled the issue of the Nigerian LGBT, but click HERE for the full interview.
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14 Comments
onThrough
August 27, 06:56Finally we have someone progressive… Thank you Jesus…
Oh… I’ve someone to vote for….
My heart brims with joy
Eggsy
August 27, 07:13Basically Don’t Ask Don’t Tell.
Bee
August 27, 09:14??
So basically … he’s homophobic. See, I’ve gotten to a point in my life where the slightest expression of homophobia annoys the shit out of me. Anyway, I can’t argue that he isn’t better than most (if not all) others. The burden of not even being able to be explicitly out, comfortably, with protection from harassment, is very heavy; we’d be very grateful if that is gone.
BUT, he’s still homophobic. Very homophobic. Tueh. ?
Richiemichie
August 27, 09:20@ “I don’t understand the emotional feelings a gay person would have toward someone of their sexuality,”
The best way GEJ could handle this was to criminalize what he didn’t understand.
I will never ever understand how what two consenting Individuals do in the comfort of their homes affect the government of this country or any other individual, never.
John de Evangelista
August 27, 09:37Now let me go’an line up and get me a PVC.
dammi
August 27, 14:51At last …. a forward thinking president
PURPLE
August 27, 15:15I’m not convinced. It just doesn’t sound right. Or is it just me ?
Lexy
August 27, 18:50To me i think if this man should b lucky to be in power he will not be harsh to the” community” . Although he is not so friendly but least he is not harsh.
Patrick
August 27, 21:00It’s good for a start!
Black Coffee
August 27, 22:04Am I the only one who thinks some things are not just adding up???
I’m totally indifferent about him though.
Mafiaso
August 28, 10:07At least, there is a ray of hope. We have so many powerful gay people in this country, but who will bell the cat.
Yazz Soltana
August 28, 10:28Well I think he made his comments in a way not to alienate the average selectively religious Nigerian homophobic hypocrite and also to let the LGBT community know that they won’t be completely rightless.. as they are…
You can see he ,buhari and that Ghanaian prime minister aren’t hostile to gay people…
If you’d asked me also being that I still do want to win an election and not distance myself too much from the majority of the electorate .that would be what I would say…
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August 29, 05:53[…] 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 […]
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