Goodluck Jonathan Says Nigeria May Revisit Law On Gay Marriage
Nigeria may revisit a law that banned same-sex marriages, says former president Goodluck Jonathan.
“When it comes to equality, we must all have the same rights as Nigerian citizens,” Jonathan said at a forum at Bloomberg’s European headquarters in London on Monday.
Jonathan in 2014 signed a law criminalizing same-sex marriages, gay groups and public displays of affection by homosexuals. The decision triggered condemnation by religious leaders, human rights groups and Western governments.
But at the forum, Monday, where he presented a speech on democracy in Nigeria and Africa titled, Civis Nigerianus Sum – I am a Citizen of Nigeria, the former president acknowledged that there is need for equality in Nigeria saying that the “issue of sexual orientation is still evolving”.
“In the light of deepening debates for all Nigerians and other citizens of the world to be treated equally and without discrimination, and with the clear knowledge that the issue of sexual orientation is still evolving, the nation may at the appropriate time revisit the law,” Jonathan said.
You may read Dr. Jonathan’s speech HERE.
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20 Comments
Eros
June 06, 17:14This is a lie.
Someone has to be blackmailing him. Or maybe someone has pictures of him shagging some muscle-bound Bayelsa boy.
To all the Victoria Graysons in the world I hail una
Kenny
June 06, 17:17???
Pink Panther
June 06, 17:39Both him and his speech reek of fakeness.
Kenny
June 06, 17:16But then, when will the appropriate time come? What will make the time appropriate?
Tiercel de Claron
June 06, 18:342nd term,perhaps?
ambivalentone
June 06, 18:54Ori e o da!!!! Radarada!!!
The Reverend
June 06, 19:50I had a little hope before.. And then I read the comments….. ???… Do you guys really think that????
Y
June 06, 19:58Still playing politics with people’s lives
pete
June 06, 20:55Somebody is angling for an international job. Playing the hero of our democracy is wearing thin *sigh*
Ivory Child
June 07, 07:31We all know that he’s just saying it to save face, though he right was about sexual orientation as still in the evolution stage. Instead of helping the evolution process, he only made matters worse by signing that draconian bill into law. To me I don’t think his apologies mean much, after all the damage has been done and we are now in same rrank as criminals
Dimkpa
June 07, 08:11My thoughts exactly. While we wait for the appropriate time, many gay people will face harassment and assault from police and other individuals. It is baffling that he does not realise he is responsible for all the deaths and kitos the homophobia he encouraged has caused.
At the moment our very existence is a crime.We would have to gain our rights as equal and free citizens before even asking for things like marriage equality.
posh6666
June 07, 08:10Useless man why didnt you come to this realization when you were on throne and had the power?so you now want daddy bubu to do your dirty work? I mean he knows Nigerians are hypocrites and they would have read him to filth if he had to remove the anti gay bill.
Khaleesi
June 07, 08:12Yeah right!!! He’s now rolling in international diplomatic circles and is quickly learning how to be politically correct, crafty Ijaw man! This shit dont fly with me abeg #Shift
Ivory Child
June 07, 08:26The point is he shouldn’t have signed it in first place
Dimkpa
June 07, 08:43I just read the speech. Hindsight, they say, is 20/20. I almost laughed when he talked about fighting corruption. Chai!
It seems like he only just learnt what he should have known before becoming president. He attended the school of presidency rather than executing its function and has graduated with knowledge which should have been used while in power.
Why did he not listen to the numerous envoys and foreign governments that urged him not to pass the law? He unwittingly wrote his name in history as the man who passed discrimination into law.
He tried to justify his actions by saying that it was the support of 98% of Nigerians and 100% of the members of the National houses that made him sign it forgetting that it is the duty of government to protect the rights of every individual, which becomes more important with any group in the minority.
He should have known that it is not the business of government to legislate morals as it is not a universal concept.
He should have known that it is not in the place of government to decide what any adult does in private with another consenting individual.
He basically took away our right to live as free individuals and now we have to wait for an appropriate time.
May we live to see that time…
geeluv
June 07, 10:23This private member bill was put forward in the context
of polls that showed 98% of Nigerians did not think
same sex marriage should be accepted by our society.
This was the highest percentage of any country
surveyed.
The bill was passed by 100% of my country’s National
Assembly. Therefore, as a democratic leader with deep
respect for the Rule of Law, I had to put my seal of
approval on it.
However, in the light of deepening debates for all
Nigerians and other citizens of the world to be treated
equally and without discrimination, and with the clear
knowledge that the issue of sexual orientation is still
evolving, the nation may, at the appropriate time,
revisit the law.
I don’t blame him that much….
Terra
June 07, 10:54The thing is, he’s not the president anymore, what he thinks is 110% irrelevant
Mike Daemon
June 07, 18:46Still the LGBT community demands an official open apology from him if he does mean what he is saying. Obviously sounds like he is regretting.
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