The Federal Government has said it is
under pressure from the international community to sign the Gay Rights
Bill into law in Nigeria.
The Minister of Foreign Affairs,
Ambassador Olugbenga Ashiru, stated this in Abuja on Friday at an
interactive session with the diplomatic corps, even as he accused the
international community of hypocrisy.
He insisted that Nigeria would not sign the Gay Rights bill or abolish the death penalty without reviewing the constitution.
The minister said that Nigeria does not
impose its culture on other countries and as such it was wrong for
anyone to attempt to impose a foreign culture on the nation. He said,
“This thing must be understood because we have been under pressure about
this issue of Gay Rights. It is not part of our own culture, you need
to understand that. It needs to evolve. Let us get to that stage of
understanding that two men can marry, then we will get to the bridge and
cross it. But please let foreign diplomats educate their various
governments that you cannot come overnight and impose values that are
not part of our tradition on us. Don’t impose it on us that we must
allow it in our constitution. If we are talking about democracy,
democracy is about free choice, free association you don’t force values
on others.
“For those who have Gay Rights, even when
I look at the population of those countries, those opposing are high in
number. In some countries, the churches are against it, why put
pressure on Nigeria and other African countries that we must put it (in
our laws). Respect for human rights of a minute minority cannot be at
the expense of the larger societal values, well-being and orientation of
the people. Even laws are rooted in culture which must be upheld for
the good of the society. I therefore appeal to the international
community to show a greater understanding of the culture and traditions
of our people.
“We don’t tell other countries how to
live their lives. We don’t impose values on any country. Other countries
too should not come and impose their own values on us. We don’t oppose
any country that has put in its constitution the Gay Rights to allow two
men or two women to marry themselves. But for Nigeria and a number of
other African countries; it is not part of our culture yet.’’
He said it was hypocrisy for the United
States to be championing Gay Rights and while criminalising polygamy
which is part of Africa’s culture and tradition.
“At times you see hypocrisy in some of
these things. I must be frank. If we talk about human rights, how do we
apply them? It seems they are being applied to favour some certain
groups and not of wider application. There is hypocrisy in this issue of
Gay Rights and polygamy,” he added.
Also at the meeting, the minister said
the Federal Government had barred foreign ambassadors and diplomats
representing their countries in Nigeria from commenting on political
issues in the country.
The minister said the action constituted an undue interference in Nigeria’s internal affairs.
He explained that the meeting was
necessary to maintain the excellent relationship between Nigeria and the
international community, and to remove any potential irritant or
misunderstanding in their interactions.
He said the government was aware of the
activities of some embassies that had been funding human rights groups’
activities in the country.
He said, “We know in Nigeria we have some
of the strongest human rights groups. We also know that foreign
missions have been freely supporting them with funding. It is okay. We
have no objection.
“But we object when ambassadors conduct
activities that are incompatible with their status as diplomats. If
ambassadors want to join the human rights groups, they may as well
resign to join them, but they cannot use the platform of being a
diplomatic agent to interfere in our domestic activities. The Vienna
convention states clearly the activities that are incompatible with your
functions as an envoy.
“I will want ambassadors to please
confine themselves to their traditional duties. If you feel strongly
about any issue, come to the foreign ministry, I will receive you. When
there are things you want to take up with the government, come to the
ministry. Even if you come as a regional body, I will receive you. But
for you to go to the media and start talking is incompatible with the
status of your office.”
Ashiru lamented that oil theft in the Gulf of Guinea had remained a major challenge facing the country.
He warned that government would not
release any foreign ship or crew member caught with stolen oil in the
Gulf of Guinea because huge revenues had been lost to the activities of
the criminals.
He said the Federal Government had raised
a high-level committee headed by the Attorney-General of the Federation
and Minister of Justice, Mohammed Adoke (SAN), to tackle the challenge.
“The Nigerian Navy and the NIMASA have
been directed to take firm measures against any ship caught engaging in
unwholesome activities, including oil theft, in Nigeria’s territorial
waters.
“This is serving as a warning that
henceforth, I will not be willing to grant audience to people coming to
plead for the release of their ships or crew members caught in illegal
activities,” he said.
On the efforts to dislodge
terrorists in Adamawa, Yobe and Borno states, Ashiru said the security
forces had continued to operate under the rules of engagement, with full
respect for the human rights of the people.
Source: PunchNews
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