Post date: Jan 15, 2014 2:18:5 AM
People on the streets of Lagos in Nigeria welcome the news that President Goodluck Jonathanhas signed a law criminalising same-sex relationships.
LAGOS, NIGERIA (JANUARY 14, 2014) (REUTERS) - Nigerian President Goodluck Jonathan signed a bill on Monday (January 13) that criminalises same-sex relationships, defying Western pressure over gay rights and provoking criticism from the United States.
The bill, which contains penalties of up to 14 years in prison and bans gay marriage, same-sex "amorous relationships" and membership of gay rights groups, was passed by the national assembly last May but Jonathan had delayed signing it into law.People on the streets of Lagos welcomed the news on Tuesday (January 14).
"Initially when I heard about it, I thought the Western world will so much pressurize us to bow to it, but hearing that the president signed against it, in fact it's a kudos. I'm very glad that he could stand his feet and sign against such a taboo because I mean it's un-African, we don't want such a thing in our country. I'm so happy that he signed against it," said musician Joseph Eze.
"He did the right thing because that gay is un-called for, so signing against it is the right thing to do for any normal human being, that's just what I feel about it, he has done the right thing, and whosoever feel that what he did was wrong, the person should go to places, but he did the right thing," said businessman Lucky Pius.
"He will not append his signature to anything that relates to gay or a man and man marrying themselves, so anybody caught is definitely going to serve that penalty, do you understand me? So I know he is a man of the people, he knows what is good for his citizens of this country, and that is what he stands for," said engineer Joseph Oghenekewve.
As in much of sub-Saharan Africa, anti-gay sentiment and persecution of homosexuals is rife inNigeria, so the new legislation is likely to be popular. Jonathan is expected to seek re-election in 2015 but is under pressure after several dozen lawmakers and a handful of regional governors defected to the opposition in the past two months.
Under existing Nigerian federal law, sodomy is punishable by jail, but this bill legislates for a much broader crackdown on homosexuals and lesbians, who already live a largely underground existence.
While European countries, most recently France, have moved to offer same-sex couples the same legal rights enjoyed by heterosexuals, many African countries are seeking to tighten laws against homosexuality.
Britain and some other Western countries have threatened to cut aid to governments that pass laws persecuting homosexuals, a threat that has helped hold back or scupper such legislation in aid-dependent nations like Uganda and Malawi.
But they have little leverage over Nigeria, whose budget is funded by its 2-million-barrel-per-day oil output.