Nigeria Government Says:"Same Sex Marriages Are Against Our National Values"

Abuja - Yesterday it was declared by the Federal Government of Nigeria declared before the United Nations Human Rights Council, that it will not yield to international pressure to allow same sex marriage in the country.

According to the government claims, it is against the cultural and traditional values of Nigerians and that the majority of Nigerians (92%) support the Anti Same-Sex Marriage Bill passed by the Senate.
Nigeria also accused foreign countries of sponsoring the Boko Haram terrorists in some parts of the country even as it justified the execution of death row inmates in the country, contending that it was in accordance with Nigerian legislation.
Defending Nigeria’s human rights position at the on-going 17th session of the Universal Peer Review, UPR, mechanism of the UN Human Rights Council in Geneva, Switzerland, the Attorney General and Minister of Justice, Mr Mohammed Adoke, SAN, said
“The Marriage Act defines marriage as a relationship between a man and a woman. Christianity and Islam, which are the major religions in Nigeria, also recognize marriage as relationship between a man and woman.
He also added that sexual minorities were not visible in Nigeria and there was even no officially registered association of gays and lesbians in the country.
As far as security issues are concerned, Mr Adoke mentioned that Nigeria was facing the impact of externally-induced internal security challenges, embodying in activities of militant insurgents and organised crime groups which had led to the violation of the human rights of many people living in the country.
To address the problem, the government has taken constitutional measures which include the “declaration of a state of emergency” in the states of Adamawa, Borno and Yobe of the North-East Nigeria, where the insurgents have their base.
As a result, a Joint Task Force and a Special Task Force have been deployed with the required legislative authorization to utilize rightsbased “Rules of Engagement” and “Operational Plans” in combating the insurgency.
“However, the Nigerian Government has kept open communication channels through activities of a Presidential Committee on Security Challenges towards working out a peaceful resolution of the crisis. Meanwhile, Government has already proscribed Boko Haram as well as the Jama-atu Ansa-ril Muslimi-na fi- Bila-dis Su-da-n and stipulated a 20-year jail term for anybody who aids or sponsors them in any manner whatsoever.
According to his words, other measures have also been adopted to improve the security situation in Nigeria. These are enactment of the Terrorism Prevention Act 2011, development of a Counter Terrorism Strategy, creation of crisis management centre in the office of the National Security Adviser, etc.
He claimed that human rights standards had been incorporated in the training curricula of all operatives and coordination of a security awareness program for ministers and other functionaries of government.
On death row inmates execution, he said “the right of man to life is the most fundamental human right. Government uses the death penalty as a deterrent to protect human life. Section 33 (1) of Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria 1999 guarantees the right to life.
It provides that “Every person has a right to life, and no one shall be deprived intentionally of his life, save in execution of the sentence of a court in respect of a criminal offence of which he has been found guilty in Nigeria.
“The Penal code and Criminal code prescribe death sentence for anybody who commits culpable homicide punishable with death and murder respectively.
Today the following offences are punishable by death in Nigeria: murder, treason, directing or presiding at an unlawful trial by ordeal from which death results, and armed robbery.


 Vanguard