Onaiyekan, Uche laud law against same sex marriage

The Catholic Archbishop of Abuja, John Cardinal Onaiyekan, has commended the Federal Government and President Goodluck Jonathan for the uncompromising stand on the anti-gay law in spite of criticisms from a section of the international community.
Onaiyekan, briefing newsmen on activities to mark his 70th birthday in Abuja on Friday, said Nigeria, being an independent country, should stand firm on its culture, tradition and morals.
He said: “The church accepts people as they are.
“We condemn homosexuality.
“Nigeria is an independent country and we do not beg for food.
“We have every right to order our social life in any way we think it should go.
“Our social life should not be organised on the basis of what others think.
“On this note, I commend our National Assembly and Mr. President for resisting all the pressures and enacting a law against homosexuality.”
Onaiyekan stressed that the law prohibiting same sex marriage was a good omen for the country, adding: “Signing the bill into law by President Jonathan in spite of pressures from within and outside the country should be commended by all and sundry.”
He said major religions in the country and even the African tradition forbade homosexuality.
Onaiyekan frowned at proponents of homosexuality, noting that they had held parts of the world hostage with their evil beliefs for too long.
He said it was time for believers in the faith to rise in unison and put the debate of whether governments, globally, should guarantee the rights of gays or not, to rest.
He added: “The world is at crossroads and there is nothing new under the sun.
“We all know that this is not the first time we have heard about the agitation for gay rights but our position, as a church, has not changed.
“Even when some sections of society view same sex issues as moral disorder acts, homosexuality has not stopped, it still happens in the open around the world.
“It doesn’t mean that it should be accepted.”
On the recent developments in the polity, the cardinal called for a change of attitude by the leaders and followers.
He said that prayers alone could not solve the myriad of problems facing Nigerians in the different sectors of the economy and even in their private lives.
Onaiyekan noted: “God has been very generous to Nigerians.
“It is time for them to have rethink and change for the better.
“Governments at all levels should partner with the church to address management deficits in key sectors as health, education and other social services where the church has comparative advantage.”
Onaiyekan will be 70 years old on January 29.
Activities marking his birthday have been slated for February 5 and 8 in Abuja.
In a related development, the Prelate of the Methodist Church of Nigeria, His Eminence Samuel Uche, on Friday commended Jonathan for signing the anti-gay bill into law.
The prelate said in a statement in Aba, Abia State on Friday that gay marriage, homosexuality or lesbianism were ungodly, unethical, iniquitous and un-African.
He also commended the courage and forthrightness of the National Assembly in passing the bill.
Uche expressed happiness with the courage of the leaders in ignoring the outcry against the nation by foreign interests who wanted Nigeria to kill the bill.
He said:“As a sovereign nation, we have come of age and should not tie Nigeria to the apron strings of any nation no matter how powerful that nation may claim to be.
“This development is a plus to our government and should be followed by other steps that will appeal to Nigerians.
“What is important now is for all Nigerians irrespective of state, local government, ethnic, tribal or political leaning to work together for a viable and virile nation.”
According to the prelate, such a nation should be one where no one will be marginalised or oppressed.
Uche urged Nigerians to pray more and to hope for a brighter future.
He also condemned the sustained attacks on innocent citizens by the Boko Haram sect as well as attacks on communities in Plateau State by unknown gunmen.
He added: “These, no doubt, are difficult and challenging times for us in this country and something urgent must be done to abate this satanic and dangerous trend.
“These attacks negate the universal principle of civility expected in a society where the protection of the citizens is upheld by those saddled with such responsibilities.”
Uche described the protection of the citizens as a fundamental right and freedom as enshrined in the constitution.
According to him, there is a continued cry for justice and so the perpetrators of these evils and their sponsors should be unmasked to stop the mayhem.
He said: “The people bearing the brunt of all these attacks are the masses of this nation who have to pay the ultimate sacrifice.
“It is time to say ‘enough-is-enough’. The government at all levels must restore the confidence of Nigerians by bringing the sponsors and perpetrators of these satanic acts to justice.”