Why Bishop Akinola is wrong

In a country where more than fifty percent of the population live below the poverty line, and a low-level civil war over resources is brewing the most pressing concerns amongst legislators and the self-appointed moral guardians of the country isthe theoretical threat posed by the small and largely powerless homosexual population. It would be funny if it was not tragic. Despite the ridiculousness of it all we must resist the impulse to ask if there are not more important matters to discuss – because this debate exposes the root of Nigeria’s problem – our inability to live side by side to difference and respect it. I won’t get into debating whether same sex marriage or relationships are valid within Christianity and the Anglican Communion - that is an internal matter for members of the Anglican Church, not one that concerns the greater body politic of Nigeria. However, the archbishop of Nigeria, the Most Reverend Peter J. Akinola has issued a position paper on a bill currently before the Nigerian house of legislators to ‘prohibit the marriage between persons of the same gender, solemnization of same and for other matters related therewith’. In this paper, presented to the Nigerian House of Assembly, the good bishop lays out the Church of Nigeria’s support and disagreements with the bill. It is only right that the church have a voice in the direction of the country – freedom of speech is a value we must cherish and uphold even when we disagree with what is being said. Nevertheless, the arguments the church makes in support of the bill; arguments which are in fact the entire basis for this bill can and should be refuted.

In his preamble, Akinola says ‘the present trend in certain quarters to cast the bible aside and foist on the world a religion that does not have god and the bible at the centre was why...the introduction of this bill at this stage of national development is one of the best things to have happened to this nation’ – expressing his joy that the bill will confirm his position on the internal argument he and others are conducting within Anglican church. He goes on to say that that the bill should be upheld because of a number of biblical passages, citing a number of biblical passages, including Leviticus 18:22, Romans 1 26:27, and First Corinthians 6:9. Well, he’s wrong. Nigeria is a secular country, under the rule of a constitution. The church has a legitimate voice but its concerns and guiding principles cannot be the basis of the laws of the country. Akinola continues in a section entitled ‘Marriage is a creation of god between man and woman’, that since marriage was created by God ‘those who argue for the legalization of this unwholesome practice on the claims of human rights must first of all recognize and respect the right of god to order his creation as he wants it. Human Rights therefore should not infringe on the right of God to remain God!’ It beggars belief that God, and especially the Christian God who reputedly flooded the world to maintain its purity needs defending from a small group of human beings. He maintains homosexuality is a threat to procreation. The truth is that the greatest threat to procreation in Africa and elsewhere is the war and famine rampant throughout the world and in Nigeria – a crisis to which the archbishop speaks too little. Globalisation is held up in Archbishop Akinola’s paper as the root of the degradation of Nigerian youth and ergo the ‘rise’ in homosexuality, linking it with the rise of gay churches and fellowships in the country. Last I checked, however imperfectly, Nigeria’s constitution upholds freedom of religion. If certain groups of people interpret the bible to allow same sex marriage, the bishop can disagree to granting them communion within his church but he has no right to infringe ontheir freedom of belief or practice. He goes on to say individualism is a western influence that threatens an African sense of community. This is the frequent argument that for Africans to be happy we must all agree, a lie that we know all too well leads to war. A sense of community is not fostered when the leaders of any community call for the extermination of any one group or sanction their persecution. The family which Akinola proclaims to be the nucleus of any society is under great strain and threat in Nigeria by the twin evils of corruption and poverty than any group of homosexuals will ever be. For good measure, the bishop says the legalisation of gay marriage will lead to an increase in male prostitution. It is a logic fallacy that is hard to take seriously. Surely if gay men and women are married they would have little cause to prostitute themselves? The institution of marriage so well practiced by Nigerian men has failed to eradicate female prostitution – in fact, the imbalance in power between men and women in society is at the root of this problem, how then will persecuting and prosecuting a small group of men and women who want to get married and live in peace eradicate any social vices?

To ward off those pesky international human rights activists, the bishop invokes the sovereignty of Nigeria to make laws according to the wishes of its citizens - and the good bishop is right. Nigeria is a sovereign nation which has bound itself to the laws of an international system, one of which is the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. It entitles everyone to freedom from persecution. It is true Nigeria’s legislators can pass this bill, but in doing so, they will be confirming all the worst impressions of Nigeria and Africa as a place of intolerance, persecution and strife. Lastly, the bishop wheels out the shibboleth of the west’s pernicious influence on Africa including the slave trade, the world bank and IMF programmes and all the horrors of our post-colonial history. Yes, we have to acknowledge that very often the west’s influence on Nigeria has often been malevolent - but it is not westerners entering the National Assembly to protest for their rights; it is Nigerians, gay and proud who are affirming their right to exist. It is ironic that the loudest applauders of their persecution are the Church of Nigeria and Muslim leaders, two institutions established in Nigeria by a colonising western nation and Arab invaders respectively, Now isn’t that unnatural, unprofitable, unhealthy, un-cultural, un-African and un-Nigerian?

Dele Meiji

Robot  # 1 | 22.03.2009 22:49

Why Bishop Akinola is wrong In a country where more than fifty percent of the population live below the poverty line, and a low-level civil war ove...is brewing the most pressing concerns amongst legislators and the self-appointed moral guardians of the country isthe theoretical threatposed by the small and largely powerless homosexual population. It would be funny if it was not tragic. Despite the ridiculousness of it all we must resist the impulse to ask if there are not more important matters to discuss – because this debate exposes the root of Nigeria’s problem – our inability to live side by side to difference and respect it. I won’t get into debating whether same sex marriage or relationships are valid within Christianity and the Anglican Communion - that.. .Read the full article.

farooqkperogi  # 2 | 23.03.2009 01:28

Why is my name associated with this article? Is this an innocent error? Or is it deliberate mischief? I hope whoever is responsible for straightening this mess will remove my name from this article. I have not the remotest association with the author of this article. Nor do I share his sentiments. Farooq A. Kperogi

admin  # 3 | 23.03.2009 11:23

Apologies, Farooq. It was an innocent mix up that has been rectified.

LoveNigeria  # 4 | 23.03.2009 14:21

In think you are wrong! Homosexuality is a spiritual infirmity not a lifestyle. Any other definition is satanic deception. There is healing/deliverance for those who are ready to sacrifice (in whatever form it is required) and go through the process it takes. You can't fault Bishop Akinola for seeing this through the prism of his faith. There's a reason they build colonies for lepers.

a piper too  # 5 | 24.03.2009 11:25

=LoveNigeria;339863>In think you are wrong! Homosexuality is a spiritual infirmity not a lifestyle. Any other definition is satanic deception. There is healing/deliverance for those who are ready to sacrifice (in whatever form it is required) and go through the process it takes. You can't fault Bishop Akinola for seeing this through the prism of his faith. There's a reason they build colonies for lepers. I trust that Farooq and LoveNigeria will take a look at my post on the other link to responses "Why the Primate is Wrong" by Dele Meiji, 'cause I think Dele is right, before they too join with sinners and jump on to the "condemnation" bandwagon. Methinks the First (Primate) is the Last, at least in this matter which is all about Loving. Love cannot beget hate, for there is no hate in Love, which is the source of all creation. There is a reason why (in the past) they built colonies for lepers: that "reason" was founded upon fear and ignorance. Lepers are now able to be integrated into their own communities with loving friends and families. Modern scientific understandings of infection and hygiene and infection control, are founded upon repeated, reasonable experimentation and observation. Science always leaves the door open to new discoveries - as time and technology progress, as they must. Science, like radiant Love, dispels the darkness of the night; all things are seen anew through this Loving focus: All people are created equal members of one human family. It is well to remember that the "Golden Rule" of Love was first expressed in the Old Testament's Leviticus 17 and 18: "Do not bear a grudge with anyone, but settle your differences. Do not take revenge on anyone, or continue to hate, but love your neighbour as yourself. I am the Lord (God)." This means that we must always put ourselves in our neighbours position: then none of us would do to another that which we would hate for ourselves. This is what Loving is all about. And when all is said and done, "when to our death's we are led, it's all practice behind, and theory ahead - and we still may not know...." That is why it is so important for us to be Loving, while we are able - for it is God alone who judges. Even Jesus did not. And in conclusion, may I say to Farooq and LoveNigeria (and Peter etc) "may God forbid that anyone requires you to be homosexual, so long as you are Loving, happy, fulfilled and fruitful heterosexuals". Long may your love light shine long ! May all of Life's Blessings be Yours, also: Peace to You (as well) May all the blessing, honour and power so freely given to us return to the One God who gave life to us…. Amen ! Praise God ! Have Faith ! Love ! Action ! :1love:

farooqkperogi  # 6 | 25.03.2009 01:05

Would you be kind enough to stop dragging my name into this debate? My only interest in this post was to protest my curious association with the original author of this piece. And the NVS administrator has removed my name. End of story.