Senate President, David Mark has insisted the bill prohibiting same sex marriage is “irrevocable” and the “law has come to stay”.
He said in Abuja that the bill would
promote “decency” in the Nigerian society. Same sex marriage will become
a criminal offence in Nigeria and punishable by imprisonment of not
less than 14 years if the bill is eventually signed into law.
He is quoted as saying: “We will not
compromise on this. I want to invite you all to join the crusade of
decency in our society. There are many good values we can copy from
other societies, but certainly not this one (same sex marriage).”
“We have to prove to the rest of the world, who are advocates of this unnatural way that we Nigerians promote and respect sanity, morality and humanity. Every individual is a product of the union of a man and woman.”
The Nigerian Senate approved the bill
that would make same-sex marriage punishable by 14 years imprisonment
for gay couples and 10 years imprisonment for anyone abetting such
unions in November 2011. According to the provisions of the bill, “Any
person who … directly or indirectly makes public show of same-sex
amorous relationships, is also liable and punishable with a 10-year
sentence.”
The bill which also outlaws gay
organisations has passed the second reading in the House of
Representatives with a unanimous vote and will be forwarded to the
President for approval after a clause-by-clause review and approval of
the law by the Reps this year.
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