Christians laud passage of Same Sex Marriage Bill

By Sam Eyoboka, Olayinka Latona & David Oso

Christian Association of Nigeria, CAN, and other religious leaders, Wednesday, commended the Senate for the courage it demonstrated to pass the Same Sex Marriage Bill, saying the action shows the level of the upper chamber’s commitment to the cultural heritage of the African nations.

Reacting to the news of the Senate’s passage of the bill which was sponsored by Senator Magnus Abe, (PDP, Rivers State) National President of CAN, Pastor Ayo Oritsejafor and presidential candidate in the April 2011 elections, Rev. Chris Okotie, Wednesday, hailed remarks by the Senate President, Senator David Mark, on donor nations that had been blackmailing African nations with threat to withdraw their aids unless they endorse homosexuality.

Senator Mark had said: “If there is any country that wants to stop giving aid because we won’t pass the bill on same sex marriage; that country can go ahead.

“We are a sovereign nation and we have the right to decide for ourselves because no country can interfere in the way we run our country.”

“Same sex marriage is against our own culture and tradition and against our beliefs.”

Pastor Oritsejafor described that statement as the kind of outbursts of a man who had aptly demonstrated his desire to defend the ideals his country stand for, saying “this is the kind of leaders Nigerians have been clamouring for. Leaders who cannot be cowed by dirty carrots being dangled by imperialist nations.”