Anti-gay law: Nigerian homosexuals plan protest in Abuja

 Under the aegis of ‘The Right Defense’,
Nigerian gays and lesbians are staging a
protest, daring President Goodluck Jonathan
by demonstrating in Abuja.
According to a statement, they are protesting
against the anti-gay law which took effect
on 7 January after the president’s assent.
The anti-gay law has been criticized by a few
western countries describing it as an
infringement on the rights of gays and
lesbians.
PM News reports:
Nigerian gays in a statement they
accompanied with masked pictures of
themselves said they were protesting against
an “undemocratic and unlawful
discrimination” of gays and lesbians and
trans-genders in the country.
The demonstration in Abuja, they said, has
become necessary to condemn what they call
“an increase in threats against fundamental
human rights of certain persons including
LGBT in the country.”
“This is not an ideological protest movement.
It’s about quality of democracy in Nigeria.
This is about people making some very
democratic demands about the government’s
need to respect freedom of assembly and
freedom of association, as it is channelled in
the United Nations universal declaration of
Human Rights,” The Right Defense said.
The group added: “We also challenge the
existence of the Nigeria human rights body,
the National Human Right Commission for
its lack of integrity and principle in the fight
against discrimination and violation of
individual rights.”
The Right Defense said many of its members
have suffered overt discrimination from law
enforcement and judicial authorities,
particularly in their various communities for
being constantly accused of indecent
practices.
They said they often don’t report rights
violations to authorities out of fear of reprisal
or arrest.
The group said many Nigerians have in the
past fled the country due to threats to life and
harassment in their communities.
Those who have fled include Alimi Bisi, Philip
Temidayo Adabayo, Desmond Patric, Nkechi
Ugo, Lara Abiodun Akinniyi, Simeon Demola
Adesanmi, Penu K. Z, the group said.
“The planning for the unviolent rally is to
avert the continuous attacking of the
unarmed citizens and the unlawful and
arbitrary arrest of wanted individuals,” the
group said.
The individuals declared wanted by the
police, the group said, include, Lizzy betty,
Precious Rita, Orilonise Hakeem I, Aniere
Olaniran A., Egwabor Felix, Samuel
Adekunle Segun, Michael Olanrewaju O.,
Olorunmaku Taofeek and so many at large.
In the statement, the Right Defense Group it
commends European Union Countries and
the Canadian Government through its
representatives for standing for urging the
Nigerian government and the National
Assembly to reverse the prohibited same sex
law.
The press released was signed by Olalekan
Olasunkanmi A., L.Ogunhowo Olayinka,
Hunsu Samuel O., Adeola Ogunshola K.