By Umar Muhammad Puma
The House of Representatives has asked the federal government to resist any pressure or threat from Europeans and the Americans to repeal the same sex marriage law in Nigeria.
Chairman of the Nigeria delegation to the African, Caribbean and Pacific (ACP) Parliamentary Assembly, Rep. Mukhtar Mohammad Ahmed (PDP, Niger), informed the House that there was an attempt by the European Parliament to suspend Nigeria and Uganda over the enactment of the law.
He stated that the European Parliament had “adopted a resolution on 12 March 2014 to commence consultations aimed at suspending Nigeria and Uganda from the Cotonou Partnership Agreement over the passage of legislations by both countries further criminalizing homosexual activities.
“The said resolution of the European Parliament was brought to the attention of the Parliamentary Assembly of the African, Caribbean and Pacific Group of States at its 35th session in France by the head of Ugandan delegation.”
He added that the ACP parliamentary assembly decided to express its solidarity with the parliaments of Nigeria and Uganda.
The European Union should appreciate the democratic choices made by the two countries and delink cultural preferences from the need to address developmental and poverty issues, ACP parliament warned.
The House then commended the ACP parliamentary assembly for its support to the Nigerian parliament on the law.
The lawmakers also tasked the states legislators to ensure the proper implementation of the law, by remaining committed to the observance of the law.
