Gay Right bill: Group urges Jonathan not to delay

By CALEB AYANSINA
ABUJA – THE Nigerian Fellowship of Evangelical Students (NIFES) has called on President Goodluck Jonathan to assent to the bill prohibiting same sex marriage in the country without any further delay. The Gay Right Bill recently passed by the National Assembly stipulates 14 years jail term for any body found guilty of the offence.

The national director of NIFES, Mr. Bala Usman, who made the call at a press conference on the NIFES Witness 2013 Mission Conference tagged; ‘The Ambassador’, in Abuja noted that, it is high time society stood against gayism, because of its ravaging effect on youths.

He described homosexuality as “the zenith of immorality and immoral impunity which should not and never be allowed in our nation.

“NIFES has strongly campaigned and stood against gayism and lesbianism which seek to ravage our youth and their future. We commend the National Assembly for prohibiting homosexualism and lesbianism through the passage of the bill, in spite of external pressure. We therefore, call on the president not to delay his assent to the bill”.

Usman maintained that Nigeria had the potential to lead the world, but its people were lacking in character to transform the society, stressing the need for youths to be repositioned, to adequately take the responsibility of leadership.

“Our nation no doubt faces grave challenges today; ranging from national insecurity, lack of trust for one another, moral decadence, corruption, lack of fear of God, disunity, warped social value and un-patriotism.

“We are lacking in character that can build and transform our nation to greatness. We believe that these problems are foundational and a nation without a strong foundation will face grave problem of survival to talk of competitiveness in the comity of nations,” he said.

Usman explained that Witness 2013 was designed “to enhance a greater understanding of the multi-dimensional perspectives for global mission’s involvement and kingdom work with God, while bettering the cause of nationhood.