A Nigerian High Court Judge, Saturday, taunted civilised countries on the re-definition of marriage particularly the suggestion that African countries including Nigeria should legitimize gay marriage.
Justice Godwin Abraham, who is Akwa Ibom State Chief Judge was born and brought up to see his father and mother saw the idea as a joke. Now he is married to a renowned optometrist with children. Few months ago, he gave one of his daughters in marriage to another man.
Theresa May, the British Prime Minister had on April 17 pleaded with President Muhammadu Buhari and other leaders of Commonwealth nation to legalise same-sex marriage in their countries.
May who made the appeal while speaking at the first joint forum at the ongoing Commonwealth Head of Government Meetings in Westminster today April 17th, said “Across the world, discriminatory laws made many years ago, continue to affect the lives of many people tens of millions of young people.
“Criminalising same-sex relations and failing to protect women and girls. I am all too aware that these laws were put in place by my own country; they were wrong then and they are wrong now. As the UK’s prime minister, I deeply regret that those laws were introduce…as a family, we must respect one another’s cultures and traditions, but we must do so in a manner consistent with equality, as it is clearly stated in the Commonwealth charter.” she said
As a lawyer, he said “Even in Law, marriage is defined as a relationship between a man and a woman to the exclusion of others.
Reacting to May’s suggestion, he mocked “Marriage is honourable. We are Africans. It is unfortunate that countries which we think are more civilized than us are trying to re-define marriage.”
Abraham who served as the governor of feast at the wedding of Pastor/Mrs. Ekpedeme Ime Udoworen at Glad Tidings College, Mbiabong in Uyo on April, 21 ranted the idea of gay marriage as canvassed by the Western countries and some their allies that other countries must legalise.
“Is it not madness for a woman to ask another woman ‘will you marry me? Does it not need psychiatric treatment when a man tells another man ‘I want to marry you?, the angry judged snappily queried.
Justice Abraham retorted “If we allow a man to marry a man and a woman to marry and they give you money, I pray may that money not come to us at all. My wife and I prayed against the idea. I know our President will not accept it.
He taunted “We do not need that kind of money. Let us reject any money that wants to come to us on the platform of gay marriage. I do not want it. Let them take money and go away. It will not glorify God. Satan is bringing the institution to enforce the kingdom of darkness.”
The chief Judge who is a staunch member of Intercessors of Nigeria sneered “Many Christians do not have understanding that gay marriage enforces the kingdom of darkness. Godly marriage will enforce the kingdom of God. Ungodly marriage enforces satanic kingdom and rulership. At the end of it all, it will prevent Christians from coming to their inheritance. That is why Christians must joke with battle on the issue of marriage.
According to him, “Unfortunately, many people do not pay proper attention to marriage. The enemy gives serious attention to it. In 2005, I attended a continental prayer conference in Pretoria, South Africa.
“The theme of the conference was ‘How to destroy Christian marriages.’ It was reported that witches all over the world came together to have an international conference and planned for the purpose of how to destroy Christian marriages. A proper marriage is a threat to the kingdom of darkness. It hinders the manifestation of the devil.”
He lamented “When I sit in court, I see some young couples approaching the court to dissolve their marriages. Some of the issues are not serious, but the devil is behind the game. Let every husband and every wife must be careful on how he or she handles his or her marriage. We have to be committed to prayer for God to sustain our marriages.”
Continuing, he spotted another virus to marriage thus, “Another problem facing marriage is diminishing menfolk. We do not have many men again. Men are getting exhausted. Today, someone is up to 40 years, yet he does not have a house nor have work. So, how is he going to sustain the wife if he marries? How is he going to stand before a beautiful girl to tell her ‘I want to marry you?
Abraham spoke in an emotional tone “When I go to prisons I see many young men languishing in the cells. I will ask ‘How will they marry?” Christians have to pray to God’s mercy in this direction.”
In recent times, gay marriage has received many punches in African society and is yet to win the hearts of most including Nigerians based on their religious beliefs.
However, the National Assembly had in 2014 enacted a law against gay marriage and the then President Jonathan Goodluck assented to it before his exit from office.
The Same-Sex Marriage (Prohibition) Act 2014 outlawing a marriage contract or civil union entered into between persons of same sex, solemnization of same and other related matters.
The Act stipulates that a person who enters into a same sex marriage contract or civil union commits an offence and is liable on conviction to a term of 14 years imprisonment.
A person who registers, operates or participates in gay clubs, societies and organization, or directly or indirectly makes public show of same sex amorous relationship in Nigeria commits an offence and is liable on conviction to a term of 10 years imprisonment.
A person or group of persons who administers, witnesses, abets, or aids the solemnization of a same sex marriage or civil union, or supports the registration, operation and sustenance of gay clubs, societies, organizations, processions or meetings in Nigeria commits an offence and is liable on conviction to a term of 10 years imprisonment.
