By Ikenna Asomba
Dear Distinguished Prime Minister Theresa May,
Since Tuesday, April 18, 2018, I have been very peturbed over what you think about Nigeria as a country and Nigerians as a people, even after 58 years that your country, Britain, left the shores of Nigeria.
It would be recalled that coincidently, on Saturday, October 1, 1960, Britain, by God’s Divine Inspiration, Rested from Colonising Nigeria, left the shores of Nigeria for Nigerians to get REST from Imperialist Control.
I was very concerned, asking introspectively, if indeed, Prime Minister May knows for a fact, the germane problem confronting Nigerians, which is thus a worrisome concern for Nigerians at home and in the Diaspora?
This question arises against the backdrop of Prime Minister May’s proposition to some 37 Commonwealth nations, including Nigeria at a Commonwealth leaders summit in London.
At the 2018 edition of the summit held every two years, Mrs. May apologised on behalf of the UK for passing legislations that criminalised same sex relations, and handing same over to no fewer than 53 Commonwealth nations that Britain colonised.
Hear Prime Minister May: “Nobody should face discrimination and persecution because of who they are or who they love.
“The UK stands ready to support any Commonwealth nation wanting to reform outdated legislation that makes such discrimination possible.
“Across the world, discriminatory laws made many years ago continue to affect the lives of many people, criminalising same-sex relations and failing to protect women and girls.
“The laws were wrong then and wrong now.”
Sincerely, Prime Minister Theresa May is entitled to her opinion. After all, it’s different strokes for different folks.
Biblically, Leviticus 20:13 preaches against same-sex Relations, even as Leviticus 20:15;16 speaks against Bestiality (sexual relations with animals). These among others are unwholesome sexual practices that God Almighty detests.
Of the 195 countries of world, same-sex relations are explicitly banned in 72 countries, according to the International Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Trans and Intersex Association (ILGA).
In 2014, Nigeria’s former President Goodluck Jonathan signed a bill criminalising same-sex relationships in Nigeria, despite pressure from Western governments, including former U.S. President Barrack Obama, to preserve the rights of gay, lesbian and bisexual people.
The Same-Sex Marriage Prohibition Act (SSMPA) bans gay marriage, same-sex “amorous relationships” and membership of gay rights groups with penalties of up to 14 years in prison.
Since 2014, till date, I am however, yet to see any single individual in Nigeria, prosecuted by the State and convicted for same-sex relations.
For Nigerians, across all ethnic groups, tribes, cultures and religions, same-sex marriage is a NO! NO! Prime Minister May should try to conduct a survey in Nigeria to understand this.
So, it’s imperative to note that her proposition, borne out of ‘genuine’ kind gesture that the UK stands ready to support any Commonwealth nation, including Nigeria, wanting to reform the ‘outdated’ legislation against same-sex relations is DEAD ON ARRIVAL.
Dear Prime Minister Theresa May, Yours Truly LOVES your gusto. You have indeed trudged where men failed. For this fact, I threw my weight behind you during the June 8, 2017 UK Polls, and still supports you till date.
But, on this latest READINESS of your Leadership to support Nigeria to reform her legislation against same-sex relations, I am not on the same page with you.
Conduct a survey countless times of what Nigerians feel about “Bone to Bone” or “Flesh to Flesh,” relations, you shall get the same majority results of a NO! NO!
WHERE NIGERIA NEEDS UK’S SUPPORT URGENTLY
Dear Prime Minister May, it is imperative to bring to your knowledge at this auspicious moment that the West, including your country- UK, still percieve Africa as being a DARK CONTINENT.
Among many other reasons, the most germane one is as a result of the epileptic power situation in parts of Africa, particularly Nigeria, the most populous black nation on the surface of the earth, the self-acclaimed Africa’s Big Brother and Giant of Africa.
Worrisomely, 58 years after your country left Nigeria for self-rule, Nigeria still suffers teething problems of governance. Most pathetically, not attaining a 24-HOUR ECONOMY through possible 24-HOUR ELECTRICITY SUPPLY.
Of course, one is forced to ask, is this the fault of our colonialists, your country?
Against this backdrop, I seize this medium to draw your attention to this age-long pathetic Behemoth called DARKNESS in Nigeria.
This Behemoth, for reasons I can’t fathom, has bedevilled Nigeria’s growth and development for 58 years after the exit of your countrymen.
Courtesy the MAGNANIMOUS kind gesture of Dr. Patrick Ifeanyi Ubah, President, FC Ifeanyi Ubah and Chief Executive Officer, Capital Oil & Gas Industries Limited, Yours Truly, in November 2016, joined a team of over 80 Nigerian Youths, sponsored in an all-expense paid visit to the UK.
That trip afforded me the opportunity to learn that all parts of the UK enjoy a 24-HOUR ECONOMY via a 24-HOUR ELECTRICITY SUPPLY.
For all the years, your countrymen colonised Nigeria before leaving, it is unfortunate that your so-called DARLING BABY- NIGERIA, could not be GIFTED with a 24-HOUR ELECTRICITY SUPPLY.
58 years after your countrymen had left, it is more worrisome that your darling child- Nigeria, is still crawling and bedevilled with teething problems as common as ATTAINING a 24-HOUR ELECTRICITY SUPPLY.
Dear Prime Minister May, you should be very bothered about this JINX.
Without much ado, I for one, would rather advise that this latest READINESS of your Leadership to support Nigeria to reform her legislation against same-sex relations, which I insist is DEAD ON ARRIVAL, should be RE-DIRECTED to helping the country and her people ATTAIN a 24-HOUR ECONOMY via a 24-HOUR ELECTRICITY SUPPLY.
If Prime Minister Theresa May is very shocked to hear this Bitter Truth, I shall willingly assist to take her around Nigeria to see the sufferings of a larger percentage of the Nigerian People, particularly, as a result of the DARKNESS which envelopes the entire Nation at nights.
I am willing to take Prime Minister Theresa May to Eziama Uli community in Ihiala Local Government Area of Anambra State, South-East Nigeria, where thousands of innocent Nigerians, including children, women and youths have lived for over TWO YEARS without ELECTRICITY SUPPLY!
Infact, I am very willing to take Prime Minister Theresa May to Gbaji-Seme, a border community in Badagry West Local Government Development Area of Lagos State, Nigeria’s commercial hub, where thousands of innocent Nigerians, including children, women and youths have lived for 19 SOLID YEARS without ELECTRICITY SUPPLY!
Dear Distinguished Prime Minister Theresa May, this issue of ATTAINING a 24-HOUR ELECTRICITY SUPPLY across every home in Nigeria- West, East, North and South, is the GERMANE PROBLEM confronting Nigeria and Nigerians at home and in the Diaspora, and not the proposed READINESS of your Leadership to support Nigeria to reform her legislation against same-sex relations.
If this READINESS the UK is channelling to entrench same-sex relations in Nigeria is RE-CHANNELLED to support Nigeria, her ‘CONFUSED’ leaders and helpless people, in ATTAINING a 24-HOUR ECONOMY via a 24-HOUR ELECTRICITY, I assure my lovely Sweetheart and Mum, Prime Minister Theresa May, that before she says Jack Robinson, 80 per cent of Diasporan Nigerians in the UK would return home to their motherland to set up establishments that will see Nigeria, UK’s darling child, BOUNCING BACK again to compete with its peers, as it was in the 60’s.
By and large, Dear Distinguished Prime Minister Theresa May, I wouldn’t know what Nigeria’s President Muhammadu Buhari told you as regards Nigeria’s Germane Problem, in your meeting with him.
Please, do not mind his usual blame games against Highly Industrious Nigerian Youths at home and in the Diaspora. His GENERATION FAILED Nigeria!
But, let me reiterate that what majority of Nigerians want is a 24-HOUR ELECTRICITY SUPPLY, not “Bone to Bone” or “Flesh to Flesh” relations.
Fellow Nigerians, at home and in the Diaspora, I hope I have spoken your minds?
Ikenna Asomba, Editor, Diplomatic Watch, writes from Illinois.
