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Commuters peer from a bus showing campaign posters of Dr Emmanuel Eweta Uduaghan a candidate for state governor in Port Harcourt Nigeria, AP Photo/George Osodi

NUJ condemns "unacceptable" speech on homosexuality from Nigerian state governor

The comments were allegedly made by the Governor of the Delta State in Nigeria at a recent awards ceremony.

THE NATIONAL UNION of journalists has written to the Nigerian Ambassador to Ireland to protest against the “tone and content” of a speech given by a Nigerian state governor at a recent awards ceremony.

The Irish NUJ secretary, Séamus Dooley, received an award two weeks ago at the Metro Éireann awards, and during his speech commented on the recent Nigerian laws regarding homosexuality.

It is already illegal to have gay sex in Nigeria, and the new laws ban same-sex marriages and shows of same-sex affection.

Dr Emmanuel Eweta Uduaghan, who is Governor of the Delta State in Nigeria, was also given a special award at the event.

Dooley told TheJournal.ie that while accepting the award he said he wanted “to take the opportunity to ask the [Nigerian] ambassador and the [Delta State] governor to take back our concerns [to Nigeria] in relation to right of assembly and right of gays and lesbians to enjoy human rights in Nigeria”.

He said Governor Uduaghan took to the stage after this, and “the first point he made was that in this country sex between a man and a 10-year-old girl is a taboo and that in Nigeria they regard homosexuality in exactly the same way and the same thing”.

He said that Governor Uduaghan said that if people “wanted to practice homosexuality they can do it somewhere else”.

Dooley described the comments as “unacceptable”.

The NUJ has also written to the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade Eamon Gilmore seeking Irish government support for the campaign against Nigeria’s laws on homosexuality.

Dooley said that he “wants the Irish government to use its influence, whatever influence it has, to seek to change Nigerian policy both at a domestic level and [at] European level”.

“I would like to see if Ireland does continue aid programmes with Nigeria that it should be with organisations who recognise human rights,” said Dooley.

Metro Éireann response

A statement from Metro Éireann said:

Delta State Governor, Dr Emmanuel Eweta Uduaghan’s comment about gay people after receiving a special award at the 2013 Metro Éireann International Leadership Award held on Saturday 18 January 2014 is entirely his personal opinion and does not represent the views of Metro Éireann. Metro Éireann was absolutely not aware of his views on gay people neither did we see it coming before his acceptance speech.

“We are currently engaging Governor Uduaghan on the issue,” continued the statement.

Metro Éireann will continue to create awareness about issues facing gay people in Ireland, Nigeria and anywhere else in the world. We believe this will encourage both the Governor and Nigerian government officials to change their position on the issue.

The paper noted that over the last several years it has published several articles on gay issues from a human rights perspective, by a range of writers.

In a letter to ambassador Felix Y Pwol, Nigeria’s ambassador to Ireland, Michelle Stanistreet,  NUJ general secretary, Barry McCall, president, and Gerry Curran, chair of the NUJ’s Irish Council, pointed out that the Dooley was reflecting union policy in relation to international human rights when he made his comments.

The Ambassador of Nigeria to Ireland and the office of the Delta State Governor were both contacted on this issue, but as yet we have received no comment.

Read: Irish aid with strings attached: Should Ireland help countries that deny gay rights?>

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16 Comments
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    Mute Seamus Larkin
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    Jan 27th 2014, 10:25 PM

    Terrible comments. We should withdraw our aid from this backward regime until it treats all peoples with human rights.

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    Mute Begrudgy
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    Jan 27th 2014, 10:28 PM

    Could say the same about this country.

    85
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    Mute Ryan Ash
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    Jan 27th 2014, 10:56 PM

    @ Begrudgy: For all the criticism of this country, I believe we will be within the first 15 countries in the world to legalise gay marriage in 2015 as well as one of the first to legalise adoption by gay couples.

    That is most definitely a better record on gay rights than Nigeria’s.

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    Mute Marcus power
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    Jan 27th 2014, 11:14 PM

    Ryan. ….I hope we can drop the inappropriate. … and dated moniker “gay ” and start just having adoption and marraige as rights in the societies that we live in as citizens. ..taxpayers and residents. …maybe I’m living in a fools paradise ????

    61
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    Mute Donny White
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    Jan 27th 2014, 10:40 PM

    Considering there are more convicted rapists than open homosexuals in Nigeria, I would respectfully suggest the good doctor address the more systemic and evil of the two issues.

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    Mute hjGfIgAq
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    Jan 27th 2014, 10:24 PM

    Hi everyone,
    If you could be mindful and respectful while leaving comments on this article, it would be much appreciated. We have a comments policy that can be read here: http://www.thejournal.ie/comments-policy/
    Any racist, homophobic or offensive comments will be deleted.
    Thanks in advance,
    Aoife

    116
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    Mute Wallace Friend
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    Jan 27th 2014, 10:35 PM

    You guys are overzealous with your moderation to the point of censorship.

    108
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    Mute Wallace Friend
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    Jan 27th 2014, 10:31 PM

    Whatever happened to freedom of speech? You might not like what they’re saying (and I certainly don’t!) but they do have the right to say it!

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    Mute Colm Durkan
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    Jan 27th 2014, 10:37 PM

    No, you don’t have the right to publicly say that homosexuality is the same as paedophilia.

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    Mute Wallace Friend
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    Jan 27th 2014, 10:42 PM

    Why?

    I’m not saying I agree there exists such a link, but who are you to censor anyone else saying as they please?

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    Mute Buster Ó Briain
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    Jan 27th 2014, 10:53 PM

    They can say what they want, and we have the right to criticise it.

    Having the right to say something doesn’t make it exempt from criticism.

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    Mute Ryan Ash
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    Jan 27th 2014, 11:05 PM

    @ Wallace: I don’t see anyone seeking to stop the Ambassador’s right to free speech. Merely he is being attacked and criticised for making such an invalid, untrue and hurtful comparison.

    @ Everyone:

    Normally I am not a fan of his, but I think Noel Whelan summed it up pretty well at the weekend in his Irish Times article:

    “Many liberals seem to be afraid to let a conservative position be heard in the debate. Do they lack confidence in their own ability to counter it? It is worrying at this important moment, a year out from when the people will directly decide on the issue, that a pattern has already developed of seeking to edit out opposing views rather than confront and defeat them.”

    http://www.irishtimes.com/news/politics/readiness-to-hurl-the-word-homophobe-may-not-help-the-liberal-reform-agenda-1.1667387

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    Mute Garáiste Ó Churáinn-Seisean
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    Jan 27th 2014, 11:07 PM

    Metro Eireann showed poor judgement giving this man an award . Perhaps they should have considered honouring that gay Kenyan writer Ken Binyavanga Wainaina who came out in the past few weeks in a country that being gay is illegal . Countries who have human rights issues whatever the discrimination should have sanctions placed on aid

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    Mute Martin Ryan
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    Jan 27th 2014, 11:16 PM

    That would be most countries worldwide so can’t see it working somehow.

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    Mute Sammy Sausages
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    Jan 27th 2014, 10:49 PM

    I don’t like what he said but I’m not a fan of censorship either (or sending solicitor’s letters to gag people)….. I certainly don’t think this Governor should be in line for any type of an award with such an inhumane view of gay people.

    It’s easy to cater to populist opinions in your country, but it takes bravery and strength of character to say what is right.

    44
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