The theatrics of a lunatic are delightful to watch but no one prays to have them as a child. Alas, this is the unsavoury situation many prominent Nigerians have found themselves as many of their children are turning to gayism to the eternal embarrassment of their parents.
Notably is Bolu, the son of a former Senior Special Assistant to President Goodluck Jonathan on Public Affairs, DoyinOkupe, who openly declared himself a homosexual last year. Bolu, a Masters degree holder in International Management from NEOMA Business School, France, revealed his sexual status in a viral Instagram post, stating, “Yes, I’m Gay AF.”
The distraught father chose the same medium to respond to the news, saying, “My attention has been drawn to a publication of my 27-yr-old son, Bolu Okupe, in which he declared publicly that he is gay. I gave him that name Moba Oluwa Rin, (I walked with God) because he was born at the time I gave my life to Christ.”
He stated further, “I have been aware of this his new orientation for a while now. He knows that as a Christian and a witness for Christ (an evangelist) I am vehemently opposed to homosexuality as it runs contrary to the avowed precepts of my Christian faith. For me, I look beyond the surface or the physical. Here I see a major spiritual challenge ahead but I know as my God liveth, this whole saga will end up in Praise to the Almighty Jehovah who I serve day and night.”
No less flustered was maverick entertainer, Charles Oputa, popularly known as Charly Boy, when his daughter, Diane, revealed that she is a lesbian. In 2018, the young lady who now prefers to be called Dewy came out by sharing photos and a video of herself and her girlfriend. Dewy said she shared the post because she got tired of hiding and decided it was time to live in her truth.
She said, “My mission for creating a lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer platform is to provide a safe place for youths in the African community. I strive to create an accepting and welcoming community where everyone is free to express themselves and be loved for who they are. I want a place where individuals such as myself can create authentic friendships and thrive as the person they were born to be.”
Tracing the genesis of her sexual predilection, Dewy stated, “I can’t pinpoint the exact age I found out about my sexuality, but I was much younger. When I came out to my parents, it took them a while to adjust but my happiness comes first. I don’t feel bad about the negative comments my sexuality post has generated. I knew Nigerians would always have negative things to say and I was mentally prepared for it. I’m not here to sway anybody’s point of view; I’m here to bring awareness.”
Charly Boy responded thus, “She is my daughter, why won’t I support her even if she is whatever she is? My father supported me too. We can argue on moral grounds but we all have our rights to life. I fought for the gay community; so, if my daughter turns out to be this way, I should walk my talk.”
Admitting that he might not like her sexuality personally, he said there was nothing he could do about it since she is an adult, because, “I have daughters who are married and have children, but she is the only one who has decided to be different. As long as she finds happiness or moves on with her life, I don’t have any problem with it. My father wanted me to be a lawyer and I told him I didn’t want to be a lawyer; I did what made me happy. People can be talking based on moral grounds, but we are not in the position to judge. Nigeria is like this because of evil people and we should concentrate on those people; not my daughter’s sexuality.”
Across Nigeria, there is a new wave of consciousness and boldness to come out of the closet as many young men are embracing their sexual orientation and damning all consequences to be identified and accepted for who they are. But a popular politician from the southeast who has just recorded a landmark electoral victory and whose son is gay doesn’t want such closure at this time in his political life. Thus, emissaries have been sent to his London-based son to step back from the limelight and enjoy the mouth-watering benefits that will come with his father’s new position. The father’s fear is not the otherwise tame anti-gay law that prescribes a 14-year jail term for offenders; he fears that such news has the propensity to make him a laughing stock among top political officeholders.
For the past few years, a prominent businessman with stakes in the hospitality, insurance and financial sectors, has been nursing a grievous wound since his son announced he is gay. Across London where the son lives and runs a Nigerian-themed restaurant with his white partner, it is common knowledge that he is gay. The self-effacing businessman whose name made the headlines recently as another billionaire threatened his stakes in a frontline financial services company has done everything possible to keep the news of his son’s sexual orientation on the low. So far, he has succeeded. But, for how long?
Attitudes on the acceptance of homosexuality are shaped by the country in which people live. Statistics show that those in Western Europe and the Americas are generally more accepting of homosexuality than are those in Eastern Europe, Russia, Ukraine, the Middle East and sub-Saharan Africa. This is a function not only of the economic development of nations but also religious and political mores and attitudes.
In 2014, former President Goodluck Jonathan, despite global pressure, signed into law the same-sex marriage act, which says anyone found guilty of homosexuality faces up to 14years in prison. The Sharia Law, practised in 12 Nigerian states, prescribes death by stoning for gays. Alas, all of these have not deterred many silver spoon kids from openly taking the road less travelled in their sex life.
