CAN welcomes election of Dr Good Luck Jonathan as Vice-President of Nigeria

Tuesday, 24 April 2007
by Davis Mac-Iyalla

Changing Attitude Nigeria receives with gladness the news that our Christian brother and father, an Anglican knight in the Church of Nigeria (Anglican Communion), Dr Good Luck Jonathan is the Vice-President elect of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.

We have been so very worried about the many irregularities and casualties that have surrounded the elections. However we are grateful to God Almighty who has not allowed Nigeria to split into different factions. God has still held us together in one nation despite our differences.

We hope that both the losers and winners in this election will put their differences away and unite to work together for the unity and peace of Nigeria. Our word of hope and prayer for the new government is that you will not fail in your promises to create a better, safer and more just society for all Nigerians.

Davis Mac-Iyalla, Director of Changing Attitude Nigeria, said:

"We are worried that the Nigerian Anglican Church will try and use the new Vice-President elect to push for the reintroduction of the bill against same-sex marriages, relationships and organisations that was lost in the last Assembly. This bill would cause problems for Nigerian in the international community. It would also increase the fear suffered by lesbian and gay Nigerians and the dangers that we live under in our society and encourage people to deepen their prejudices against us.

"We hope the Vice-President elect will work to protect and respect everyone in the diverse cultures of Nigeria including those of us who are lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgendered Christians, a hidden and persecuted minority in our country.

"We Christian LGBT people deplore the terrible violence and corruption which is wounding our country so deeply, and the failure of our Government to make a priority of the need s of the poorest people in our society. We pray for a Government that upholds the rule of law and works towards justice and protection for all, Moslem or Christian, lesbian, gay or heterosexual, rich or poor."

Source: http://www.changingattitude.org.uk/news/newsitem.asp?id=294