The National Union of Journalists (NUJ) has written to the Nigerian Ambassador to Ireland protesting at the tone and content of a speech given in Dublin recently by the Governor of Delta State.
At the Metro Éireann International Leadership Awards ceremony on 18 January, Dr Emmanuel Ewata Uduaghan compared homosexuality to paedophilia in his response to comments from NUJ Irish secretary Seamus Dooley calling for an about-face on anti-gay legislation recently enacted in Nigeria.
In the days following the incident, a letter was sent to Nigerian Ambassador Felix Pwol signed by NUJ general secretary Michelle Stanistreet, president Barry McCall, president, and Irish council chair Gerry Curran.
The letter pointed out that Dooley was reflecting union policy in relation to international human rights when he made his comments on the oppression of LGBT communities in Nigeria in his acceptance speech for an award recognising his work for integration and anti-racism.
Dr Uduaghan was present to receive the Metro Éireann International Outstanding Leadership Award, and used his acceptance speech to criticise activists and the international community opposed to Nigeria’s recent criminalisation of homosexuality.
“We were shocked to learn of Dr Uduaghan’s comments,” said Stanistreet. “He responded in an offensive manner, drawing a direct comparison between homosexuality and paedophilia.
“In supporting the stand taken by the President of Nigeria, the governor stated that there can be no place for gay people in Nigeria and declared they must leave the country.”
Stanistreet also noted the governor’s position that “western countries must accept this attitude as a Nigerian and African tradition which will never change, claiming that 99 per cent of the population support the new legislation.
“His explicit statement confirmed our fears that the current legislation is informed by a homophobic perspective which views human rights as dispensable.”
She continued: “As a union concerned with freedom of expression, we have highlighted the violation of the rights of the media. The Irish secretary correctly used the opportunity to highlight the abuse of human rights, which have been documented by Amnesty International.”
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 homophobic laws.
Metro Éireann was not aware of Dr Uduaghan’s views on homosexuality before his acceptance speech, and his comments in no way reflect the views of Metro Éireann.
