Dear Uncle Joe,
I bring you warm regards from Nigeria, that big country in Africa.
I trust you are doing well. Let me begin by congratulating you on your new job. Your political bid has indeed put a Biden in the White House, for which many people, especially those who love the Democrats are happy about. Obviously, you have many supporters in Nigeria and you need to know that the streets of Lagos, the cyberspace in Nigeria literally got annexed as a part of the United States, during your heated electoral journey with Donald Trump, the man who called you ‘Sleepy Joe.
Some Nigerians also fought and exchanged insults on their forefathers on account of your presidential ambition. Now you are the President, the ultimate POTUS, who superintends over the most-organized democracy in the world. It is a job that comes with a huge responsibility, which is why I am writing this letter to you.
Uncle Joe, I decided to write this letter because of your present stance on gay and lesbian rights in Nigeria. I saw and read the threats reeled out against countries that are unwilling to adopt such rights in their laws, and I know Nigeria, my country sits comfortably on the list of nations that have legislated against such practices.
Uncle Joe, I decided to write this letter because of your present stance on gay and lesbian rights in Nigeria. I saw and read the threats reeled out against countries that are unwilling to adopt such rights in their laws, and I know Nigeria, my country sits comfortably on the list of nations that have legislated against such practices.
In my country, anyone involved in homosexual activities is liable on conviction to 14 years in prison. It may sound like a restriction of liberty in your country, but in Nigeria, majority of us are not complaining.
That ‘right’ you see as expression of sexual orientation in your part of the world is taboo in our part of the globe, Uncle Joe. The major religions in Nigeria-Christianity, Islam and African Traditional Religion, the one our forefathers were adherents of before your people came to Africa, with its many variations, are in unison in the condemnation of this sexual habit; so much that we view it from the prism of sacrileges like murder, incest and suicide.
That ‘right’ you see as expression of sexual orientation in your part of the world is taboo in our part of the globe, Uncle Joe. The major religions in Nigeria-Christianity, Islam and African Traditional Religion, the one our forefathers were adherents of before your people came to Africa, with its many variations, are in unison in the condemnation of this sexual habit; so much that we view it from the prism of sacrileges like murder, incest and suicide.
Will you grant us asylum when we start knocking on your door because our forefathers are after our lives for condoning homosexual activities?
Sir, as divided as my people in Nigeria tend to be on issues that have political coloration, adopting 14 years imprisonment against this sexual preference remains one law that a great majority of Nigerians applauded when it happened in 2014, under former President, Goodluck Jonathan.
You may not know this Uncle Joe, but it is real: Some Nigerians who did not buy into your Presidency did not do so because they love Donald Trump more than you. No, it was the widespread belief in Nigeria that your party would push for gay rights when it comes to power.
You may not know this Uncle Joe, but it is real: Some Nigerians who did not buy into your Presidency did not do so because they love Donald Trump more than you. No, it was the widespread belief in Nigeria that your party would push for gay rights when it comes to power.
Some even believe that was one of the reasons your former principal, Barack Obama, worked against the second term of former President Goodluck Jonathan.
Many in this ship would have cogent reasons for their stance now that you are reeling out these threats less than one month after you got into the White House.
Now that you have threatened us with visa and financial assistance, do you think it will make us start loving people of the same sex as us? It is not likely, save for those who will pretend to be doing so for commercial purposes; those we call ’job men’ here. They are ready to initiate NGOs that will pursue this gay cause in the day time and go in to sleep with their wives (or husbands) at night. You will see many of them, coming to you for grants and aids to help pursue this interest in Nigeria.
Uncle Joe, do you know that rather than threatening us over our stance on this gay matter, you would have won over more Nigerians by threatening our leaders on the need to deliver good governance and end poverty? Do you know Nigerians would be happier, if you deploy the influence of your exalted position to reel out threats against terror groups fueling trouble in West Africa and driving more of our people into frustration?
Uncle Joe, do you know that rather than threatening us over our stance on this gay matter, you would have won over more Nigerians by threatening our leaders on the need to deliver good governance and end poverty? Do you know Nigerians would be happier, if you deploy the influence of your exalted position to reel out threats against terror groups fueling trouble in West Africa and driving more of our people into frustration?
As I write this letter to you Uncle Joe, most of our roads have been taken over by kidnappers, bandits and gunmen, so much that our hearts are always in our mouths when in transit? Could you threaten the individuals from whom these gunmen obtain their weapons because their activities are fueling untold hardship in our part of the world? Our streets are so unsafe on account of these arms merchandising supported by the economies in the Western world, while we live a life of misery in ours over insecurity.
Uncle Joe, I know that you are merely pushing American interests by reeling out those threats. Yes, it does not mean that you will love to get down with your fellow dude. Just imagine you trying to get down with Donald Trump, on that presidential bed inside the White House…
Please let us be with our tradition, Uncle Joe. We are Nigerians. Our men love their women; and our women love their men. Any other thing is a misnomer to the majority of us. Let me end by wishing you a successful tenure as the President of the United States.
Ngozi, by the time Uncle Joe Unfolds his agenda e go shock una...
Hmmmmmm
ReplyDeleteWell written Mr. Ngozi.
ReplyDeleteThumbs up Ngoo on your nice write up. Uncle Joe, I hope you'll heed to this beautiful write up from a seasoned journalist.
ReplyDeleteaptly written
ReplyDelete"imagine you trying to get down with Donald Trump, on that presidential bed inside the White House…"
ReplyDeleteI don't even want to imagine that.
Of all things to agitate for in third world countries, he comes for the implementation gay rights for a country like ours
Nice piece Mr Ngozi
Just imagine you trying to get down with Donald Trump, on that presidential bed inside the White House…
DeleteThis really got me🤣🤣
Imagine you trying to get down with Donald trump🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣 after appealing to his conscience, you decided to chook him niddle. Lovely write up.
ReplyDeleteWell written
ReplyDeleteJoe and Trump's election is just like Bubu and GEJ's election where you have to pick your best 'devil'.
ReplyDeleteThis comment has been removed by the author.
ReplyDeleteNice one
ReplyDeleteExcellent write up Ngozi.
ReplyDeleteMy belief is that love that is forced is not love but fear.
Why must you force your lifestyle on people? Allow them accept you on their own through your character.
Beautiful write up Mr Ngozi
ReplyDeleteThis is one of the best write up
ReplyDeleteI have read,kodus Ngozi.
#Real talk..
ReplyDeleteGet your priorities in order Joe bou!
I love this Piece.
ReplyDeleteWriter My Very God will Bless your Pen And Paper.
Also, remember to tell uncle Joe, in your next letter, to equally push for POLYGAMY IN THE USA, and let us see how well he will manage in the WHITE HOUSE, yet NED NWOKO does this with ease.
Exactly... Let him push for polygamy.
DeleteOne good example he should have used is how multiple wives is not a crime here because it is common in our tradition but in the US it is a crime. Why are they not allowing polygamy in most states.
ReplyDeleteUncle Joe, please face US and leave us alone. I can begin to listen to you and take you seriously if you marry a man as the President of the United States 🥴
ReplyDeleteAmericans and eye service... Joe sometimes acts like a busy body, claiming to be a better person and all, okay ooh. What has America done for Nigeria to tell us what to do? Neocolonialist shitheads, pretending to help but in actuality offering no help.
ReplyDeleteNice one sir.
ReplyDeleteTime will tell.
ReplyDeleteThe point is Gay Rights are part of Human Rights which we all feel we are entitled to. You can’t claim some rights for yourself while denying other humans theirs! In other words your rights end where mine begins.
ReplyDeleteNgozi should know that the US Supreme Court came out in support of the rights of Gays so as law abiding Presidents, who have sworn to uphold the Laws of the United States, neither Obama’s or Biden’s personal views matter! Or is he suggesting that Biden should disobey the law (as some of our so-called leaders here do)?
In a Democracy the most important element is the INDIVIDUAL. The rights of the Individual in a Democracy is sacrosanct. Gays are individuals!
The views expressed by Ngozi although ignorant would be supported by a lot of our people because, truth to tell, ours is not a true Democracy! (Every true Democracy, even in Europe, recognizes Gay rights.) It is views such as his that encourage our politicians to keep deceiving us that we are practicing Democracy when in actual fact we are not! For as long as we encourage the suppression of certain rights to others, so shall our owns rights too be taken from us.
The point is Gay Rights are part of Human Rights. You can’t claim some rights for yourself while denying other humans of theirs! In other words your rights end where mine begins.
ReplyDeleteNgozi should know that the US Supreme Court came out in support of the rights of Gays so as law abiding Presidents who have sworn to uphold the Laws of the United States, neither Obama’s or Biden’s personal views matter! Or is he suggesting that Biden should disobey the law?
In a Democracy the most important element is the INDIVIDUAL. The rights of the Individual in a Democracy is sacrosanct. Gays are individuals!
The views expressed by Ngozi although ignorant would be supported by a lot of people because, truth to tell, ours is not a true Democracy! (Every true Democracy, even in Europe, recognizes Gay rights.) It is views such as his that encourage our politicians to keep deceiving us that we are practicing Democracy when in actual fact we are not! For as long as we encourage the suppression of certain rights to others, so shall our owns rights too be taken from us.
Some part of the law is derived from people's culture and tradition, our culture in Nigeria abhors homosexuality so let us be.
ReplyDelete