Last Thursday, we shared with you the story of Nigerian Presidential hopeful Donald Duke. Duke shared that he would protect LGBTQ people from persecution and not criminalize them, but now he has gone back on his word.
In the initial interview with YouTube talk show, On the Couch, Duke said the following:
“I don’t understand the emotional feelings a gay person would have toward someone of their sexuality. I don’t understand it. But I would not criminalize them. I would ensure that they have the protection of the law.”
Now, according to Gay Star News, Donald Duke is clarifying that he may not openly go after gay people, but he won’t decriminalize them either.
Duke felt like making this clarification on Instagram after he was constantly asked if his support for gay rights meant that he was gay himself. After hearing this question a few times, he felt the need to respond.
“Recently, a statement I made during an interview concerning gay rights and homosexuality has been construed as my affirmation of my homosexuality and same sex marriage. Nothing is further from the truth,” he wrote.
“Homosexuality is a crime in Nigeria and ought to remain so.”
“What I however did say is that I would not go seeking homosexual for prosecution as this is liable to abuses and as such would rather not delve into the sexuality of an individual. For the avoidance of doubt our law on homosexuality stand in fact and in my moral rectitude.”
The presidential election in Nigeria is not for another few months and will take place in February of next year.
That said, Duke is a front-runner in the presidential race and his support of gay rights means everything for Nigerian gay people who have been especially terrorized by the government in the past few months. Unfortunately, that support will only go to the bare minimum.
We’ll how he does in the election, and what he would do with the position if he wins, early next year.
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