Gay Bill: Britain May Suspend Aid to Nigeria -David Cameron ...Nigerian's Reacts

British Prime Minister, David Cameron, on Friday said his government might consider cutting off aid to Nigeria over same sex marriage bill passed by the House
of Representatives on Thursday.  The Senate had passed its own version in November 2011.

Cameron spoke on a British Broadcasting Corporation programme monitored in Lagos. He said he would take up the issue with President Goodluck Jonathan soon.
The prime minister said he would restate his government’s strong objection to the passage of the bill.

The prime minister was reacting to a question by a Nigerian resident in London, Bisi.
“When we meet with Nigerian politicians and leaders, we will be clear about those things we agreed on. We have to be clear where we disagree. We will make clear where we stand on those issues,” he said.

When asked whether Britain would consider stopping a projected 50 per cent increase in aid to Nigeria or cutting it outright, Cameron said, “Nothing is off the table. We need to have these conversations. We also have some very important objectives with Nigerians, for instance on how to deal with the appalling rates of poverty in Northern Nigeria, which are part of the problems confronting the country.”
Britain and some Western Nation had previously expressed opposition to the bill.
Cameron had in October 2011 threatened to cut off aid to countries which ban gay and lesbians.

NIGERIANS REACTS

Okey

LET DAVID CAMERON AND HIS HOPELESSLY IMMORAL BRITAIN GO JUMP INTO THE THAMES AND PERISH WITH THEIR AIDS.

Haga

why will they suspend the aid program..?

Odinaka Onyema

Nigeria is a sovereign state and we are no longer under the colonial rule. Homosexuality is not genetic and it is believed to be an abnormality. Abnormalities are meant to be treated and lifted off those affected, it shouldn't be legalized. Non of our major religions permits it, our cultures do not permit it and majority of Nigerians are against it. So why should it be legalized?. The day the U.K will stop prosecuting terrorists for their religious "orientaion" then we shall consider not punishing gays for their sexual "orientation". If they can't give every human including drug addicts and terrorists the freedom which they say is what gays deserve in a democratic country, then they should be quiet and think of other human right issues to focus on like stopping abortion globally. Someone would come to ask why when has being abnormal become a crime, let him or her show me a criminal who is in jail for taking actions which are not considered abnormal?. Nigeria is soverign and the world must respect us for our laws. Have a lovely day friends.

GOD BLESS NIGERIANS.

NV Danmola

@odinaka: Good comment. But, point of correction: Nigeria is NOT a sovereign state like you think. Look at these:

Last week, the US Coast Guard (an arm of the US military) 'ordered' your president to fix his country's seaports WITHIN 90 days or face punishment. Forty-eight hours later, your president transmitted the order to his seaport managers (NIMASA and Co.) and gave them a 45-day ultimatum to carry out the order (so that as a 'good boy' he would beat the 90-day ultimatum his US bosses gave him). NIMASA and Co. are now running helter-skelter to obey the 'order from beyond'. That is order Number #1

Today, the British government are threatening to withhold aid from Nigeria because of a certain new law passed by the House of Reps (which does not even apply to them over there in the UK). They say they will take it up with your president and let him know 'their stand' (i.e. their threat). Some of you might not know the magnitude of British aid to Nigeria but you will definitely feel it when it is eventually cut. That is pending order Number #2.

Next week, the French government will send their own order to your president. They will 'instruct' him to mobilise more soldiers and hurry them over to Mali to fight the insurgents as they (France) pull out some of their combat troops. That order will soon come. That is expected order Number #3.

B'Haram threatens the peace of your country and your country is asking for help from abroad to restore and maintain INTERNAL SECURITY. Isn't this responsibility supposed to be the one of the FIRST THREE duties of a sovereign government?

Think for yourself. Nigeria has another government that resides outside its borders.

Oceanaxis

Do you really have Idea what sovereignty means?..In 1983, diplomatic relations between Nigeria and Britain were suspended for two years. over the kidnap of Umaru Dikko by Buhari. Check out the Nigeria flag and the passport. Do they have any semblance of any country, apart from Nigeria.?..The fact that, American maritime authority requested for certain improvement in our port security system, does not take away your sovereignty. We do not spend American or British currencies. We deal with each other, based on mutual respect.

God and Fatherland - Oceanaxis

Sovereignty means having the freedom and right to make your own decision, take actions, solving ones countries'problem in a way such coutry deems fit und last but not the least, it means having the right to pursue the Nations interest. So you see the country is not really a sovereign state. Take the case of Umaru Diko you mentioned: Did Britain return the stolen money ? the answer is no? Did Britain grant the request to allow this man be tried of corruption? The answer is no. So where is the sovereignty, when Nigeria is prevented from fighting corruption or in protecting her interest in such a case that affects the wll beign of all Nigeria. You since 1983 the games hiding the stolen public money in safe heavens continues,.Remember abacher with 6 Billio $ and that is just one man.

Tonnero

Nigeria IS a sovereign state. Anyone can order what they like, it is whether they have the ability to enforce it that determines whether you have handed your sovereignty over to them or not. No doubt, every nation has aspects of their sovereignty that they have lost. The US for instance, is so heavily indebted to China that they are unable to act as independently as they wish. Countries which sign the various international charters voluntarily give up their rights to the particular items that are in those charters. Our biggest problem is our dependence on these countries for various things. On this one though, I suspect most Nigerians would rather starve than give in to this which seeks to impose Western norms of morality on the rest of us. This is irritating. Next, they will ask us to accept bestiality and other practices popular in the West. Where does it stop? And who determines that point?

NV Danmola

My friend, the ability to enforce is well within their means. You cited a bad example with China and the US debt. Did you also know that the US could throw China into a serious economic crisis if they (the US) choose to drastically devalue the dollar (which is completely within the powers of the US Federal Reserve to do so)? The key word here is 'leverage'. China uses its huge dollar-denominated foreign reserve as leverage against the US. The US also uses its unilateral control over the USD as its leverage, plus its strong relations with China's neighbours like Taiwan, S/Korea, Japan and the Philippines, and its sheer international economic/diplomatic influence (which is still very much greater than that of China, although China's is rising).

Question is: in this particular case, what leverage does Nigeria have usable against the US? We cannot dare threaten to stop oil exports to the US East Coast because they will easily shift to Angola and Ghana and if that's enough to offset our oil, they will call upon their friendly S/Arabia to increase oil output (like they did in order to successfully implement their embargo on Iranian oil). They could even go further to ask their friends/allies to stop buying Nigerian oil as our punishment (the US asked India and China to stop buying Iran's oil and after much persuasion, India and China agreed to cut imports after S/Arabia pledged to replace Iran's oil and guarantee supplies).

Besides oil, Nigeria has NOTHING else to use as leverage in the international arena especially against the West.

So you see, Nigeria really is NOT a sovereign state, by my previous comment. The West do have the means and the exclusive preserve of the will to ORDER YOUR PRESIDENT as they please. Take it or leave it. Painful, isn't it?

Tonnero

Your analysis is right but I think your conclusion is wrong! I would reverse the question on leverage since they are the ones trying to get us to do something. So what leverage do they have to get us to do what they want? Stopping aid? Insignificant. Stopping oil imports? They are not our main trading partner for oil. Embargo on visas to the UK? Restrictions to UK schools by our children? Slowing down trade? We probably import more from them than they do from us and they have to worry about jobs. Fact is even they will not go that far as they will cut their nose to spite their face. You demean Nigeria by thinking we are helpless. Look around you. Do you think the rash of UK companies benefit nothing from here? Do you think using the AU, UN to tell them to back off does not work? The UK is a most vociferous defender of its sovereignty which is why they have tarried so long in joining the EU but feel they can impose their views here. Finally, what leverage can you have over a man who is prepared to die? Starving him? Killing him? Unless my reading is wrong, I suspect that on this matter, most Nigerians WILL NOT BUDGE.

June 15, 2013