Benin Chief Imam to Buhari: Be wary of Gay Marriage pressure during U.S visit

Against the backdrop of the United States legalization of Gay marriage, the Chief Imam of Benin Central Mosque, Abdulfattah Enabulele, has cautioned President Muhammadu Buhari against accepting any Greek gift that would compromise the cultural and religious heritage of the Africa people during his four-day visit to that country.

President Buhari is expected to, among other issues, request assistance from the U.S to end the Boko Haram insurgency which has led to loss of lives of thousands of Nigerians and ravaged the North Eastern part of the country.

But leading other Muslims faithful to pay Eid-El-Fitri celebration homage to the Edo State Governor, Adams Oshiomhole, in Government House on Friday in Benin, Enabulele warned that desperation to end the Boko Haram menace should not force the President to accept conditions that could put Nigeria in an embarrassing situation.

He pointed out that a new trend of civilization was spreading around some parts of the globe, saying “Sir, America and Europe seem to have found a new civilization in Sodomy. They probably believe that the men of Sodom and Gomorrah were destroyed either because they were not clever enough or they had no nuclear power with which to fight God.

“America is currently the champion of modern civilization. Whatever emerges from America is perceived as a trend of civilization with which the rest of the world must keep pace. On June 27, 2015, America’s Supreme Court gave a split judgment of 5 to 4 that shocked the entire world to the marrow. The judgment officially granted the citizens of that country the legal right to practice sodomy throughout the country in what is now seen as a token of civilization…

“With the current institutionalization backed up by government authority, it is characteristic of the West to want to impose any newly invented idea by them considered as civilization on others. This is where President Muhammadu Buhari has to be very careful when he travels to the United States of America,” he said.

Observing that the West has a way of attracting others to their fold with open carrots while hiding the stick, the Chief Imam, however, noted that major vices like gay marriage, homosexuality, lesbianism and bisexualism which are contagious will never have a place in the cultural and religious behavioural patterns of Africa and the Nigeria people.

“… President Barack Obama seems to be desperate in helping Nigeria to get rid of Boko Haram menace, and he has noticed desperation on the part of President Buhari in solving the same problem. No Nigerian interest can ever be a priority for an American president. It is all about self-interest,” he said.

Enabulele however prayed God to grant the President the strength, wisdom, courage, good health and determination to fulfil all his electioneering promises to the Nigeria people, just as he prayed for the Edo state governor and his cabinet, Edo people and Nigerians at large.

Responding, the state governor who was represented by his deputy, Dr. Pius Odubu, commended the Muslim community for the visit and congratulated them on the successful completion of the one month Ramadan fast and the Eid-El-Fitri celebration.

He urged the Muslims faithful not to relent in their prayers for the President Muhammadu Buhari and Adams Oshiomhole governments.