…In defence of ‘homosexuality’

You know I respect lawyers for their ability to avoid emotions in arguments. They have been trained to quickly separate emotional thoughts in driving home their points, and the mark of a good lawyer is his ability to totally separate his feelings and emotions as he proceeds in cases. That said, the many problems we have in this country is further compounded by the inability of a vast majority of us to look at issues from the clear glass of facts devoid of sentiments and emotional laden conjectures which blur facts and throw in more confusion.

The issue of the lady who accused the Pastor of raping her some 20years ago comes to mind. So the moment the interview aired, the whole population that converged on such issues relying on the immediacy of social media went to town. The fact that it was looking like a digital mob lynching did not deter the many ‘analyst’ and the little voices of some of us who were calling for the respect of the institutions that have been set up to ensure due process, fair hearing and justice as contained in our constitution. We were drowned in the uproar of righteous indignation. I thank God, that today the system has risen up to its responsibility by ensuring that the process as prescribed in our statutes are being followed. Anything less would be anarchy.

Today, we are faced with another emotive situation. This is a huge homophobic society and righty so. Personally, I abhor the act and really do not understand how someone can derive sexual pleasure from a same sex affinity. Well, the truth is that the act is growing like wild fire amongst our youths despite the fact that the general society is abhorrent of the act. Specific professions like fashion, photography, media and entertainment tend to be fertile grounds for this disgusting and inhuman act.

But that said, to the best of my knowledge the law prescribes certain punishments for indulging in the acts and not appearing to be indulging in it. I stand to be corrected. Now this ‘person’ who calls himself Bobrisky being the latest apparition in a line of ‘freaks’ that have seen us contend with people like Charly Boy and Denrele in the past and challenges our thinking, our mores and the institutions that have been set up to ensure order.

Never in our history has one person so challenged what we all stand for as a people and society. Bobrisky has so boldly pointed a finger at our faces daring us to face our sexuality and our attitudes towards it, in the process headlining the continuous widespread engagement of our youths in this ‘thing’. Rightly so, society is up in arms, frustrated by the seeming boldness and arrogance of his campaigns. Daily assaulting our sensibilities with the madness of his alternative lifestyle, misguiding our youths and making his madness look like the place to be.

As expected, we have reacted with the brashness of a muscled moron. We have thrown the police at the problem hoping that if we instill proper fear in them. This will not work. The issue will not be resolved by strong arm tactics in fact I don’t even think we can stomp this one out at all.

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You see the issue here is hinged on personal preferences and attitudes. It is a social issue and criminalizing it only strengthens it like other social issues that we face. even the law says caught in the act and not doing ‘party’. Bobrsky or whatever he calls himself still reserves the right to socialize and have his birthday in a public place and like every other free born Nigerian expects the system to protect and ensure that he has ‘fun’ doing it. But then again the possibility of a criminal activity like rape, homosexual activities can not be ruled out hence the need for preventive action by the police, but a total shut down? In my view, this impinges on the Fundamental Human rights of the owner of the party. I could be wrong though it is left for the lawyers to argue this one out.

This Bobrisky problem is staring us boldly in the face to the point that our Culture Czar Otunba Runsewe has waded into the matter. It is a raging fire that cannot be resolved with strong arm tactics. It is addictive and driven by very strong social trends fueled by the breaking down of cultural values through the availability of the Internet and other forms of cultural imperialism.

Throwing police into the matter only worsens it as you can see that it could lead to the trampling of peoples rights which is far worse than same sex marriage or relationships. A more subtle but effective strategy needs to be evolved at the level of community. Churches and social pressure groups must combat this thing. They need to get into their heads to understand where they are coming from and what can be done to combat these must be evolved.

Bobrisky should be properly engaged and not hounded. He is a marketing genius, a strong intellect that needs to be understood. He can if not properly handled destroy the social fabric of our people. He is lethal weapon of the mass adulteration of our youths. We need to pull him closer to get to his core in a bid to using him to fight this scourge that is threatening to obliterate our society as we see it.

With millions following him and swearing by him, this is one boil on our collective scrotums that will not be splurged just like that. He has to be engaged to be destroyed.

 

By Joseph Edgar…

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