WHEN MEN RESOLVE…GREATNESS BECKONS!

"Adam, the very first man that lived, we recalled, failed not only to rein in the appetite of his wife for exotic fruits, he failed to resist the temptation to join her in the perfidy of disobedience. The result was the curse, which all of mankind inherited. The rest, as the cliché has it, is history... the same scenario is still playing out today; men failing and families, communities and nations reeling from the repercussions."





Men's Summit 2012...fitting climax

On Sunday, June 17, 2012, about 200 men of various age, ethnicity and socio-political status, but united by the saving grace of God through Jesus Christ, and determined to reclaim their place in God’s original plan, took a resolution.

For four days they had been together at Men’s Summit 2012, this year’s gathering of men in pursuit of Christlike manhood, organized by Christ Chapel International Churches’ Christian Men’s Network Nigeria.

They had listened to Pastor Taiwo Odukoya, senior pastor and founder of Fountain of Life Church, and a minister to men who has run Discovery for Men of which he is president for about 15 years talk to them about “Redefining Manhood” at the opening session on the eveing of Thursday June 14.

These men were at the 2B Okanlawon Ajayi Street, Surulere venue of the Summit all day Friday when Rev Wale Oni and yours sincerely spoke on topics around the theme, Rediscovering Manhood in the morning. Rev Mike Udonquak an experienced player in the corporate world spoke on the sub-theme, Rediscovering Stewardship from the corporate angle, while optometrist turned politician, Rev Dr Ronald Eyime addressed the same sub-theme from a public governance perspective. Later that night, these men spent two hours watching a movie that was to yield the resolution they subsequently voluntarily subscribed to, Courageous.

Saturday was no less busy for these men. They had the opportunity of listening to and asking question of Dr Christopher Kolade, the 80-year-old Chairman of Subsidy Reinvestment and Empowerment Programme, SURE-P, a well-known minister of the word of God, whose integrity credentials, we once said on this page, are among our nation’s few consensus.  It was the Summit Breakfast and for many, absolutely unforgettable.

Later that afternoon, at a session closed to women, Rev Dr John Akachie Ahamzie, senior pastor, Holy Fire Overflow Ministries, who has presented a weekly radio programme, with the provocative title, “What’s All This Noise About Sex” for about five years now, spoke on the sub-theme, Rediscovering Sex. In a no-holds-barred session, he and Rev Dan Ibekwe, a veteran marriage counselor and Chairman, CCIC Church Council left little to the imagination on the subject – from a Kingdom angle.

Saturday night featured, for these men, who were determined to drink as deeply as possible from the well of godly wisdom that the Summit availed, a session on another sub-theme, Rediscovering Prosperity.

Rev Bayo Oniwinde, otherwise known as Rev B or “Bishop” amongst us “chapelites” whose international word ministry has taken to such diverse parts of the world as India, Scandinavia, Eastern Europe, Western Europe, the United States, Canada and South Africa, spoke on prosperity by inheritance based on the blessings of Abraham. Rev Dr Biodun Adedipe, a well-known, highly in demand business and economy consultant also spoke on the place of the supernatural in wealth creation.

Then came the glorious climax on Sunday night! Continuing on the main theme of the summit, Dr Kolade not only addressed the need for men to rediscover manhood for their own and that of their family, but for the sake of our nation which currently needs men.

This you will recall was one of the rationales for putting the conference together, in the first place. We had said that when men fail; when we fail to do all the things men are assigned to do, by their maker, the inexorable result is: disaster. And we saw from the Bible that it didn’t begin with the current generation of men.

Adam, the very first man that lived, we recalled, failed not only to rein in the appetite of his wife for exotic fruits, he failed to resist the temptation to join her in the perfidy of disobedience. The result was the curse, which all of mankind inherited. The rest, as the cliché has it, is history.

As we said then, the same scenario is still playing out today; men failing and families, communities and nations reeling from the repercussions.The most recent evidence of the failure of men, as was also pointed out, was the Dana Airline crash into the densely populated Lagos suburb of Iju-Ishaga.  While acknowledging the fact that the Aviation minister, we declared: “if you look beneath all of these and you’ll find at its very root, a man who failed! Check out the trunk, the branches, the leaves, you’ll find men who failed to take their place in the divine plan; men who charted their course away from God’s assignment. We concluded that what we have to do to prevent incidences like the Dana Air crash, and many more like it, we must change our men, beginning with each one of us.

That is what these 200 men chose to do; to change the men of Nigeria, beginning with themselves by subscribing to the following the resolution:

·         I do solemnly resolve before God to take full responsibility for myself, my wife, and my children.

·         I WILL love them, protect them, serve them, and teach them the Word of God as the spiritual leader of my home.

·         I WILL be faithful to my wife, to love and honor her, and be willing to lay down my life for her as Jesus Christ did for me.

·         I WILL bless my children and teach them to love God with all of their hearts, all of their minds, and all of their strength.

·         I WILL train them to honor authority and live responsibly. ? I WILL confront evil, pursue justice, and love mercy.

·         I WILL pray for others and treat them with kindness, respect, and compassion.

·         I WILL work diligently to provide for the needs of my family.

·         I WILL forgive those who have wronged me and reconcile with those I have wronged.

·         I WILL learn from my mistakes, repent of my sins, and walk with integrity as a man answerable to God. ?

·         I WILL seek to honor God, be faithful to His church, obey His Word, and do His will.

·         I WILL courageously work with the strength God provides to fulfill this resolution for the rest of my life and for His glory. As for me and my house, we will serve the Lord. ? (Joshua 24:15).

Won’t you please join us?

WHEN MEN FAIL…DISASTER!

Dana Air crash aftermath

"'Look at every problem we. have in our society. At the root of that problem, is a man who failed, even though, ironically, he got up that morning, wanting to be successful. None of them wanted to fail. That is the challenge before us. We will not change our nation until we change our men…' That is what we have to do, to prevent incidences like this, and many more like that from continuing, we must change our men, beginning with each one of us".

We have a song in the Christian Men’s Network Nigeria that’s been playing in my head these past week or so. Written by one of our own Daniel Nzekwue and performed by our all-men choir, the Mighty Men of Praise, the lyrics go like this:

“When men praise                                                                                                                      Dreams are fulfilled                                                                                                           When men praise                                                                                                                     Families restore                                                                                                                    When men praise                                                                                                                     The Home is warm                                                                                                            When men praise                                                                                                                  The enemy’s defeated…”

Ironically, as I meditate on the song we have joyfully sang these past few years, what kept coming to me is what happens when men fail. When men fail to praise and to do all the things men are assigned to do. The inescapable answer is: disaster. Yes, disaster writ large!And it didn’t begin with us.

Adam, the very first man that lived failed. He not only failed to rein in the appetite of his wife for exotic fruits, he failed to resist the temptation to join her in the perfidy of disobedience. The result was the curse, which all of mankind inherited.

When the Israelites were nearing the promised land, God, wanting to motivate them with the the sheer blessedness of the land that was soon to become theirs, asked them to send twelve men to spy the land. Remember, these were men who are leaders. But when they came back; the majority report filed by ten of the twelve failed to see what God and their other two compatriots saw, a land flowing with milk and honey. Instead they saw a land that devours its people. Instead of seeing the then inhabitants as “bread” for them, given the might of god that was available unto them, they saw themselves as “suya” to the enemy. The result: years of wandering in the wilderness and the death of an entire generation but two.

The same scenario is still playing out today; men failing and families, communities and nations reeling from the repercussions. Just look around you, dear reader and you’ll see tell-tale sign of men who failed.

Of course, the most recent evidence of the failure of men is the Dana Airline crash into the densely populated Lagos suburb of Iju-Ishaga. Ah yes, the minister is a woman and so has overall responsibility, but look deeper and you’ll find a legion of men who failed her, failed the system, failed the nation.

Investigations are still on and it would therefore be premature to apportion blame and I am certainly not that inclined, But strictly in context, what we already know about the circumstances that surround the crash is, to say the least, a wake-up call. Governor Godswill Akpabio for instance said that he had recently personally called the Chief Executive of Dana Air to warn him about the state of airworthiness of the airline’s fleet. This is not the place to ask whether he could have done much more than that; and, if he had whether the disaster could have been averted.

A Dana Air female staff has also been widely reported to have stated that the crew was forced to fly the aircraft, against all protests about the health of the aircraft. She even said that the crew that flew was put together when the assigned team refused. The Obakpolor Investigative Panel will hopefully be able to confirm the truth or otherwise of this assertion.

But one thing is clear, if you look beneath all of these and you’ll find at its very root, a man who failed! Check out the trunk, the branches, the leaves, you’ll find men who failed to do take their place in the divine plan; men who charted their course away from God’s assignment.

Dr Patrick Morley of Man in the Mirror Ministries put it this way: “Look at every problem we. have in our society. At the root of that problem, is a man who failed, even though, ironically, he got up that morning, wanting to be successful. None of them wanted to fail. That is the challenge before us. We will not change our nation until we change our men…” That is what we have to do, to prevent incidences like this, and many more like that from continuing, we must change our men, beginning with each one of us.

Men’s Summit 2012 is a good place to start, or, if you have started, to continue. With Rediscovering Manhood as theme, the Summit, which is organized annually by Christ Chapel International Churches through Christian Men’s Network Nigeria, opens in Lagos, Thursday.  Chief hosted by Rev Dr Tunde Joda, senior pastor of the church and president of the network the conference will feature Dr Christopher Kolade and Pastor Taiwo Odukoya as guest ministers. Venue is the refurbished, air-conditioned auditorium of CCIC, Surulere Centre at Okanlawon Ajayi Street, off Masha, Surulere, Lagos.

Dr Kolade, Chairman of Subsidy Reinvestment and Empowerment Programme, SURE-P, is a well-known minister of the word of God, whose integrity credentials are among our nation’s few consensus. He is an exemplary man from whom every man can learn a lot about Christian manhood.

Pastor Taiwo Odukoya, senior pastor and founder of Fountain of Life Church, is also very involved in ministry to men. He established and has run Discovery for Men of which he is president about 15 years ago, and has consistently held quarterly rallies since then.  

Also ministering at the summit is Rev Dr John Akachie Ahamzie, senior pastor, Holy Fire Overflow Ministries, who has presented a weekly radio programme, with the provocative title, “What’s All This Noise About Sex” for about five years now. He is a teacher of purity, power and prosperity. He will be ministering specifically on Rediscovering Sex. Rev Ahamzie will be partnering in that session with a veteran marriage counselor, Rev Dan Ibekwe, Chairman, CCIC Church Council.  

Other men of God slated to minister at the Men’s Summit 2012, which will run all of eight sessions over four days - three each on Friday 15th, and Saturday 16th; and one each in the evening of Thursday 14^th and Sunday 17 include  Rev Dr Ronald Eyime, International Optometrist of the Year 2003, and governorship aspirant who went on to serve as a commissioner in Delta state; and Rev Ajibola Oluyede, a lawyer, politician and business man who has been described as a man of the Word, who understands the world.

Come, let’s reclaim our place of responsible leadership in the divine plan.

MAN, FIX YOURSELF – TO FIX NIGERIA

“Our nation needs men, real men; men like Daniel, Meshach, Shedrach and Abednego; men like Joseph and David, men who fill their minds with, meditate on and stand for “things true, noble, reputable, authentic, compelling, gracious--the best, not the worst; the beautiful, not the ugly; things to praise, not things to curse” (Philippians 4:8; Message).  I wish to be among them. What about you?

It’s 3am. I am reminiscing about that day 40 years ago, when I walked into the Kakawa Street offices of The Daily Times of Nigeria Limited (DTN) to begin, in earnest, a career in journalism.

It was only my second visit to the “hallowed” grounds of what was then an institution many would give an arm and a leg to belong to. Yet, I gave far less – in fact I gave next to nothing. All I did to get a job as Feature Writer in the magazine division of that conglomerate was respond to a newspaper advertisement and go all the way from Ibadan to Lagos for a test and interview. I promptly returned home to Ibadan, my fare to Lagos fully refunded and the return fare paid to boot. I didn’t know anybody in there; nobody remotely hinted at anything untoward that I had to do to pave the way for me to get the job.

I was blissfully going about my business, working at the Radiology Department of the University College Hospital (UCH), being a lineage correspondent of the Daily Sketch newspaper and trying my hands at fiction writing, when a letter of appointment was delivered to my house by a staff of the Ibadan office of the media house. As the cliché goes, the rest is history.

Suddenly, I am jarred to the present. In a few hours, I have to board a flight to Ilorin, Kwara state to pick up a document in one of my children’s school. It is a document that my dear sister-in-law had unsuccessfully tried to collect, in spite of being armed with a letter of authority. My son, who is abroad and who needs the document, had also made telephone calls to authenticate the letter of authority. I weighed in too. But, the official concerned would not budge, citing previous unpleasant experiences in related circumstances.

The implication is that several man hours will be lost and expensed incurred on a trip that will add little value to the national economy this Friday, the first day of June, because “HONOUR IS IN SHORT SUPPLY” in our land! And I am wondering, how did we come to this sorry pass? Whatever happened to the Nigeria, I grew up in? Where has the Nigeria of my young adult life disappeared to?

Now, those questions have been asked and answered in many ways. It has led our only Nobel laureate yet, Wole Soyinka to describe his generation as a “wasted generation.”. It has led somebody I cannot remember now to declare that we might go into history as the “generation that lived better than their parents and better than their children.”  Think about that!

I answer those questions, however, by pointing in the direction of us men. As the men go, so goes the world. That may offend the liberal sensibilities of many of us steeped in western thoughts, but, as I have tried to show on these pages before, it is the biblical truth. As one of my mentors would have put it, Nigeria, indeed the world, has a MEN PROBLEM.

As I wrote here not too long ago: “Events in our nation, of course, never cease to leave one wondering, what manner of men are leading us. We are a nation always dancing near the precipice and the music and dance is invariably orchestrated and choreographed by a band of men; hardly ever women. And I assure you, I have engaged with this conundrum long enough to know that it has little to do with statistics!  It’s just that we do not seem to have raised enough men of character, of courage, of virtue; men who know that the destiny of our nation depends, not on their chauvinistic monopolisation of power and authority, but on the sense of responsibility that power demands.”

I am fully persuaded that the problem began with the assumption that somehow men will be men; that beyond the general assistance that children need to transit to adulthood, no special help is required. Yet we spend time to groom the girl child; to help them transit from girls to women, to wives, to mothers etc. Although this is gradually changing, the effect of previous neglect in this area is so pervasive that we have a lot of work to do.

That is why we the men must seize every opportunity to catch up. That is why wherever the men problem is tackled, every man must make the effort to be there and everybody else must encourage as many men they know as possible to be there.

One such forum is MEN’S SUMMIT 2012. Organised by Christian Men’s Network Nigeria of Christ Chapel International Churches (CCIC), the conference opens in Lagos on Thursday, June 14 and runs till Sunday June 17.

The theme, Rediscovering Manhood will be addressed by men of God who have been selected by the Holy Spirit to speak as the Lord’s oracle on this all-important subject. Dr Christopher Kolade, who needs next-to-no introduction, is one of them. This is one of the not so many men about whom most of us are agreed has the moral high ground to speak about the issues that touch us men. Pastor Taiwo Odukoya, Senior Pastor of Fountain of Life Church and President, Discovery for Men is another. His heart for men led him to found Discovery for Men about 15 years ago and he has consistently gathered men for rallies every quarter since then.

MEN’S SUMMIT 2012 will hold at the fully air-conditioned auditorium of CCIC, Surulere Centre at Okanlawon Ajayi Street, Een of Masha Foot Bridge.

As I wrote on another occasion, “Our nation needs men, real men; men like Daniel, Meshach, Shedrach and Abednego; men like Joseph and David, men who fill their minds with, meditate on and stand for “things true, noble, reputable, authentic, compelling, gracious--the best, not the worst; the beautiful, not the ugly; things to praise, not things to curse” (Philippians 4:8; Message).  I wish to be among them. What about you?  See you at the summit.

THE CHURCH AND THE STATE OF THE NATION (2)

Archbishop Emmanuel Chukwuma
...CAN will ban unregistered churches

"As I mentioned here last week, it does seem as if some church leaders are beginning to redirect our focus from the physical origin and consequences of the fact that Christians have, by far been the victims of the on-going crisis in our nation. Is it the incessant attacks on churches with the attendant loss of lives, limbs and properties; or the share sacrilege of people being able to routinely attack churches, God’s very own abode, successfully."

This is a very important day in the life of our nation. It’s Children’s Day; a day when we are supposed to focus on the place of children in the life of our nation. It’s a day that should be seen by all adults – the leaders and the led – as affording us yet another opportunity to reflect on the kind of tomorrow we are bequeathing to our children. 

It is my hope, indeed, expectation that most of us will do that reflection as individuals before we do as members of our various groups, communities and citizens of Nigeria. What the collective appraisals usually do is lead us to finger-pointing. And we’ve done more than enough of that. It’s time we started lighting our little corners in the most enduring ways. 

Oh, yes, some of us do light our corners in many other ways: food on the table; the best schools we can afford; holidays at our levels, and sundry other things that “good” parents who can afford it go out of their way to provide. But, how many of us can honestly, and proudly, tell our children where the funds for those good things are coming from? How many in leadership positions can boldly declare that we are doing our best for God and country and not for that unholy trinity, me, myself and I. How many of us can stand to be counted in the character, the integrity department? How many of us are bequeathing a legacy of love, truth, selflessness, humility. In short, how many of us are living our lives as true representatives of the Lord Jesus Christ?

This is what today’s Children’s Day must be about: reflection on what kind of communities and nation we are building for our children, and the future generation. One where graft is normal; where lying is the norm; where there is no honour even in public governance; where kidnapping is small-do; one where men can marry men and women can do the same?

Another important thing about May 27 this year is that it is Pentecost Sunday! Many of my brethren in the Pentecostal and charismatic wing of the church would of course pay scant attention to it, sadly. We will dismiss any such observance as religiousity or even ritualistic – thereby throwing the baby out with the birth water. But that is a matter for another day. I mention it only because, I wish to evoke the significance of the day to enjoin the church to awake to the pivotal role it has in this nation.

As I mentioned here last week, it does seem as if some church leaders are beginning to redirect our focus from the physical origin and consequences of the fact that Christians have, by far been the victims of the on-going crisis in our nation. Is it the incessant attacks on churches with the attendant loss of lives, limbs and properties; or the share sacrilege of people being able to routinely attack churches, God’s very own abode, successfully.

The Church of Nigeria Anglican Communion’s Primate Nicholas Okoh, may not have put it in those words, but his attribution of successful attacks on churches by the militant group, Boko Haram, to the unrighteousness of many Christians, cannot not be easily disputed.  

In media reports quoted here last week when he received a Nigerian Red Cross delegation, he  said, “Our unrighteousness is why God is allowing the church to be so attacked and lives of Christians are being lost…we need to look inward to see whether our hands are dirty. If our hands are dirty, then we should repent so that God can have mercy on us and take away the reproach upon us.”

 Another cleric who spoke in similar vein was Apostle Victor Ajayi, a district leader of of Ona Iwa Mimo, Cherubim and Seraphim, Nigeria and Overseas, in Ipaja, Lagos. He said among other things that, “…there would be many tribulations that are caused by our sins as we are witnessing through the activities of Boko Haram, kidnapping and armed robbery among others…All these are caused by our sins…There are many sinners in our society that is why we are witnessing all these ungodly acts.”

Yet another man of God, who spoke on the state of the church, was the South-Eastern zonal chairman of Christian Association of Nigeria and Anglican Bishop of Enugu Diocese, Rev. Emmanuel Chukwuma. In announcing his association’s plan to enlist the services of security agencies to close down unregistered churches, he was quoted as follows: “We are worried about the activities of churches that are springing up in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, but are committing all forms of atrocities and soiling the image of Christianity…many of them have become the hideouts of robbers, kidnappers and other criminals.”   

While I do not know if Bishop Chukwuma would have the legal basis to carry out his threat, and I certain wish he has, I am glad that this refocus inwards in the search for answers to the National Question is taking place. But as I asked in closing last week, is this new awareness of the poor state of the hearts of Nigerian Christians, clerics, government and corporate leaders as well as the led (mostly men), going to begin to receive the required attention?  It needs to be, if we are going to succeed in keeping this country together.

The famous verse of scripture: “… if my people who are called by my name become humble and pray, and look for me, and turn away from their evil ways, then I will hear them from heaven. I will forgive their sin and heal their land” (2Chronicles 7:14), certainly applies here. But the emphasis must shift from “humble themselves and pray” to “turn from there evil ways.”

Yes, we the people who are called by God’s name MUST turn from our evil ways, whether we are primates or popes or prophets; whether we are presidents or peasants; whether we are of the pulpit or the pew. If we don’t and that soonest, I hate to say it, Sudan beckons. God forbid.

LARRY TITUS' TELEIOS MAN SET FOR WEST AFRICA

The TELEIOS MAN, a book by veteran minister to men, Pastor Larry Titus is set to hit the book stands all over West Africa. Here the author (right) and Remi Akano, CEO, KP Books sign the publishing contract. Subtitled,“Your Ultimate Identity”, the book is one of the most complete single volumes on men to men, by a man who knows what it is to be a godly man. Watch out.

THE CHURCH AND THE STATE OF THE NATION

Archbishop Nicholas Okoh

“Our unrighteousness is why God is allowing the church to be so attacked and lives of Christians are being lost. While we are examining the national aspect of it, we need to look inward to see whether our hands are dirty. If our hands are dirty, then we should repent so that God can have mercy on us and take away the reproach upon us.”


The Primate of Anglican Communion, Rev. Nicholas Okoh, was last week reported to have attributed the recent successful attacks on churches by the militant group, Boko Haram, to the unrighteousness of many Christians. He therefore said there was need for Christians to repent and seek divine assistance.

According to media reports, the Primate spoke at the Anglican Communion Cathedral Church of the Advent while receiving a Nigerian Red Cross delegation on a visit to the church.

He told his visitors: “Our unrighteousness is why God is allowing the church to be so attacked and lives of Christians are being lost. While we are examining the national aspect of it, we need to look inward to see whether our hands are dirty. If our hands are dirty, then we should repent so that God can have mercy on us and take away the reproach upon us.”

He wasn’t alone in this line of thought. Also last week, Sunday Tribune carried a piece headlined, “Church Leader Blames Insecurity jn Nigeria on Sinful Leaders.”  Written by Shola Adekola, the report quoted one Apostle Victor Ajayi, of Ona Iwa Mimo, Cherubim and Seraphim, Nigeria and Overseas, in a district of the church in Ipaja, Lagos, as saying that “the spate of insecurity ravaging the unity of the country has been attributed to the grievous sins committed by leaders in Nigeria”.

Positing that “all the crises presently affecting Nigeria are signs of end time as revealed by the word of God, he said, “it has been revealed that when the end is approaching, there would be many tribulations that are caused by our sins as we are witnessing through the activities of Boko Haram, kidnapping and armed robbery among others…All these are caused by our sins but God loves Nigeria. There are many sinners in our society that is why we are witnessing all these ungodly acts.”

Into the mix came a threat, (or is it a promise?), from the Southeast Zone of the Christian Association of Nigeria to close down unregistered churches.

The Nation newspaper attributed the story to zonal chairman and Anglican Bishop of Enugu Diocese, Rev. Emmanuel Chukwuma. His words, (as reported by Chris Orji): “We are worried about the activities of churches that are springing up in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, but are committing all forms of atrocities and soiling the image of Christianity…In the Southeast, we will shut any church that is not registered with CAN. Some of them have become the hideouts of robbers, kidnappers and other criminals.”  CAN plans to enlist the services of security agencies in effecting the shut-downs.

Do these reports signify a change of focus in addressing the National Question? Is a new awareness of the poor state of the hearts of Nigerian Christians, clerics, government and corporate leaders as well as the led (mostly men), going to begin to receive the required attention? Please let’s look at it together next time.

 

 

AGAIN ON THE SAME-SEX MARRIAGE BILL



Hon Tambuwal, Speaker,
House of Representatives

" While Obama’s views were still evolving, he signed an executive order providing funds to support gay lobbyists abroad. UK’s Cameron is on record as tying financial aid to respect for gay rights. South Africa already has a constitutional provision defining marriage more loosely. I shudder to think about it, but Nigeria may someday soon be counted in this hall of sodomy if the House of Representatives and then President Goodluck Jonathan do not move fast on this bill."

Leadership newspaper, it was that first jogged my memory about the loss of momentum in the drive to take a firm legal stand against homosexuality and the so-called same-sex marriage in this country. In its editorial of Monday May 7 titled, “House of Reps’ Silence on Same-Sex Marriage Bill,” the newspaper drew attention to the fact that Senate Bill 05, more fully known as “An Act to Prohibit Same Sex Marriages”, has yet to go beyond the first reading in the second chamber of the National Assembly.

The Abuja-based national daily expressed surprise that “more than five months after the Same-Sex Marriage Bill was passed by the Senate, Nigeria’s House of Representatives has not yet acted to take a vote on the bill, beyond the first reading to which the bill was subjected in the House just a week after being passed by the Senate”. It then urged “the House to expedite and conclude action on the Same Sex Marriage Bill. And, in doing so, we wish it would accept the Senate’s version so that the bill could be sent to President Jonathan for his assent without delay. Without prejudice to whatever it ultimately chooses to do, the House should refrain from “killing” the bill by its prolonged silence or simply inaction.”

Two days later, President Barack Obama of the United States of America, who had said that his views on the subject of gay marriage finally took a stand.  In a well promoted interview with American Broadcasting Corporation, ABC's Robin Roberts previewed on Wednesday evening edition of "World News with Diane Sawyer" and fully aired on Thursday’s "Good Morning America", Obama said: "At a certain point I've just concluded that for me personally it is important for me to go ahead and affirm that I think same sex couples should be able to get married."

Obama was clearly stampeded into making the statement at the time he did because at least two key members of his administration had gone public with their conviction on the subject.  Vice President Joe Biden had been widely reported to have told National Broadcasting Corporation, NBC on Sunday that he was "absolutely comfortable" with couples of the same gender marrying. Also Education Secretary Arne Duncan answered an unequivocal “yes, I do” on Monday when asked on MSNBC's ‘Morning Joe’ if he supports allowing individuals of the same gender to legally wed."

As if to confirm the suspicion that for Obama, the decision and its announcement was all about his re-election bid, he played up the decision about 36 hours later, at a fund raising event  where he subsequently raised $15million. His words: "Obviously yesterday, we made some news…But the truth is it was the logical extension of what America's supposed to be. It grew directly out of this difference in visions. Are we a country that includes everybody and gives everybody a shot and treats everybody fairly? Does that make us strong? I believe it does.”  

Expectedly, Obama’s announcement is being celebrated by the gay movement internationally. The Guardian (London) carried a piece that’s typifies the celebratory mood of the group by one, Peter Tatchell, described as “a human rights campaigner, and a member of the gay rights group OutRage! and the left wing of the Green party”

It reads in part: “President Obama joins prime minister David Cameron and the new French president, Francois Hollande, in backing same-sex marriage. It's one of the great moral and human rights crusades of our age – and it's an unstoppable global trend. There is a growing momentum to end the ban on gay marriage in more and more countries, from Cuba to Finland, Uruguay, Nepal, Denmark, Brazil, Australia and Colombia.

“Obama's support will have a huge positive impact. It will boost the worldwide campaign for marriage equality and, through media reporting of his support, raise awareness of gay marriage among billions of people in every corner of the globe. Even people living under tyrannical, homophobic regimes will hear the message of gay equality. It is significant that Obama's change of heart was influenced by the sacrifices of US lesbian and gay military personnel and by discussions with his family and friends, including gay White House staffers and gay parents at his daughters' school. This concurs with existing evidence that people who know a gay person are more likely to support gay equal rights. (CONTINUES BELOW)

“Endorsing marriage equality was a brave move, given the upcoming presidential elections and the fierce, powerful opposition he will now face from republicans and religious conservatives…In some respects, however, Obama is merely catching up with the historical trend towards equality. Same-sex couples are already allowed to marry in Canada, Spain, Portugal, Argentina, Norway, Sweden, Belgium, the Netherlands, Iceland and South Africa, plus some regions in Mexico and Brazil. Denmark is expected to legalise gay marriage next month. Within the US, gay marriage laws have been passed in Connecticut, the District of Columbia, Iowa, Maryland, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, New York, Vermont and Washington. A majority of Americans support equal marriage rights for all.

“Obama's move throws the spotlight back on Cameron and recent wavering in the Tory ranks on this issue. The UK campaign for marriage equality has been spearheaded by the Equal Love campaign involving a twin-track strategy, both political and legal. We've succeeded in persuading the government to legalise gay marriage by 2015, although the prime minister is under pressure from a rump of homophobic Tory MPs to drop this commitment…”

 Now, check out the list of countries already in the gay lobby’s kitty again; all of them powerful and relatively rich. While Obama’s views were still evolving, he signed an executive order providing funds to support gay lobbyists abroad. UK’s Cameron is on record as tying financial aid to respect for gay rights. South Africa already has a constitutional provision defining marriage more loosely. I shudder to think about it, but Nigeria may someday soon be counted in this hall of sodomy if the House of Representatives and then President Goodluck Jonathan do not move fast on this bill.

As I had occasion to state here before, delay is dangerous. The same forces that truncated two previous attempts at the legislation are still alive and well. Indeed, if anything, they are waxing stronger, by the day.