Nigerian democracy-phobia by Eze Ogbu
Nigeria is a paradox of promises and betrayals. Its democratic facade hides a troubling reality, one riddled with fears so deeply entrenched that they undermine the very essence of democracy itself. Homophobia, xenophobia, and a litany of other societal phobias have transformed Nigeria into a democracy-phobia state, where intolerance and fear dictate governance and social interactions. Let us start with homophobia, a glaring stain on the fabric of Nigerian society. In 2014, the Same-Sex Marriage (Prohibition) Act was signed into law, criminalizing not just same-sex unions but also the mere association of LGBTQ+ individuals. The law, widely criticized by human rights organizations, has been defended by politicians and religious leaders as a safeguard of "African values." But whose values are these? The cultural argument falls flat when one considers that many African societies before colonialism embraced diverse sexualities and gender identities. The homophobia we...
