A bill for an Act to prohibit marriage or civil union entered into between persons of the same sex and solemnisation of same, on Tuesday, passed through the second reading in the House of Representatives.

Leading the debate on the bill, Mulikat Akande-Adeola (PDP-Oyo), said the proposed legislation would ensure that the institution of marriage was respected.

According to the News Agency of Nigeria, Akande-Adeola, who is the Leader of the House, said the bill would also protect and preserve the Nigerian culture.

She urged members to support the second reading of the bill.

She said, “This practice has no place in our culture, religion, Nigeria or anywhere in Africa. It is immorality and debasement of our culture, we condemn it in totality.”

Adams Jagaba (PDP-Kaduna) aligned himself with the submission of the Majority Leader and said no religion supported gay marriage.

“We are a cultured people; we cannot carry everything from other culture.”

Abike Dabiri-Erewa (ACN-Lagos), who also supported the bill, said the solemnisation of same sex marriage had no place in Nigerian culture. “It is repulsive,” she said.

Nnenna Ukeje (PDP-Abia) condemned gay marriage. According to her, marriage between same sex “diminishes the symbol of what we are and procreation.”

Femi Gbajabiamila (ACN-Lagos), the Minority Leader, described the act as immoral.

“In this marriage, the third party is affected, these people go ahead and adopt children, thereby affecting the child, and in the process, the child becomes dysfunctional,” he said.

There was no dissenting voice and the bill sailed through the second reading after being put to vote by the Speaker, Aminu Tambuwal.

Tambuwal subsequently referred it to the Committee of the Whole House for consideration.

– The Punch