The former primate of all Nigeria, Nicholas Okoh. (The_ACNA/ Twitter)
The recently retired archbishop and primate of all Nigeria Nicholas Okoh has said that the UK and the US are trying to “adulterate” the Bible with same-sex marriage.
Throughout his time as primate, or leader, of the Church of Nigeria, Okoh has been relentlessly anti-LGBT+, but according to The Sun Nigeria this shows no sign of stopping after his retirement this month.
Speaking to Anglican bishops from across Nigeria at the newly constructed Bishops Court at the All Saints Cathedral, he said that the UK and America were trying to force same-sex marriage on Christians around the world to “destroy” doctrine and “adulterate” the Bible.
He added: “If your priest is practising evil or keeping an evil alliance, and you know, raise your hand, be a whistle-blower so they won’t undermine our church. If they do, it will be difficult to rescue.
“If we all become homosexuals, who will give birth to who? God who created this world did it the excellent way, let no man tamper with it.”
The former primate of all Nigeria has consistently opposed LGBT+ rights, and in 2018 he said that homosexuality is “veritably poisoning” Nigerian society.
According to the Daily Post, he said: “Homosexuality hinders the progress of a nation and such ungodly images should never be shown in Nigeria… Anti-social behaviours that used to be tackled are no longer tackled all because of modernisation; essentially, people are destroying themselves.”
In 2010, Okoh said that Nigeria was at risk from an “invading army of homosexuality, lesbianism and bisexual lifestyle”.
Nigeria is among the most dangerous countries in the world for LGBT+ people. Homosexuality is punishable by up to 14 years in prison or the death penalty under Sharia law, and even discussion about LGBT+ rights is criminalised.
In January, 15 recent graduates from the Bayero University Kano, in northern Nigeria, were arrested for being gay by Hisbah, a religious police corps who enforce Sharia law.
Deputy commander-general Shehu Tasi’u Is’haq confirmed the arrest, saying: “While at our correctional centre, they will be re-oriented and at the close of the day, they will desist from their waywardness and turn a new leaf.
“Islam is opposed to same-sex partners, which is a taboo. As an institution, our responsibility is to correct youth, who are going astray, reminding them that devout Muslims forbid homosexual acts, which will not be tolerated.”