US Assistant Secretary of State for African Affairs, has stated that the Obama administration is committed to pressuring Nigeria and other countries where anti-gay laws exist, to banish such laws.
According to new reports, it seems U.S President, Barack Obama is having another hidden agenda and might push for approval of that agenda as President Muhammadu Buhari plans to discuss Boko Haram and Nigeria’s economy during his upcoming visit to the White House.
U.S. Assistant Secretary of State for African Affairs Linda Thomas-Greenfield, on Monday stated that the Obama administration is committed to pressuring Nigeria and other countries where anti-gay laws exist, to banish such laws. She announced the news during a live
web chat with journalists in Washington, DC.
U.S. Assistant Secretary of State for African Affairs Linda Thomas-Greenfield
She Greenfield stated:“As a government, it is one of the highest priorities and strongest values that discrimination against anyone based on their sexual orientation and gender identity is wrong. We believe human rights should be available to everybody. As a policy, we will continue to press the government of Nigeria as well as other government who have provided legislation against the LGBT community.”
It can be recalled that President Obama had threatened to sever foreign aid to Nigeria when then-president Goodluck Jonathan signed a law barring same-sex marriage in January 2014.
Ahead of Nigeria’s presidential election in March, Femi Fani-Kayode also claimed the United States supported Buhari because he had vowed to legalize same-sex marriage.
International Business Times reported that
“Obama has adopted protection of the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender community as part of its foreign policy agenda and may pressurize President Buhari to embrace it.”