We are Not Going Back On Same Sèx Marriage..Don't Disturb Us - Mark Speaks

Senate President David Mark has said the decision of the National Assembly to ban same-sèx marriage in the country was irreversible. Mark, according to a statement, said this at a dinner hosted in his honour by the Nigerian Community in Prague, Czech Republic, yesterday. The Senate president explained that the bill, which has been approved by both chambers of the National Assembly, would not in any way infringe on the rights of Nigerians. He said: “The law against same-sèx marriage is an approval of the wishes of the generality of Nigerians who are desirous of living within our cultural bounds. “The law is not designed to infringe on the human rights of Nigerians in any way. Also, wherever you go in our country today, our people are completely in support of the National Assembly because the practice of same-sèx, as you all know, is alien to us.” Mark also charged Nigerians living abroad, who are passionate about coming home to contribute their quota to the development of their fatherland, to use the opportunities contained in the transformation agenda of the Federal Government by joining the struggle to make Nigeria great. He said: “You don’t need to wait till ‘the date Nigeria will be better’ before coming home to contribute your quota. “Nigerians are hardworking people and you contribute in no small measure to the economy of your countries of residence. “For those who desire to join us at home to improve the state of our economy and infrastructural development, you are welcome.” Mark disclosed that his mission to Prague was to foster relationship between the National Assembly and the Parliament of Czech Republic through cooperation in the areas of education, culture, trade and medicine. He said: “We want the Czech Republic and her people to buy fully into our economy by setting up factories, institutions and providing scholarship for training. “We are also aware of their best practices in medicine and we are interested in that too.” Meanwhile, the Senate president has appealed to the Czech Republic to allow a Nigerian prisoner, Mr. Victor Urhia, to be transferred back home to complete his prison terms. Urhia, who is serving terms on drug-related offences, is said to be living on one kidney, having lost his second kidney in the course of his imprisonment. Mark also appealed to the First Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Czech Republic, Mr. Karel Scwarzenberg, to help prevail on the government to transfer Urhia to complete his jail term in Nigeria.