Nigerian rapper and record label executive, Jude Abaga also known as
M. I Abaga, has said that there is nothing wrong with being gay or
lesbian. Hence, according to him, there is no reason homosexuals shouldn’t be allowed to be who they were.
Abaga criticized the anti-gay rights law in Nigeria when he featured
on a podcast show, Middle Ground, which was hosted by the trio of April
Maey, Loose Kaynon, and Wendy Akomolafe-Kalu.
In a conversation that veered into lesbianism, gay rights, moral
ethics and what not, MI could be heard talking at length about how
everyone is entitled to their sexuality.
The rapper said:
“It’s not my business what anybody does. And what I
mean by that is it’s my privacy. Everybody has a right to their privacy.“If you bring a tape of two men having sex then you can prove [they
are gay]. But for the most part, how are you going to prove without
fringing on someone’s right or privacy- going through their phone. It
almost seems to me to be an unenforceable law.”
Abaga further defended his comments on Twitter where he posted: “My
thinking.. I was born straight. I would never want to be punished for
who I am; because of this, I wouldn’t punish someone else for who they
are.
“Cheating and adultery are wrong but they are not criminalized and no
form of consensual adult expression of love should be my opinion.”There were negative reactions towards his argument on social media.
MI’s standpoint sparked a condemnation from his own fans, as they
weren’t quite keen to take his side.A somewhat disappointed fan @Giddyleeresponded to the conversation
via Twitter saying, “I never thought I’d ever disagree with MI on
anything, but saying Nigeria’s law on Gays/Lesbian is wrong…I totally
disagree, sir.”
Another fan @frenemic tweeted: I’m terribly disappointed.”