Once again, northern Nigeria have displayed their intolerance for something unique, something different and something alien to what they are used to. The last time it was the hosting of the Miss World contest in Nigeria, that they successfully fought off, now they have commenced a total war on gays, lesbians and trans-genders in their police force.
Ruth Simon and Clementina Jerome, two police-women serving with the Nigerian police force in Sokoto State were recently dismissed from the police for allegedly
engaging in lesbianism or somewhat lesbian acts of affection.
Their supposed acts of affection were interpreted by the Sokoto Police Command as a ‘discreditable conduct’ for which they were immediately fired from the police force, under an existing "police code"?
Icheoku says, Nigeria is gradually but surely being forced by these northern mallams, into an Islamic country with zero-tolerance for some modernity. It is either sharia law today, stoning-sentence tomorrow, cancelling a beauty pageant there and now the sacking of some alleged "lesbian" police couple? This intolerance is not healthy for any developing society as we all should learn how to accept or better tolerate each other's differences for a stronger union. Let us leave the judgment as to what is right or wrong for the Almighty God to be the judge.
Icheoku calls on the Nigeria Inspector General of police,
Mike Okilo to review the firing of this two police ladies with a view to recalling them. If however the Islamic intolerance of the north will make it impossible for them to continue serving their father-land, may be a redeployment to a more tolerant southern state should be explored. But to have them remain sacked for just their sexual-orientation or its suspicion is not a welcome sign of a progressive country.