My gay son will be celebrated in Nigeria, says Okupe
Former presidential aide, Doyin Okupe has said his gay son, Bolu Okupe, will one day be celebrated in Nigeria and globally.
Bolu revealed his sexuality via an Instagram post showing him holding an LGBTQ flag with the caption, “Yes I’m Gay AF.”
Reacting to the news, Okupe who served in the Goodluck Jonathan administration that passed an anti-gay law expressed his displeasure for homosexuality.
“He knows that as a Christian and a witness for Christ (an evangelist) I am vehemently opposed to homosexuality as it runs contrary to the avowed precepts of my Christian faith.
“For me, I look beyond the surface or the physical. Here I see a major spiritual challenge ahead but I know as my God liveth, this whole saga will end up in praise to the Almighty Jehovah who I serve day and night,” he said.
This led to reactions from Nigerians on social media who slammed him for being part of an administration that passed an anti-gay law despite him having a gay son. Some also expressed the opinion that he failed as a father due to his son’s sexuality.
In an apparent reaction, Okupe shared a screenshot from a magazine that shows another son of his listed among the Most Influential Africans in 2017.
He said, “This is also my son Dewunmi Okupe, one of Bolu Okupe’s five other brothers. I love all the children God has given me, Bolu inclusive. I pray for them to excel in their fields of endeavours. Bolu will still be celebrated on this wall, in Nigeria and globally, in the name of Jesus.”
He added, “Bolu is not a criminal. He lives in France where homosexuality is not a crime. His present mindset and sexual orientation do not conform to Christian doctrine which I hold to with my life. But I am certain that with the boldness he has made his declaration, he will still use the same attribute to serve God and boldly declare His Glory in Christ Jesus. Mark my words.”
A hastily organised court on Monday jailed Navalny for 30 days, and his supporters fear that authorities are preparing to sentence him to a long prison term to silence him.
Navalny’s team this week released an investigation into an opulent Black Sea property allegedly owned by Putin.
The “Putin’s palace” report alleges the Russian leader owns a 17,691 square metre mansion that sits on a property 39 times the size of Monaco and features a casino along with a theatre and a hookah lounge complete with a pole-dancing stage.
The two-hour video report had been viewed more than 65 million times since Tuesday, becoming the Kremlin critic’s most-watched YouTube investigation.
The Kremlin has denied the property belongs to Putin.
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Many Russians took to social media — including video-sharing app TikTok hugely popular with teens — to voice support and urge a large turnout on Saturday.
A hashtag demanding freedom for Navalny was trending on TikTok as Russians flooded the Chinese app with thousands of videos.
Russia’s media watchdog warned online platforms against encouraging minors to participate in the rallies or risk hefty fines.
The watchdog said on Friday that media platforms, including TikTok, YouTube and Instagram, removed content at its request.
Russia’s most popular social network VKontakte blocked groups created to coordinate the protests in different cities.
But a number of public figures — including those who usually steer clear of politics — have spoken out in Navalny’s support.
Navalny, 44, rose to prominence a decade ago and has become the central figure of Russia’s opposition movement, leading large-scale street protests against corruption and electoral fraud.
His arrest drew widespread Western condemnation, with the United States, the European Union, France and Canada all calling for his release.
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