Doyin Okupe’s Son, Bolu Okupe Declares He is Gay

Bolu Okupe, son of former aide to former Nigeria’s president Goodluck Jonathan, Dr. Doyin Okupe, has openly declared that he is gay.

In a an Instagram post, which has now gone viral, Bolu Okupe said he is a homosexual.

“Yes I be GAY AF” he posted holding a rainbow flag and dressed in a rainbow short.

In one of the videos posted on his Instagram page, Bolu Okupe is seen wearing a G-string and modelling for a small crowd in what seemed like a gay pride gathering.

Bolu Okupe’s Gay Status: Father Reacts

Dr. Doyin Okupe says his son’s decision to openly declare himself a homosexual is a spiritual challenge.

Okupe said this in a series of tweets while reacting to a viral photo showing his son, Bolu, wearing rainbow boxers with the caption, Yes, I am gay”.

Okupe said as an evangelist, he would never accept homosexuality as it is at variance with Christian values.

“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.

“For it is written: Behold, the hand of the Lord is not shortened that it cannot save, neither is His ear dead that he cannot hear. Isaiah 59 vs 1.”

Reacting to the father’s tweets, Bolu tweeted:

Anti-Gay Laws in Nigeria

Lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) persons in Bolu Okupe’s home country Nigeria face legal and social challenges not experienced by non-LGBT residents. The country does not allow or recognize LGBT rights.

Nigeria’s laws prohibit LGBT activities and has a sentenced of up to 14 years imprisonment for any gay offender.

The criminal law against homosexuality focuses on men to men sexual partners.

See the sections of the criminal code below:

• Section 214.

Any person who – (a) has carnal knowledge of any person against the order of nature; or (c) permits a male person to have carnal knowledge of him or her against the order of nature; is guilty of a felony, and is liable to imprisonment for fourteen years.

• Section 215.

Any person who attempts to commit any of the offenses defined in the last preceding section is guilty of a felony and is liable to imprisonment for seven years. The offender cannot be arrested without a warrant.

• Section 217.

Any male person who, whether in public or private, commits any act of gross indecency with another male person, or procures another male person to commit any act of gross indecency with him, or attempts to procure the commission of any such act by any male person with himself or with another male person, whether in public or private, is guilty of a felony and is liable to imprisonment for three years. The offender cannot be arrested without a warrant.

Stigmatization of Gay People in the society

According to the 2007 Pew Global Attitudes Project, 97 percent of Nigerian residents believe that homosexuality is a way of life that society should not accept, which was the second-highest rate of non-acceptance in the 45 countries surveyed.

In 2015, a survey by an organization founded by a Nigerian homosexual activist based in London claimed this percentage decreased to 94%. In this survey by Bisi Alimi, as of the same period the percentage of Nigerians who agree LGBT persons should receive education, healthcare, and housing is 30%.