By Oyinlola Awonuga Balogun (The New Diplomat’s Entertainment, Fashion and Sports Desk)
A former presidential aide, Doyin Okupe has reacted to the revelation by his son, Bolu, who revealed on Thursday that he is gay.
His son made this known on his Instagram page as he shared a photo of himself in rainbow-coloured shorts with a rainbow flag behind him. Alongside the picture, Bolu wrote: “Yes, I’m Gay AF.”
Reacting to his son’s revelation, Okupe wrote “The picture below is that of Mobolurin Okupe. He is my son. I gave him the name MOBA OLUWA RIN, ( I WALKED WITH GOD) because he was born at the time I gave my life to Christ.
“I have been aware of this his new orientation for a while now.
“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 Jehova 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 deaf that he cannot hear.’ Isaiah 59 vs 1.”
Doyin Okupe’s son graduated in 2015 from the University of Manchester, United Kingdom (UK).
Okupe, who served under former Presidents Olusegun Obasanjo and Goodluck Jonathan, said as an evangelist, he would never accept homosexuality as it is at variance with his Christian values.
The New Diplomat recalls that the Same Sex Marriage Prohibition Act, which banned gay relationships and other LGBTQ activities in Nigerian society was signed by Jonathan in January 2014. It’s interesting to note that Okupe had served in the Jonathan’s administration as the Senior Special Assistant on Public Affairs to the President.
Homosexuality is illegal in most African countries. In several nations, gay people face life imprisonment or the death penalty. Many religious groups brand it a corrupting western import which is at variance with African values, even as LGBTQ campaigners continue to penetrate Africa in the background.
