A message of resistance to the legalization of gay marriage has been sent to the Federal Government and the National Assembly by religious leaders at the 16th St. Patrick Archdiocesan Feast Day Celebration on Monday in Abuja. 

Bishop Donatus Ogun of Uromi Diocese and other priests spoke out against homosexuality during the event, which also served as a cultural festival and fundraiser claiming that it violates the holy pattern of creation.

Bishop Ogun stressed that homosexuality profoundly contradicts God's intention for humanity, particularly because it hinders procreation. "When God created man and woman, he said be fruitful and multiply," he noted, emphasizing the significance of procreation as a human duty.
The bishop's words reflect a larger mood in the Nigerian religious community, which sees same-sex unions as incompatible with their beliefs and ideals.

Despite increased international support for LGBTQ+ rights, Nigeria remains staunchly opposed to the legalization of homosexual marriage.
The clerics' words during the occasion demonstrate their opposition to what they see as external pressures to adhere to global trends that contravene their religious and cultural values.

"We are managing a crisis of global economy, where the bigger economies are trying to manipulate the poorer nations," Bishop Ogun added, hinting at the complexities of international relations and economic dependencies influencing the country's legislative decisions.