Okonjo-Iweala appears on CNN's Fareed Zakaria GPS, tells the west to withhold judgment on anti-gay laws

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Nigeria's minister of finance Mrs. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala has asked the West to withhold its judgment on a recently approved Nigerian anti-gay law. Appearing on CNN's Fareed Zakaria GPS today, host Fareed Zakaria asked Okonjo-Iweala about the law. “This seems an assault on a minority's rights, It also seems an assault on free speech. Why is Nigeria doing this?”  Zakaria asked. Okonjo-Iweala then responded; “In the United States it took 40 to 50 years or more on the conversation of, you know, gay community to get where the U.S. is.” “I think we need a conversation in the country. We need revolution. Ninety-six percent of people, you know, support these laws. But I think we need to unpack the laws for them to see between being a gay person and same-sex marriage, because the two are confounded in people's minds. And there's a strong sentiment against same-sex marriage, just as you had here before, and it's still evolving.” “I think it's a question of conversation, discussion, evolution, education and engagement over time. Just as happened in this country and in Europe. It's not something that happened overnight.” “So, I would say withhold judgment. And, you know, let us work on this,” she added. 

In January 2014, Nigerian President Goodluck Jonathan signed a law that prohibits the country from recognizing gay couples, mandates a 14-year prison sentence for anyone who enter a same-sex marriage or civil union, prohibits the public promotion of gay rights and outlaws gay clubs and organizations.