‘I see major spiritual challenge’ — Doyin Okupe reacts to son’s gay status

Doyin Okupe, a former senior special assistant on public affairs to ex-president Goodluck Jonathan, has broken his silence after Bolu Okupe, his 27-year-old son, publicly declared his gay orientation.

The 68-year-old politician took to Twitter in the early hours of Friday to reveal that he has been aware of Bolu’s gay status for a while.

He, however, said he sees a major spiritual challenge as homosexuality conflicts with his values of Christianity.

“My attention has been drawn to a publication of my 27-year-old son in which he declared that he is gay. 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,” he wrote.

My attention has been drawn to a publication of my 27yr old son, Bolu okupe, in which he declared publicly that he is Gay.
I gave him that name MOBA OLUWA RIN, ( I WALKED WITH GOD) because he was born at the time I gave my life to Christ. pic.twitter.com/39RXFueGVB

— Doyin (@doyinokupe) January 21, 2021

“I have been aware of his new orientation for a while now. He knows that, as a Christian and a witness for Christ, I’m 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.

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.

— Doyin (@doyinokupe) January 21, 2021

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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.

— Doyin (@doyinokupe) January 21, 2021

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

In Bolu’s declaration, he had shared a photo of himself in underwear while holding the coloured flag of the LGBTQ.

The development comes a few weeks after Charles Oputa, a musician better known as Charly Boy, had a row with Dewy, his daughter, after she came open with her lesbian status.

“So many things went through my mind, one of them included self-blame (‘Did I do something wrong?’) (‘The child I thought I knew and loved no longer exists.’), worry (Will my child be discriminated against?),” Charly Boy said.

“Religious confusion (‘Is my child damned to spend eternity in hell?’), and stigma (‘What will people think of my child? Of me?’). I now look back and find that I am grateful for the experience of having a gay or lesbian child.

“Nothing can come between me and my children. It is stupid to think having a gay child means parents have failed.”