Wales Green Party and Welsh Green Pride call on Home Office to stop the deportation of Nigerian gay activist, Favour Onzulike.
Lisa Rapado, Lead List Candidate, South Wales West and Neath Constituency Candidate said:
"Favour is a much liked member of the community. He has made a huge contribution to the LGBT community of Swansea. Nobody should live in fear of their lives for who they are, and if Favour is deported to Nigeria his life will be in danger. Wales has welcomed Favour and his work has supported many people in a similar situation as him.”
Favour Onuzulike has volunteered as Unity LGBT Centre's office manager and has been working as the No Going Back project manager for a number of months. The Home Office took him from Swansea to a detention centre in Dorset to await his deportation to Nigeria. He has not been granted the chance to appeal. UK authorities plan to fly him back to Nigeria on Sunday 24th January 2016. Time is very short to prevent this happening.
Nigeria has been criticized for its draconian anti-gay laws. Friends of Favour fear for his safety and his life if he is deported. In the southern states in Nigeria members of the LGTB community face long prison sentences. In the northern states people face being stoned to death for their sexuality. Yet the British Home Office deems it a safe environment for him to be sent back to.
"The Wales Green Party is urging the Home Office to reverse the decision to deport him and are calling on the Welsh Government to back the campaign to allow Favour to return to Swansea and resume his life and his work."
As a gay activist in Wales, he often has spoken at events where he has been open about his identity and experiences. Should he be deported to Nigeria he faces imprisonment and violence. He fled to Wales due to horrific experiences he has already had.
A petition to stop the deportation of Nigerian gay activist Favour Onzulike from Swansea is gaining momentum. A link to it can be found here.