Christian perspectives on news and current events.
The following is a transcription of On the Lord’s Side Podcast presented on GospelBellsRadio on April 28, 2026 by Olufemi Oguntokun. It may not fully match with the audio, but represents a near perfect transcription of the broadcast.
On Asylum Claims, Sexual Identity, and Cultural Decline
Good morning to you once again. It’s Tuesday, the 28th of April 2026. The programme is On the Lord’s Side: Christian Perspectives on News and Current Events. My name is Olufemi Oguntokun. You can follow me on X at Olufemi OG.
I want to begin with a video I shared on X, originally posted by Linda Ikeji’s blog. The caption accompanying the video reads: “We are siblings from Nigeria now living in the UK. I’m lesbian and he’s gay. We had to leave home to find safety.”The siblings then proceed to share their story.
In the video, the young woman explains that she went through the asylum process and has now been granted status. She expresses gratitude but notes that her brother is still waiting for a decision. The young man himself says that the waiting is not easy. He simply wants to live his life, to work, and to exist without fear. She describes him as kind and strong and says he deserves safety as well.
Now, the long and short of that video is this: we have a young woman who identifies as a lesbian introducing her brother who identifies as gay. They are siblings from the same family—bearing the name Sumonu. She identifies herself as Aisha Torilo Sumonu, and the brother as Umaru Sumonu. They appear to be Muslims, judging by their names.
According to their account, they were persecuted in Nigeria on account of their sexual orientation. The lady has been granted asylum in the United Kingdom, while the brother is still awaiting his own decision from the Home Office.
Now, let us be clear about something. It presupposes that they entered the UK without valid documentation. In simpler terms, they went to the UK without legal entry papers and then applied for asylum upon arrival. This is a pattern we see among many individuals from Africa, the Middle East, and parts of Asia—arriving at the border of a Western country and then making asylum claims.
There are two immediate possibilities here. First, it is possible that they are not telling the truth. It would be naïve to ignore the fact that many desperate people will say anything to obtain asylum status. The desperation to leave Africa—driven by poverty, poor governance, and lack of opportunity—has led many to fabricate claims, including religious persecution or other forms of victimhood.
Second, it is also possible that they are indeed telling the truth—that they are genuinely homosexual.
But beyond their individual case, there is something deeper we must reflect on: the culture that has made it acceptable—even commendable—to grant asylum on the basis of sexual orientation. What does it say about a society when people across the world say, “I can only find fulfillment as a homosexual in your country”?
From a Christian perspective, that is a profound indictment. It reflects a culture that has turned decisively away from its Christian roots.
I was reminded of a statement by Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger, later Pope Benedict XVI, who spoke about a “self-hatred in the West” that manifests in a rejection of its own Christian heritage. That is what we are seeing here.
So yes, this story highlights the desperation of many Africans seeking a better life. But it also exposes a deeper moral and spiritual shift in Western societies.
And then, assuming for a moment that these siblings are indeed telling the truth, one must also think about their family. One must consider the parents. One must imagine the sorrow, the shame, the heartbreak.
How did they get here?
There was once a popular argument within the homosexual movement that people are “born this way.” That claim has been widely challenged. What we see instead is that these are choices—choices influenced by exposure, by ideas, by media, by environment.
People explore. They experiment. They encounter ideas—through movies, through the internet—and then they try things out. If it feels pleasurable, they continue.
Scripture tells us, “Stolen water is sweet.” Sin often feels pleasurable. That does not make it right.
The human heart is deceitful above all things. It convinces us that if something feels good, it must be right. That is the lie.
And this brings us to a very serious responsibility—especially for parents. The internet has become a powerful tool through which the enemy plants ideas in the hearts of young people. Children are being exposed to things far beyond their years.
We must be vigilant. We must guide our children. We must monitor what they see and hear. We must not surrender that responsibility under the guise of “independence.”
At the same time, we must also flood the space with truth. If we cannot remove the internet, then we must win it. Christians must create content. Christians must speak truth.
Above all, we must pray for the salvation of our children. Because once the Lord gives a new heart—a heart of flesh—it cannot rest comfortably in sin.
Now, consider also the reaction this video is likely to generate. There will be those who are moved to tears. There will be those who write to the UK authorities urging them to grant the brother asylum.
This is what Bishop Fulton Sheen described decades ago as false compassion.
False compassion is when sympathy is directed not toward the true victim, but toward the one engaged in wrongdoing. It is compassion that enables sin rather than confronting it.
We see it in society today—people sympathizing with criminals rather than victims, excusing wrongdoing because of circumstances.
But true compassion does not endorse rebellion against God. True compassion seeks restoration, not validation of sin.
So when someone tells you that compassion requires you to support what God condemns, understand that it is counterfeit compassion.
This story, therefore, is sad, depressing, and alarming all at once. It should drive us to prayer—that the Lord will heal hearts, restore families, and bring many back to Himself.
On Transgender Ideology and the Influence of Education
This brings me to another story.
There is a video circulating of a bearded transgender individual who is said to be a lecturer at Oxford University. You see a person with a full beard—clearly male—but also with breasts. It is a striking image of confusion.
The caption reads: “This is who is educating the next generation of leaders.”
And that is the point.
Students naturally respect their teachers. They assume that those who are knowledgeable must also be wise in their life choices. So when a teacher openly lives in contradiction to biological reality, it sends a powerful subconscious message: this must be acceptable.
This is how normalization happens.
And that is why Christian parents must be deeply concerned. Before sending children into such environments, there must be a foundation—spiritual grounding, understanding of truth, a relationship with God.
Without that, young people are vulnerable.
We must commit our children to the Lord, trusting the Great Shepherd to preserve and guide them.
On Gratitude, Deliverance, and Remembering God’s Works
Now, after these heavy and sobering reflections, let us turn to a story that lifts the heart.
A video shows a man whose car was crushed by a fallen truck. In Nigeria, such incidents often result in fatalities. But in this case, the man survived.
What did he do?
He called his pastor and family members. Right there at the scene, they held hands and prayed—offering thanksgiving to God.
Passersby joined in, saying “Amen.”
This is beautiful.
It reminds us of the instruction God gave to the Israelites in Joshua chapter 4. After crossing the Jordan, they were commanded to set up memorial stones so that when future generations ask, “What do these stones mean?” they would recount the story of God’s deliverance.
We must do the same.
We must create reminders—memorials, testimonies, records—of what God has done. Because if we do not, future generations will forget.
There is a Yoruba proverb that says, in essence, that any tradition not passed down will be lost.
So let us tell our stories. Let us record our testimonies. Let us build memorials—not necessarily physical structures, but reminders that keep alive the memory of God’s goodness.
This man did well. His children and grandchildren will see that video and remember: this is what the Lord did for our father.
May God give us such testimonies.
And I pray that the Lord will increase your own testimonies as well, in the name of Jesus.
Thank you very much for staying with us this morning on GospelBellsRadio. From the Lord’s side we stand—Christian perspectives on current events.
I hope to be with you again tomorrow by the grace of God. Whatever you do today, please remain firmly on the Lord’s side.
God bless you.
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