US Gives Nigeria Knocks For Banning Same-s*x Marriage

The United States on Monday criticized Nigeria for approving a law that punishes same-s*x marriage with prison, saying the move would curtail basic human rights.

Secretary of State John Kerry said the United States was “deeply concerned” by Nigeria’s new law which “dangerously restricts freedom of assembly, association and expression for all Nigerians”.
Kerry said the act “is inconsistent with Nigeria’s international legal obligations and undermines the democratic reforms and human rights protections enshrined in its 1999 constitution.
“People everywhere deserve to live in freedom and equality. No one should face violence or discrimination for who they are or who they love”, Kerry said in a statement.
Under the new law, anyone in a same-s*x marriage or union would face up to 14 years in prison, with such partnerships reached overseas considered void in Nigeria.
President Goodluck Jonathan signed the law because he considered it consistent with most Nigerians’ views toward homosexuality, his spokesman, Reuben Abati, told AFP.
The United States has generally warm relations with Nigeria but President Barack Obama’s administration has increasingly put a priority on fighting for gay rights overseas.
In Uganda, President Yoweri Museveni has said that he will not rush into signing a law under which gays would be jailed after criticism from Obama, Nobel laureate Desmond Tutu and other global figures.

You Are Not Bigger Than Nigeria, Jang Tells Sanusi

Plateau State Governor and factional Chairman of the Nigeria Governors Forum, Chief Jonah Jang, Sunday criticised the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) Governor, Mallam Sanusi Lamido Sanusi, over his face-off with President Goodluck Jonathan, urging him to moderate his utterances as he was not bigger than Nigeria.
Jang’s criticism was contained in a statement in Abuja, by the NGF media office, signed by Kassim Yakubu.
Jang said as an appointee of the president, if there was any lack of trust between him and Jonathan, the only honourable thing for him to do was quit so that the president could appoint someone he would be comfortable to work with.
“If the relationship between the CBN governor and President Jonathan has become frosty, it is only logical that the president becomes uncomfortable knowing how sensitive the CBN is to his transformation agenda. Moreover, we elected the president to run the country and so we cannot be held hostage by an appointee of government if it is true that Mr. President has asked for the resignation of the CBN governor,” he added.
He warned that Jonathan should be allowed to run his government without unnecessary distractions, as he was voted as president by the people who trust him to pilot the nation’s affairs.

Breaking News: President Jonathan Signs Same s*x Marriage Prohibition Bill into Law

In spite of protests from some countries, groups and activists President Goodluck Jonathan has signed into law the Bill which outlaws same s*x marriage.

The assent to the bill was devoid of fanfare to reduce diplomatic tension, which it may likely attract.
Some foreign embassies were shocked by the development leading to ‘curious’ inquiries from the Federal Government. Despite the inquiries, the Federal Government said there was no going back.
The signed bill says the gays, lesbians in Nigeria will risk a 14-year jail term if they do not retrace their steps and renounce such marriage.
Also, any person who operates or participates in gay clubs, societies and organizations directly or indirectly will earn 10-year imprisonment. Those who administer witness, abet or aid the solemnisation of a same s*x marriage are going to bag 10-year jail term.

The Senate previously passed the bill in November 2011. Lawmakers in Nigeria’s house of representatives affirmed the decision by the Senate on May 29, 2013.

The President assented to the Act last week, on January 7, 2014, but the details on this action have just leaked the web.

“I certify that this Bill has been carefully compared by me with the decision reached by the National Assembly and found by me to be true and correct decision of the Houses and is in accordance with the provisions of the Acts Authentication Act Cap. A2, Laws of the Federation of Nigeria, 2004. I assent,” The assent note read.
“The President has signed the Same s*x Marriage (Prohibition) Bill into law. This has foreclosed any pressure on President Jonathan not to assent to the bill.
“We received inquiries from some foreign embassies on why the bill was signed into law. But we told them that our cultural values do not tolerate same s*x marriage.
“Also, we made it clear that since most Nigerians were opposed to the bill, the parliament acted in line with the wish of the majority. We are in a democratic setting, the President has no choice than to bow to the wish of the people.
“These embassies were shocked but there is no going back. We hope they will also abide by the decision of Nigerians,” a source close the President revealed.

According to some abstracts, obtained by The Nation, the Act reads:

“A marriage contract or civil union entered into between persons of same s*x: (a) is prohibited in Nigeria; and (b) shall not be recognized as entitled to the benefits of a valid marriage.

The Act also stipulates the volume of the sanctions awaiting the violators of the new law.

“A person who enters into a same s*x marriage contract or civil union commits an offence and is liable on conviction to a term of 14 years imprisonment.
“A person who registers, operates or participates in gay clubs, societies and organizations directly or indirectly makes public show of dame s*x amorous relationship in Nigeria commits an offence and is liable on conviction to a term of 10 years imprisonment.
“A person or group of persons who administers, witnesses, abets or aids the solemnization of a same s*x marriage or civil union of supports the registration, operation and sustenance of gay clubs, societies, organizations, processions or meetings in Nigeria commits an offence and is liable on conviction to a term of 10 years imprisonment.
“The High Court of a State or of the Federal Capital Territory shall have jurisdiction to entertain matters raiding from the breach of the provisions of this Act.”

PHOTO: Lagbaja’s REAL FACE EXPOSED ?!? – We Know What He Was Hiding

There are indications that the real face of mysterious always-masked afrobeat musician Lagbaja has been finally revealed to the audience.

Since the early 90′s, Bisade “Lagbaja” Ologunde has managed to keep his face well hidden behind a mask.
According to Lagbaja, his mask is used as an icon of man’s facelessness.
Lagbaja is a Yoruba word that means “nobody in particular”. It depicts the anonymity of the so-called “common man”.
The mask and the name symbolise the faceless, the voiceless in the society, particularly in Africa.
But it seems we all have our curiosity chilled up as a picture alleged to be Lagbaja’s with his face left unmasked leaked on the Internet some time ago.
It is not quite clear how the photo appeared on the social media websites, and the afrobeat singer himself has not confirmed whether it is his face actually or not.
However, it is hard to ignore the striking similarities between this face and the masked one especially the lips, eyes and shape of chin.
What do you think – is it Lagbaja pictured below or not?

Boko Haram Trying To Wipe Out Christianity From Borno – Lawmaker

A group of terrorists yesterday launched a fresh attack on Sabon Gari village in Borno State, killing eight persons and inflicting severe injuries on others.
It was gathered that the gunmen stormed the village in the night and opened fire on residents before they fled without being arrested.
This came just four days after gunmen suspected to be members of the outlawed Boko Haram sect burnt down a church and the country home of a serving member of the House of Representatives, Hon. Peter Biye, in Gwoza town in the state.
Biye was quoted to have accused the Islamist sect of a conceited effort to wipe out Christianity from the state.
He alleged that since the beginning of the endless Boko Haram attacks, about 200 churches have been razed down completely, leaving only about eight churches in the whole of Gwoza council, which is a Christian-dominated area.
On January 8 this year, it was reported that eight gunmen stormed the lawmaker’s village which is a Christian-dominated community at about 8p.m., carting away about 70 domestic animals before setting the buildings ablaze.
A consignment of sorghum, which was meant for distribution to people of the community was also said to have been burnt at Biye’s house.
They also burnt 30,000 pieces of exercise books, 30,000 packets of pen, sewing machines, generating pump machines, 30,000 packets of chalk, among others which he bought at the cost over N38 million for distribution to schools and people in his constituency.
The lawmaker, who is the only Christian House member from Borno State, lamented that since he was elected by the people of his constituency, there had been daily attacks targeted at Christian communities in Gwoza, Chibok and Damboa Local Government Areas, a situation that forced him to have no option than to stop visiting his people, including his family members for the past two years.
Biye, who said no life was lost in the house, however, expressed disappointment over what he described as the “non-challant attitude” of security operatives to secure his constituency which is one of the worst hit by Boko Haram crisis.
He revealed that prior to the attack on his house by the insurgents last week, he had earlier alerted the security authorities that there was a purported plan by terrorists to attack his village, but all plea to the security authorities to deploy its men to the area felt on deaf ears.
“What is happening in my constituency is very unfortunate, people are being killed by terrorists on daily basis, churches are being burnt, and if people like my Honourable self, who is also a member House Committee on Army will alert military authorities that based on intelligent report my village will be under attack by terrorists, and nothing was done to secure the area, then it is unfortunate, because an ordinary citizen of this country, especially those from volatile areas are no longer safe or protected by our security outfit,” he said.
“As I am talking to you now, I have spent over two years without going to see my people because I am no longer safe, all my projects which was aimed at alleviating the economic hardship of my people have been destroyed’ there was a time I sent my contractors to construct a health centre in Gwoza town, when they dug the foundation, a day after, some Boko Haram elements went and buried everything,” he lamented.

Airforce Jet Bombed My Convoy – Sen. Ndume

Sen. Mohammed Ali Ndume

Senator representing Southern Borno Senatorial District in the National Assembly, Mohammed Ali Ndume, yesterday, escaped death by the whiskers as a Nigerian Air Force, NAF, Jet allegedly mistook his convoy for those of Boko Haram terrorists and threw explosives at it.

According to NAF authorities, the jet mistakenly fired shots at Ndume’s convoy while on the pursuit of some Boko Haram suspects who were operating in the area at the time Ndume was passing.
Ndume was said to be returning from Gwoza Local Government where he had gone to sympathise with the people over ongoing killings in the area, when the incident happened.
Addressing newsmen at his Maiduguri residence, Ndume said he travelled to Gwoza to present a letter of appointment to the Emir of Gwoza, Alhaji Iddrisa Timta, who was to be upgraded as a first class emir as well as visit Arbaku, Ngoshe and other remote villages affected by Boko Haram attacks to condole with the victims, adding that he was surprised when he was attacked by an Air Force jet.
Ndume said, “I thank God for sparing my life as the jet which I suspected was on military operation against Boko Haram dropped four bombs on my convoy.
“I went to Gwoza. I notified the police and military authorities of my presence where they even assisted me with security cover, and when I finished with my mission at about 2:10pm, we started hearing explosions. Initially, I thought it was Boko Haram that wanted to attack me, but when we were thrown into confusion, the soldiers attached to my convoy rushed to me and said it was not Boko Haram, but rather, an Air Force jet that was dropping bombs. We had to run into a military base close to the scene of the incident and take cover.”
Ndume said he had reported the incident to the Chief of Army Staff, Lt Gen Azubuike Ihejirika, who he further added, replied his text message thus, “I hope no life was lost.”
NAF’s Spokesman, Air Commodore Yusuf Anas said in Abuja yesterday that its jet was pursuing some Boko Haram suspects when it cited Ndume’s convoy and mistakenly fired some shots at it, and not bombs as alleged, describing the incident as unfortunate.
Speaking on telephone with Vanguard, the Director of Air Force Public Relations, Air Commodore Yusuf Anas, denied allegations that Senator Ndume’s convoy was bombed.
Anas said that terrorists of the Boko Haram sect attacked the Army Barracks in Gwoza and made attempt to over run it, adding that during the pursuit of the terrorists, the jets flew low and opened fire on a set of vehicles, about five or more of them including Hilux vans that were carrying the terrorists…But because the aircraft could not ascertain those in the vehicles, no further action was taken. If Senator Ndume was in one of the vehicles, it is unfortunate but the fighter jets were not in a position to know the occupants of some of the vehicles who were fleeing,” Anas said.

Soldiers On The Streets: Blackmail Won’t Deter Me From Protecting My People – Uduaghan

Delta State governor, Dr. Emmanuel Uduaghan has said no amount of blackmail would deter him from protecting the lives of Deltans, just as he decried the blackmailing of security operatives deployed to keep peace in Kokori, the abode of arrested kidnap kingpin, Kelvin.
Speaking, yesterday, at an inter-denominational thanksgiving service to mark this year’s Armed Forces Remembrance Day, Uduaghan called for a peaceful society, saying that He charged Deltans to ensure the maintenance of peace, urging them not to encourage or hide criminal elements in their midst, but to aid security agents in fishing them out.
“I will not shelve my responsibilities, but will do the work I had taken the oath of office for. Using the security forces, I will do my work of providing security for all Deltans. Let us ensure a peaceful society, so that we will not need to send security men to communities, to keep security on our roads,” the governor said.

13 Passengers Burnt Beyond Recognition As Jerrycan Of Petrol Inside Bus Bursts Into Flame In Delta

children were on Sunday afternoon burnt beyond recognition in a bus accident which occurred in Effurun, Delta state.

The accident, which involved an 18-seater bus, also left five of its passengers with various degrees of burn injuries.
An eyewitness told newsmen that the vehicle was coming from the PTI roundabout, but stopped to pick a passenger who allegedly carried a jerrycan filled with petrol.
One of the survivors, Mr Martins Nwaowolo, said there were 18 passengers in the bus, including children and a pregnant woman.
“The driver stopped at the roundabout to pick a woman carrying a jerrycan, and in less than two minutes after the woman entered the bus, the jerrycan burst into flame.
“Only myself, the driver, his conductor, a pregnant woman and one other survived the incident, but with various degree of burns”, he said.
However, the Delta Commissioner for Transport, Mr Ben Igbakpa, who visited the scene, said that it was wrong for people to be moving about with petrol.
Igbakpa, however, described the incident as unfortunate.
“It means that we have to do a lot of monitoring and public enlightenment on the hazards of carrying inflammable substances into a vehicle”, he said.
Meanwhile, men of the Nigerian Police, Army and Road Safety Corps were seen busy evacuating the victims from the burning bus. (NAN)

Controversy Trails Death Of 2 Nigerian Students In Ukraine

Donetsk National Technical University, Ukraine

Two Nigerian students at the Donetsk National Technical University, Ukraine, have died, after what the Ministry of Foreign Affairs sources described as circumstances bothering on alleged negligence on the part of the hospital authorities where they were admitted for treatment.

The late students, Theresa Olaoluwa Oresanya, third year Electrical Engineering  and Bede Olunna Ogbu, a Masters Degree Engineering died Friday, December 10 and Wednesday, December 18, 2013 respectively.
News of the death of the two Nigerians students was reportedly relayed to the Embassy by the leader of Nigerian student association in the city.
“The embassy immediately, informed he parents of the late students of the sad event, in line with procedure. The father of late Theresa Oresanya authorized that autopsy should be carried out on the remains of her late daughter and that it should be conveyed to Nigeria for burial,” the Foreign Affairs ministry said.
“The father of late Bede Olunna Ogbu indicated that autopsy should not be carried out on the remains of his son. He however requested that the corpse should be conveyed to Nigeria for burial. The remains of late Bede Ogbu was air- freighted to Nigeria on December 29, 2013 for burial.”
It was learnt that the Nigerian authorities may have begun the process of investigating the position of the students with a view to ascertaining the veracity of their claims.

Re-examining the stereotype of the Nigerian Man

Have you ever been present when someone (women especially) makes a definitive, matter-of-fact statement like ‘Nigerian men would not do that’ or ‘that’s an oyinbo thing. A Nigerian man cannot do it’ or ‘Nigerian men are this…or that’?
I’m guessing you have because we hear it all the time.
I recently participated in a film training where the dear facilitator was certain that no Nigerian man would die for his partner the way Jack did for Rose in Titanic and I remember disagreeing with her. Of course I didn’t say that all Nigerian men are eagerly waiting for a chance to be romantic heroes who die to prove their undying love, I’ll tell you what I said to her in a little bit but for now may I get into just a few stereotypes of the Nigerian man and ascertain how true or false they are in reality.
I’ve heard Nigerian men are not sacrificial; in other words, that Nigerian men are self-centered. They say this selfishness plays out everywhere; from the living room at disbursement-of funds-for-house-keeping time to the bedroom at that-time-to-ignore-the-time time.
Is this true? Yes it is. Is it false?  You bet it is. And you know why it is both, don’t you? Just as there are self-centered men in general and there are also sacrificial loving men, so also are there self-centered Nigerian men and very sacrificial altruistic Nigerians.  Somebody may argue that the selfish ones are more and hence the stereotype. I’m not sure about that. But even if that’s in fact the case, I daresay that amongst humans in general bad traits are more commonplace than noble traits just as charcoal is more commonplace than gold.  It is what it is.
Let’s see a few more specific stereotypes.

1. Nigerian men are not romantic. I used to think so too. I thought that my father’s generation of Nigerian men didn’t treat their women well and were particularly guilty of the lack-of-romance charge but as I grew up and observed and listened I understood that most of them whose romance appeared to be zilch were not always that way. Time, circumstances and age had contrived to extinguish the flame. When many of these now elderly Nigerian men were in their twenties, thirties and forties they were steamily romantic and often downright naughty and mischievous (as some of us now are). I’ve seen pictures and heard stories and I’m convinced of this.

Now who’s to say if any young man, Nigerian or not, that now considers himself romantic will still be a passionate and creative Romeo in his sixties, seventies, eighties…?
So what’s my judgement on this stereotype? There may be a basis for it but it is still a false generalization from where I stand.

1.  Nigerian men don’t go down on their wives (partners). Excuse me…Sorry, I had to take a second to laugh out loud! Now, honestly I really can’t say if this is true or false because most of the Nigerian males I’ve talked to about this either claim to have never done it or find it distasteful and unmanly. So maybe women have a case here. Maybe. However, because of the few I know (most of them from the younger generation) who see it as a critical item of the love-making agenda; I’m unwilling to say this stereotype is true. So can I just abstain from voting on this? Thank you.

1. No Nigerian man would die for his woman like Jack did for Rose in Titanic!  First of all I do not think that Jack set out to die for Rose. He did what he had to do to keep his girl comfortable even if it caused him great discomfort. I choose to believe that somewhere at the back of his mind he hoped against hope that help would come and they would all be saved. He just died before help came. I’ve seen men, yes Nigerian men, rise for ladies (young and old) in BRT buses. I’ve seen Nigerian husbands give their wives regular use of the car while they take cabs and buses. So I know that when push comes to shove such men will do the needful for the safety and security of their women. If death is the consequence, so be it.

So you see…that’s just false. And that’s exactly what I told my facilitator at the training I mentioned earlier.

I’m sure there are many more stereotypes of the Nigerian man but hearing them I can already tell that most of them are false. Am I biased? Maybe.


Nelson Paul-Akhabue is a trained philosopher and Nollywood screenwriter with deep interests in spirituality, romance and entertainment. You can read more of his articles at www.fitphysiqspirit.blogspot.com. Follow him on twitter @NelP_Akhabu

Mali Beat Nigeria in CHAN Opener.

Nigeria lost their opening group game of the CHAN 2014 tournament to Mali at the Cape Town Stadium on Saturday night.

Gbolahan Salami’s second-half header was insufficient to overturn Abdoulaye Sissoko and Adama Traore’s strikes early on, and the Super Eagles team B ended the day third in Group A, after South Africa had earlier defeated Mozambique 3-1 in the opening fixture of the tournament.
The coach Stephen Keshi-led side failed to assume control of the proceeding early on in the first-half, while their opponents posed more threat on the attack.

Azubuike Eguuekwe.

Mali claimed the lead in the 17th minute when Sissoko broke free on the right flank to release a fierce shot past Chigozie Agbim into the net by the help of a slight Azubuike Egwuekwe’s deflection.
The Malians could have doubled their lead few minutes after getting in the ascendancy but twice lacked precision in front of goal.
Abubakar Ibrahim’s attempt was then parried by Malian goalkeeper, Soumaila Diakite.
Mali got off to a better start in the second-half and immediately forced a corner in the opening minute as the Nigerian defence looked too porous to withstand their prodding. It, however, took a purposeful effort from the Eagles defenders to clear a goal-bound shot from the line from the resultant corner.
But the Nigerian defence soon made way for the second goal in the 49th minute when Traore’s superb shot went through the legs of Agbim.
Substitute Salami pulled one back for Nigeria in the 54th minute.
Midway through the second-half Cheick Doumbia had the opportunity to increase Mali’s lead but let fly a powerful effort before Chrisantus Ejike produced an inviting cross into the goal area, which met none of the home-based Eagles player, as the encounter turned into a dingdong affair.
Agbim was called into action in the 78th minute, after Traore broke into the area only for his shot to be saved by the goalkeeper.
Nigeria’s last attempt to salvage the situation flew over the bar as Mali claimed a deserved draw to go second in Group A behind the host.