Governor Uduaghan Likens Gay Marriage to Pedophilia

Speaking in Dublin, Ireland, while receiving the International Leadership Award, Dr. Emmanuel Uduaghan, Governor of Delta state likened Gay Marriage to to pedophilia and said both were taboos in Nigeria.

Uduaghan further told his hosts that gay marriage offends the cultural norms of Nigerians saying, "I am sure no one here in this country would accept a condition in which an adult can sleep with a 10-year-old girl. If that situation is not acceptable, we in Nigeria view gay marriage as such.

"In Nigeria marriage between two people is usually between a man and a woman and not just between them but between their families too. Whenever a couple come together, they are not coming together by themselves, it almost involves their different families and if it is known that in that family there are married gays, the danger is that the taboo emanating from that might even affect others who are straight and that is not right.

The Governor also accused the International community of double standards, he said, "There was a public hearing by the National Assembly and we are not aware of their opposition to this bill. What happened was that a lot of Nigerians appeared and made submission in favour of it. So it is a surprise that after the bill has been passed, we are now facing this opposition by the international community.

The Governor insisted that anyone who wishes to be married to a gay was free to migrate to a country where it is acceptable.

Tukur: I Went Through Hell as PDP Chairman

Five days after he was forced to resign, the immediate past National Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Alhaji Bamanga Tukur, has said he went through hell trying to run the party.

He spoke when some Muslim clerics paid him a solidarity visit at the weekend at   his Wuse 2 Abuja residence.

Tukur said but for the doggedness of President Goodluck Jonathan and the wisdom he displayed in managing the affairs of PDP, the party would have long collapsed, given what he described as ‘evil plots’ by certain members to completely destroy the party.

He also hinted of the expected qualities of his successor, ahead of the National Executive Committee (NEC) meeting that would elect his successor.
Some of the qualities, according to him, include being fearless, consistent and focused, because  he  passed  through difficult times while in office.

Tukur, who told the clerics that he made a huge sacrifice by resigning from office, also expressed regrets that some members of the PDP preferred the party to be run with the mentality of business as usual, because, according to him, such members were utterly opposed to any form of change he tried to introduce in running the party.

The former PDP Chairman, who restated his loyalty to President Goodluck Jonathan and his government, pledged his unalloyed support to the president and the PDP. 

He explained that he was proud of all the   decisions he took to reform the party, in order to deepen democracy and make Nigeria raise its head in the comity of great nations.

The former national chairman  urged the clerics to continue praying for President Goodluck Jonathan and the PDP to overcome what he referred to as their trying moments.
According to him, he found it unbelievable to discover that some stakeholders of the party never had the interest of PDP or Nigeria at heart.

He explained that personal ambitions, crave for sudden wealth and unimaginable level of treachery usually got the full attention of such stakeholders than anything else.

“I did my best to bring PDP to good standard and international best practices on politics. I came in with the mind-set to reform the party by promoting the principle of election instead of selection and the idea of consensus instead of imposition.

“Alas, I was proved wrong by those who believed that the old order in PDP must be retained, not for any good thing, but for their selfish interests.

“Some members got so desperate that they turned to the media and funded all negative reports against me. If you are familiar with all the negative media reports, none attributed any wrong doing to me. The reports only echoed the views of the sponsors that I was unbending in my desire to change the bad situation in PDP.

“They even attempted to use the media to get me in confrontation with Mr. President. I never spoke to anyone about issues, yet the media would attribute some reports to me. But we knew those who were behind it all. They had forgotten that what ever goes round surely must come round.
“To put me on the spot, they sponsored another report that governorship aspirants were buying me bullet-proof jeeps so that I can give them governorship slot in their states. How could I do such a thing, when indeed, I was the one advocating change in PDP. I waged war against the idea of imposition or selection of candidates for elections in our party,” he said.

Meanwhile, the former Chairman has hinted that he would accept the “tougher job” promised him by President Jonathan last week..

One of Tukur’s aides, Awal Hayatudeen, who spoke with THISDAY, said Tukur was set to accept any “advisory role” available.

He said: “Our leader has extensive experience in almost every facet of business and politics both here at home and abroad. You know, some world leaders always joke that he is a president without a flag or office. They hold him in high esteem. He once addressed the United Nations General Assembly as a private citizen. Don’t forget he is still involved with the African Business Round table and the African Peer Review Mechanism. So he has all these international exposure and clout which would come in handy in the next assignment”

Meanwhile Jonathan yesterday night met  with state governors elected on the platform of the PDP, with a view to narrowing down on the successor of Tukur.

All the governors from the North-east where the position is zoned,  arrived the same time with Governor Godswill Akpabio of Akwa Ibom State  and Governor Seriake Dickson of Bayelsa State, an indication that they  met somewhere ahead of the meeting with the president.
Checks indicated that Dickson met with the president briefly before leaving the premises to join the meeting of the North-east governors with Akpabio.

The meeting, held at the First Lady Wing of the State House, commenced at 9.10p.m.
Security officers chased out State House correspondents from the venue of the meeting which they said was not for media coverage.

Those present were Vice-President Namadi Sambo, leadership of the National Assembly, SGF, Anyim Pius Anyim, PDP Deputy National Chairman, Uche Secondus.
At the end of the meeting last night, former Bauchi State Governor, Adamu Mu’azu, was believed to have emerged as a consensus candidate.

THISDAY investigation revealed that President Jonathan strongly pushed for the former governor and the governors finally deferred to his choice.

Also, the governors who attended the parley included Jonah Jang (Plateau), Seidu Dakingari (Kebbi), Gabriel Suswam (Benue), Theodore Orji (Abia)  Ibrahim Dankwambo (Gombe), Godswill Akpabio (Akwa Ibom), Martins Elechi (Ebonyi) and Sullivan Chime (Enugu).

Others were Ibrahim Shema (Katsina), Ramalan Yero (Kaduna), Emmanuel Uduaghan (Delta), Idris Wada (Kogi) and Babangida Aliyu (Niger), Lyel Imoke (Cross River),  Garba Umar (Taraba), Seriake Dickson (Bayelsa) and Adamawa State Deputy Governor, Bala Ngilari.
As at the time of filing this report, the meeting was still ongoing.

NIGERIA NAILS SOUTH AFRICA FOR QUARTER FINALS

A brace from Ejike Uzoenyi and a penalty goal from Ede Ifeanyi ensured that Nigeria’s Super Eagles proved critics wrong and stopped the hosts as they cruised into the quarter finals of the African Nations Championship, CHAN, in the last group match decided at the Cape Town Stadium, South Africa Sunday night.
Uzoenyi’s first goal came in the 22nd minute, Ifeanyi scored his penalty goal in the 32 minute, while Uzoenyi made it three for Nigeria in the 63rd minute. South Africa’s only goal was scored by Bernard Parker after an infringement in the Nigerian box in the 81st minute.
The match began with South Africa making effort to draw the first blood with intense attack, but Nigeria’s goalkeeper, Chigozie Agbim came out to cuddle a cross from the left.
Even a shot at goal by Bafana Bafana’s striker, Bernard Parker was dealt with by goalkeeper Agbim.
Nigeria then settled into this crucial match.

Super Eagles v South Africa

A sixth minute free kick taken by midfielder Siphiwe shabalala was palmed away to safety by a born again Agbim.
Nigeria’s first attempt at goal came in the eighth minute when Rabiu Ali collected a loose ball, but his shot from outside the box sailed out of touch.
Another big chance came the way of the Eagles in the 11th minute through Ifeanyi Ede who slide in to get a touch to Azubuike Egwuekwe’s shot, but he failed to convert his chance.
Nigeria looked assured even back in the defence and upfront their pace was troubling the Bafana backline.
Mother luck however smiled on the Nigerian side who were determined for an outright victory in the encounter when Ede set up Uzoenyi and he delightfully swept the ball past the Bafana goalkeeper, Moeneeb Josephs to score his first international goal for Nigeria in the 22nd minute of the game..
The goal silenced the hosts’ fans as the noise level at the stadium went down considerably after the Nigerians’ opening goal.
A penalty kick came for Nigeria in the 32nd minute when goalkeeper Joseph of South Africa spilled the ball and in an attempt to win back possession, tripped Gbolahan Salami inside the box.
The Bafana goalkeeper guessed right and even got his hand to the shot, but Ede Ifeanyi’s penalty kick was strong enough to find the back of the net to give the Eagles their second goal of the night. They took the lead into the half time.
Nigerian team restarted the second half with the confidence of two goals in their kitty.
Nigeria’s Ifeanyi ensured that he continued harassing the Bafana defence.
Bafana made spirited effort to score a goal in the 62nd minute through Mashego, who made a goalbound shot but it was clawed away by Agbim.
Ejike Uzoenyi compounded the woes of the hosts when he fired in a shot at goal in the 63rd minute to give the Nigerian team their third goal.
A shot that hit the cross bar denied Uzoenyi his hat-trick in the 71st minute.
A consolatory goal came for South Africa in the 80th minute after Uzochukwu brought down Parker inside the box and referee called for a penalty kick which Parker scored in the 81st minute.
The referee blew the whistle after four minutes added time.
Mali beat Mozambique 2-1 to top the group, while Nigeria finish second and Bafana crashed out.
Mali finished with seven points, Nigeria came second on six points.

Gay protest In Abuja

Nigerian gays and lesbians, under the aegis of
'The Right Defense', are daring President
Goodluck Jonathan, and would soon stage a
demonstration in Abuja, the Nigerian capital,
they said in a statement on Saturday.
The protest is against the anti-gay law signed by
the president on January, 7.
They added to the statement the masked
pictures of themselves noting they were
protesting against an "undemocratic and
unlawful discrimination" of gays and lesbians
and trans-genders in the country.
The demonstration in Abuja, they said, has
become necessary to condemn what they call "an
increase in threats against fundamental human
rights of certain persons including LGBT in the
country."
According to the group, they also want to
challenge the existence of the Nigeria human
rights body, the National Human Right
Commission "for its lack of integrity and
principle in the fight against discrimination and
violation of individual rights."
The group said many Nigerians have in the past
fled the country due to threats to life and
harassment in their communities. Those who
have fled include Alimi Bisi, Philip Temidayo
Adabayo, Desmond Patric, Nkechi Ugo, Lara
Abiodun Akinniyi, Simeon Demola Adesanmi,
Penu K. Z.
"The planning for the non-violent rally is to avert
the continuous attacking of the unarmed
citizens and the unlawful and arbitrary arrest of
wanted individuals," the group said.

Why did Jonathan sign the gay law?

man love

In2013 , an iconic picture of two ladies kissing before anti-gay marriage protesters in Marseille, France, went viral. That act of defiance before an assembly of mostly old ladies was to demonstrate an inviolable right to private life and choice. It was largely the fear of this sort of freedom that spurred the Nigerian Senate to embark on pushing a bill to criminalise activities relating to homosexuality with draconian measures.

The climax of the saga occurred on Monday, January 13 when the Special Adviser to President Goodluck Jonathan on Media and Publicity, Dr. Reuben Abati, announced that the President had signed the bill into law.

It was a well-calculated move from a politician who wants to win popular support for 2015 elections, and he chose a good time to espouse conservative values. Just the previous week, his party, the Peoples Democratic Party, and the All Progressives Congress engaged in the usual catfight, this time over religion. Having whipped up some Islamophobia, he artfully topped it all by riding on the waves of subsisting moral panic the gay debate generated. For a man who routinely closes his eyes to corruption and every other imaginable human vice in his administration, Jonathan's signing of this bill is illuminative of his moral values and priority. (By the way, where was his voice when the debate on child marriage was going on?) This time, he chose to be Pontius Pilate who delivered a poor prisoner to a raging mob.

That is not the stuff morally strong folk are made of.

The seeming interference by the West -specifically the United States - over the issue of same-sex relationship and its cultural acceptance in this part of the world have given some relativists a new punch-bag. What people saw as Hillary Clinton and President Barack Obama's meddlesomeness quickly gave rise to a congress of emergency patriots who arrogated upon themselves the power to erect a perimeter fence around values they alone can decide are either "African" or not.

These afro-jingoists position Africa as the bastion of moral values (which, incidentally, always begins and ends with sex) and insist we maintain a rigid stand against cultural erosion; that we are a sovereign nation and the white man cannot dictate to us. Rather than focus on their countrymen who will be affected by the law, they expend energy yelling at the white man who will not lose anything in the long run.

This sort of resistance is to be expected, of course. History teaches us that the people of Calabar had a similar pushback against Mary Slessor when she began to campaign against the killing of twins. Today, Nigerians venerate her for her foresight. When a white District Officer stopped the Elesin Oba culture in colonial Oyo town, people protested saying a white man had no right to stop a legitimate cultural practice.

The point is, culture does not mean people should be stuck in a time warp. Societies advance and that is why even the most vociferous campaigners for "African values" will not forsake their European/Arabia-gifted religion for Amadioha or Sango; will not give up their cellphones (and other forms of western technology) and return to the villages to communicate with drums and smoke signals. They will not request a law that forces women to marry as virgins like it used to be, once upon a time, in Africa. There is no culture in the world that is immutable. What people call "African culture" today, cultural scholars have analysed, are largely practices that are consequences of colonialism.

Nigerians can talk about sovereignty all day but countries interfere in local affairs as moral conscience of other countries. For both the Holocaust and the Rwandan genocide, taking the stand of "sovereignty" was as immoral. Either as individuals or as a nation, "The West" has intervened in Africa frequently: in wars, in education, during famines and till now they still dish us billions of dollars in aid and relief. Bill Gates, on his blog, posts pictures and notes of his philanthropic activities in Africa's poor places and not one African leader has ever kicked him out in the name of sovereignty.

To be an independent nation goes beyond yelling against the white man's intrusive ways. It comes with obligations and one of them is protecting the minority from the repressive might of the majority.

That is the sort of moral responsibility that President Jonathan should have displayed rather than take the populist route of offering up gays as scapegoats to be slaughtered to one of the gods we worship in Nigeria -hypocrisy. In a country where freedom and human rights are barely guaranteed most people, why expose minorities to hate and its consequences?

Prior to the time the likes of Senators Oluremi Tinubu, Domingo Obende and about 24 others proposed the bill in 2011 to stem the cultural tide rising from the West, gays in Nigeria were not agitating to be married. They were not requesting that the law defining marriages as heterosexual relationships in Nigeria be amended. No, the move was mimicry; since Oyinbo lawmakers were debating homosexuality, Nigerians lawmakers must do so too.

That copycat attitude was an annoying form of reactivism to an issue they obviously barely understood beyond its aesthetics. Most of the debaters had neither profound arguments nor made historical analyses to tender beyond throwing out their religious definition of morality everywhere. In Nigeria, when people bring out their holy books during an argument, good luck to reason. It was not surprising the debate did not go far.

I had hoped Jonathan would at least refrain from touching the bill and concentrate on the corruption crippling his government; he would have focused on providing electricity. He should also stop giving recycled speeches every time his hand grasps a microphone. But no, he had to capitulate. One day, he will look back and realise he fell on the wrong side of history.

Finally, at whatever personal risk under this obnoxious law, I reiterate my unflinching support for sexual minorities in Nigeria -lesbians, gays, bisexuals and transgenders. I believe nobody should suffer discrimination based on their gender, sexual orientation, ethnicity, nationality, race and whatever identity with which they are labelled. I believe in equality and I wish to state that unequivocally.

And for those who are about to wonder, yes, this is my religion.

Life-jail prisoner bags degree at NOUN graduation

 

•President may grant him pardon -Minister

A convict serving a life jail sentence at the Maximum Security Prison, Kirikiri, Lagos, Mr. Kabiru Tuwanse was among 4, 308 students who graduated yesterday from the National Open University of Nigeria (NOUN). He earned a Post Graduate Diploma in Human Resources Management from the Lagos Prison Study Centre of the university.
National Mirror gathered that two of his fellow inmates at the centre, could not make the graduation list for their inability to meet up with the minimum academic requirement for the award of the university’s certificate.
Tuwanse, who had obtained a Higher National Diploma before he was sentenced for murder has so far spent 11 years behind bars. He was accompanied to the venue of the graduation ceremony at the National
Theatre, Iganmu by some officers of the prison service led by the Assistant Controller General Prisons, Mr. Raymond Afujue. Looking remorseful, Tunwanse who is in his 50s expressed gratitude unto God for the achievement, saying even though he does not know what fate has for him after now, he is still hopeful that he could be granted pardon.
In his address at the occasion, the Supervising Minister of Education, Mr. Nyesom Wike, who stood in for President Goodluck Jonathan said the case of the graduating prisoner would be presented to Mr. President if he could be granted pardon. He said he was particularly happy that a prisoner could think to further his education while in prison.
Speaking earlier, the Vice-Chancellor of the university, Prof, Vincent Tenebe disclosed that of the total 54 study centres of the institution across the country, four of them in Lagos, Abuja, Port Harcourt and Enugu are dedicated for inmates so as to meet their university education needs.
News by  James Abraham

Jonathan sacks service chiefs, appoints new ones

Ola Sa'ad Ibrahim, Air Marshal Badeh,Azubike Ihejirika,Dele Ezeoba advertisement

President Goodluck Jonathan has sacked all the service chiefs, who are statutorily the heads of the nation’s military apparatus.

This was contained in the Twitter andFacebook posts by the Special Adviser to the President on Media and Publicity, Dr. Reuben Abati, on Thursday.

No reason was given for the changes.

The post read, “President Goodluck Ebele Jonathan in the exercise of the powers conferred on him by the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria approved the following changes in the nation's Military High Command:

“Air Marshal Alex Badeh takes over from Admiral Ola Sa'ad Ibrahim as Chief of Defence Staff.

“Major-General Kenneth Tobiah Minimah takes over from Lt.-General Azubike Ihejirika as Chief of Army Staff.

“Rear Admiral Usman Jibrin takes over from Vice Admiral Dele Ezeoba as Chief of Naval Staff; and Air Vice Marshal Adesola Nunayon Amosu takes over from Air Marshal Badeh as Chief of Air Staff.

“All the changes are with immediate effect.”

The new Chief of Defence Staff and former Chief of Air Staff, Air Marshal Badeh was born on January 10, 1957 and joined the Air Force as a member of the Nigerian Defence Academy's 21 Regular Course while the new Chief of Army Staff, Major-General Minimah was born on July 27, 1959 and joined the Army as a member of the Nigerian Defence Academy's 25 Regular Course. Until his new appointment, Major-General Minimah was the Commander of the Nigerian Army Infantry Corps, Jaji.

The new Chief of Naval Staff, Rear Admiral Usman Jibrin was born on September 16, 1959 and joined the Navy as a member of the Nigerian Defence Academy's 24 Regular Course. Until his appointment as Chief of Naval Staff, he was Director of Training at Defence Headquarters.

The new Chief of Air Staff and immediate past Commander of the Presidential Air Fleet, Air Vice Marshal Amosu was born on August 1, 1958 and joined the Air Force as a member of the Nigerian Defence Academy's 25 Regular Course. Until his new appointment, Air Vice Marshal Amosu was the Air Officer Commanding, Tactical Air Command, Makurdi.

Jonathan has briefed the leadership of the National Assembly on the appointment of the new service chiefs and will, in keeping with the provisions of the law, request the National Assembly to formally confirm the appointments when it reconvenes.