Anti-gay law: Jonathan draws praises from Nigerians, knocks from abroad

Anti-gay law: Jonathan draws praises from Nigerians, knocks from abroad      

Ini Ekott

       

Gays and their collaborators now risk 14 years in jail in Nigeria

Nigerian President Goodluck Jonathan has assented to a bill outlawing gay relationships and same-sex marriage, effectively putting the legislation to use several months after it was passed by the two arms of the National Assembly.

With the president’s signature, anyone convicted for getting involved in gay relationship or entering into a same-sex marriage contract or civil union faces up to 14 years in jail.

It is also a crime to have a meeting of homosexuals, or to operate or attend a gay club, society or organization. Public show of same-sex intimate affection is also outlawed. Offenders may be jailed for up to 10 years.

“A person who registers, operates or participates in gay clubs, societies or organizations, or directly or indirectly makes public show of same-sex amorous relationship in Nigeria commits an offense and is liable on conviction to a term of 10 year,” a section of the bill signed by the president on an unspecified date, states.

For many Nigerians, accustomed to attacking Mr. Jonathan over his failure to address many of the nation’s ills and its stinking corruption, the bill’s signing, largely a popular decision, came as one of the commendable steps taken by his administration.

Across the social media and blogosphere, majority of Nigerians heaped praises on a president they are more used to criticizing and pointed out how he has defied international pressure over the bill, and acted in a way deemed to be in Nigeria’s interest.

“Jonathan got this one alone right. The Oyinbo(whites) can go to hell,” one Twitter post read.

News of the bill’s signing promptly spurred an outpouring of anti-gay sentiments across the social media, with many Nigerians discountenancing minority concerns about how beneficial criminalizing peoples’ way of life could be to a population struggling with insecurity, poverty and basic electricity.

“I applaud the president’s passage of the Gay Bill. Now Boko Haram, epileptic power supply and broken infrastructure will be resolved,” another Twitter post read.

For many, the decision affirmed Nigeria’s profoundly religious and cultural leaning, and symbolized a smack on the West widely seen here as notorious for expecting its values and beliefs adopted globally.

“More than 90 percent of Nigerians are opposed to same sex marriage. So, the law is in line with our cultural and religious belief as a people,” presidential spokesperson, Reuben Abati, was quoted by the AFP as saying.

“And I think that this law is made for a people and what (the) government has done is consistent with the preference of its environment.”

As well, the president’s approval triggered a scathing response from the international community, which had long encouraged the president to veto the submissions of the Senate and the House of Representatives on the Same-sex bill.

The United States Secretary of State, John Kerry, said Monday that the U.S was “deeply concerned” by a law that “dangerously restricts freedom of assembly, association, and expression for all Nigerians.”

The United States’ Permanent Representative to the United Nations and member of President Obama’s cabinet, Samantha Power, also deplored the bill’s final approval.

In a Twitter post, Ambassador Powers said her country was “deeply troubled that Nigeria’s President signed anti-LGBT law,” and described the law as a “Big setback for human rights for Nigerians.”

The International Humanist and Ethical Union, an umbrella organization for humanist, atheists and secularists, called the legislation a “heinous law” and “an attempt to silence critics.”

“In the context of Nigeria this is a populist move, perhaps designed to win votes ahead of next year’s election. But the president should know it comes with a cost: it destroys any pretence Goodluck may once have had to reputable international statesmanship,” the group’s president, Sonja Eggerickx, said.

Ahead of its being signed into law, Amnesty International had urged President Jonathan to reject the bill, calling it “discriminatory”.

The anti-gay bill was passed by the Nigerian Senate in December 2011, while the House of Representatives followed suit in May 2013, defying a threat from Britain to withhold aid from nations violating gay rights.
Nigeria now joins 34 other African nations with strict anti-gay laws. Of the 78 countries where homosexuality is criminalized, 35 are in Africa.
If Britain makes good its threat to cut aid following the signing of the bill, Nigeria will lose just about 1 billion pounds (N250 billion) in aid- less than the annual budget of a Niger Delta state.

Shima Gyoh · Professor at Benue State University speaks on homosexuality

Homosexuality is just the way the brains of some people mature with inverted sexual orientation, when men feel sexual attraction to other men, and women to other women. Family and environmental circumstances have very little if any influence on this phenomenon. It is one of the naturally occurring variations in nature. The fact is that the people affected cannot change their sexual orientation, just like you cannot change your height no matter how hard you tried.
For a long time, it used to be thought it was a crime, and laws were made to punish the people affected, but about 60 years ago, knowledge of human development made the enlightened world realise that it was a frequent variation in nature. Even the medical world at first thought it was a mental disease and methods of treatment, called abreaction were painful and nasty at...tempts to “cure” the affected people. The medical world soon realised that no amount of torture could change this deep-seated nature, which happens to be the way the Creator had constructed these minds.
The people affected by this condition did not deliberately cultivate it; it is the way God made them, to use normal language. Outlawing homosexuality is equivalent to passing a law that being shorter than 5 feet is now a crime! It amounts to condemning to life suffering some people for being who they are. It is an unjust discrimination, which no enlightened or kind person should tolerate, no matter how squirmy they feel about it. For those who might want to know the source of my information, I am a medical professional primarily interested in the physical and mental welfare of the human being. I have conducted an unsuccessful campaign to stop this legislation, and will continue to plead with my compatriots to tolerate people who have a different but non-criminal nature.

WHY DO WE CRIMINALISE HOMOSEXUALITY IN NIGERIA?

FROM A PHILOSOPHER'S  PERSPECTIVE.......

 

 

It is completely useless to denounce homosexuals. They are without any doubt not the villains that ignorant heterosexuals make them out to be. That last statement about Homosexuals made within Gardeners must be clarified further as not all homosexuals are due to women not taking care during their pregnancy. When we use the word homosexual we are referring to Lesbians, Gays, Transsexuals, Transgender, etc.
Many people also think that homosexuals are just over sexually active people who just jump into bed with whoever and whenever to satisfy their carnal lusts. That is only true to a very, very small few individuals as the majority of homosexuals are kind people who just want to love and be loved.
Homosexuals fall into three groups.

• 1st group - smallest cluster - are those who by accident during birth became as they are. Transgender for example.
• 2nd group - medium cluster - are those who because after birth have strong emotional problems and turn to homosexuality to solve or ease those emotional problems. Sadly some never do overcome those emotional problems.
• 3rd group - largest cluster - are those individuals who could not possibly learn all that they must be taught without being Homosexual. In other words they choose to come to this Earth as a Homosexual.

The true you, your spiritual body, is neither male nor female. So your Overself takes on a male or female physical role depending on the lessons to be learnt whilst on Earth. Now someone who is homosexual is simple a female psyche within a male physical, or vice versa. Your Overself has chosen that combination for the lessons to be learnt. Lessons which cannot be achieved being purely male or female. You must remember that you are only 1/10th conscious, therefore have no idea what the other 9/10th needs to learn, because your physical is not yours to do with as you see fit.
In the hurly-burly of getting from the astral world to that world we call Earth, mix-ups occur. Being born is a traumatic experience, it's a most violent affair, and a very delicate mechanism can easily become deranged. For example a baby is about to be born and throughout the pregnancy the mother has been rather careless about what she was eating and drinking. So the baby has not received what one might term a balanced chemical input. The baby may be short of a chemical and so development of certain glands may have been halted. Let us say the baby was going to come as a girl, but through lack of certain chemicals the baby is actually born a boy, a boy with the inclinations of a girl or vice versa.
If only heterosexual people would take time out to get to know homosexual people without the ignorant homophobia, you will find they are just like any other person living on this planet. Probably better in fact than most heterosexuals. Read the book titled The Thirteenth Candle for more information.
The average person feels they can spot a homosexual any time or any place but this is not true as even among homosexuals this is not true. There are thousands of happily married men and women with very fine children who are homosexuals and who may, or may not, actively act out as the psychiatrists like to say.
If a homosexual can find a sympathetic doctor, not a psychiatrists as they never will understand, then glandular extracts can be given which can certainly improve the condition a lot and make life bearable, but unfortunately nowadays with the present breed of doctors who seem to be out to make money only, sadly you have to search a long way to get an understanding doctor.
Furthermore Mother Nature is also playing a major part in this. Because this planet is over populated with humans and while mankind continues to multiply ad hoc a higher-power must intervene and take control. Homosexuals provide an ideal solution to controlling the planets population.
For the record, the crime rate among homosexuals is very, very low. They are very tolerant individuals, not prone to physical violence, and it is extremely rare to hear of rapes in the homosexual world. They are very clean and friendly people if you try and get to know them. A small further interesting fact, some of the world's "finest" have been homosexuals.
Disabled people are also stigmatised today because of ignorance and xenophobia. Many beliefs have stated that this is because they were extremely bad people in a past life and this disability is their punishment. Although that statement is not entirely untrue, it only applies to a few and not the majority. People choose to be here as disabled, to aid in learning the lessons they are down here to learn. Ask yourself this simple question "how can anyone fully comprehend what it is like to be disabled without actually being physically disabled themselves?" Simple answer is you cannot, so don't judge people by your own ignorance.
Disabled people have been labelled with a variety of names but either way you want to label them we must not forget that they are still people. People who have feelings just as you have. Kind people who just want to loved just as you do!

Try and see the person within and not the disability as so many do!

The only difference from you is that their needs may differ because their disability demands certain additional aids, to live what we can term a normal life. Get to know the person within and don't segregate or isolate them because of what their physical body looks like. The spirit within is far more important than the exterior shell.
In many cases a retarded child seeing an animal gets a type of fellow feeling. The child thinks that the animal cannot talk either so that gives them a bond. When such a child is given the run of a farm and given tasks within his or her capabilities, then the responsibility does start up and spark a response in the intelligence. Mentally retarded and challenged children may have been the cause of a bad birth, have you ever thought of that? Or maybe they are here to learn certain lessons with such severe disabilities? Yet these individuals are ostracised beyond belief through no fault of their own. The best thing you can do with these people is to encourage them to mix with animals as this is fact and not fiction. You will find they they will bond with the animal and their well being will improve. Read the book titled The Thirteenth Candle chapter eleven.
Does it really matter what colour or shape a persons physical is? If only people took the time out to try and understand these individuals you will soon discover that they are not all that different from you and me. It's the person within that counts and not the exterior physical. Because that's all it is, a shell which enables our spiritual body to be here on Earth to experience what which cannot be experienced within the astral planes.
There will be people in which you just cannot get on with in life, that's normal, as that's part of the learning curve. However it's no reason to hurt or harm others just because you both don't get on. Just put it down to a clash of personalities and give each other a wide berth. In most cases if you sit down and get to know them, the clash of personalities then vanishes. It's about learning to compromise as you cannot have everything your way in life.
It's not surprising then that beings from other planets - yes, plural is correct! - don't actually make contact when they can clearly see how we actually mistreat other human beings. So if they landed now it would just create mass hysteria and resentment through simple ignorance, xenophobia and lack of common sense.
This attitude is very disheartening as these beings from inner and outer space could really help mankind in evolving physically and spiritually whilst harmonising us with all other creatures on this planet.

Dencia: Makes waves with new cosmetics

Dencia the half Nigerian, half Cameroonian singer is one of the promising singer in Nigeria. She  has released good songs and music videos and featured Waje on one of her songs.
She has a newly released range of skincare cosmetics, Whitenicious.
According to a tweet by the sexy singer-entrepreneur, Whitenicious, which helps remove dark spots from the skin, sold out shortly after it hit the market and people who are interested in purchasing it have to wait until she can restock it.








Dencia

OBASANJO'S LETTER TO GOODLUCK JONATHAN

Former president, Chief Olusegun Obasanjo, recently stirred up a storm with an explosive letter to President Goodluck Jonathan detailing what he perceived to be the president’s shortcomings. The 18-page letter entitled “Before it is too late” warned that the nation was fast losing its moorings and drifting into chaos and uncertainty. Obasanjo, in the controversial missive that is still generating ripples in the polity, alleged that Jonathan   failed in five key leadership areas. These include leadership of the ruling party; headship of the Federal Government; Commander-in-chief of the military; Chief Security Officer of the nation; and the political leadership of the country.
The former president alleged that   Jonathan agreed to serve for only one term in office before he was elected president in 2011. He also accused him of having 1000 Nigerians on a security watch list, an alleged killer squad and high-level corruption in the oil sector.
While some Nigerians have applauded Obasanjo for the bluntness and timeliness of the letter, others queried his moral authority to raise the issues he did, since he was equally guilty of similar steps while in office. The exposure of the letter to the public also drew the ire of many.
The presidency, in an early reaction, described the letter as highly provocative and mischievous. Presidential spokesman, Dr. Reuben Abati, however, explained that  “while many patriotic, objective and well-meaning Nigerians have already condemned the leaked letter as self-serving, hypocritical, malicious, indecent and very disrespectful of the highest office in the land, Jonathan has directed that none of his aides or any government official should join issues with Chief Obasanjo over it.”
There is no arguing the fact that Obasanjo, as a former head of state and an elder statesman, could have found a more decent way to convey his views and fears to President Jonathan, other than the blistering letter that made the headlines of virtually all national newspapers in the country. A communication that is truly designed to alert the president to perceived developments in the polity in the best interest of the country does not have to be leaked to the entire country, no matter the circumstances. This is more so as the former president played a pivotal role in the emergence of the Jonathan administration.
Obasanjo’s moral right to judge the Jonathan administration is also questionable as he is equally guilty of almost all the accusations he made against the president. It is a case of the pot calling the kettle black. For example, the former president did not only exercise his constitutional right to a second term in office, he went ahead to scheme for a third term, which Nigerians vehemently rejected. His power sector reform could not give Nigerians stable power despite billions of naira pumped into it.
Obasanjo’s anti-graft agencies, the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFFCC) and the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC), were better known for the witch-hunt of his political enemies, and not necessarily for fighting corruption.
His regime also witnessed political assassinations, including those of former Attorney General and Minister of Justice, Chief Bola Ige, Harry Marshall and Funsho Williams. It was during his regime that Odi and Zaki-Biam were leveled by government troops. The ruling Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) also witnessed many crises during the period. The regime was also engulfed in corruption. The former president raised funds from both public and private functionaries to build a presidential library while still in power. All these question his grandstanding on Jonathan’s perceived vices.
The ex-president should, therefore, not heat up the polity unnecessarily by public ventilation of his misgivings. He should find more acceptable ways of getting his views across to the president. On the fears that Jonathan might be training snipers ahead the 2015 polls, we expect Obasanjo to be more specific, instead of dishing out thinly veiled speculations on such a serious matter.
But then, that is not to say that there is no substance to Obasanjo’s letter. As a matter of fact, most of the issues he articulated are already public knowledge, with the exception of the accusation that the president has placed politicians on a watch list and is allegedly training killer squads reminiscent of the regime of the late General Sani Abacha. It is, therefore, okay that he has boldly spoken the minds of many Nigerians on these issues.
Although Jonathan has asked his aides and other political office holders not to respond to Obasanjo’s letter, we think that the president owes Nigerians some explanations on some of the concerns raised by the letter, especially the watch list and the killer squad. Jonathan will not be helping himself and his government by keeping mum over the sundry allegations against him.
Besides, the president should regard the letter as a wake-up call to his administration to address the issues of good governance, corruption, security, as well as party and country leadership. Some of the issues raised in the letter capture the feelings and thinking of many Nigerians about the Jonathan presidency. The only snag is that the message is coming from the wrong person, and some of the allegations should have been substantiated. Past Nigerian leaders and our other statesmen should refrain from making inflammatory statements capable of destabilising the nation. Obasanjo has unfettered access to Jonathan. We doubt that he has any genuine reason to make the letter public, except to paint the president in bad light before all right thinking Nigerians. This is more so as some of the weighty accusations in the letter are largely speculative and inconclusive.
We enjoin the president to respond speedily to this letter to   reassure the people on the weighty allegations made against him.

WE MUST GIVE URGENT ATTENTION TO TEENAGERS- PA AYO OGUNJOBI

WE MUST GIVE URGENT ATTENTION TO TEENAGERS- PA AYO OGUNJOBI
 
Pa Ayo Ogunjobi, a retired chattered Accountant, minister of God is the founder of Project Hope, a church based initiative targeting teenagers from various segments of the society. Pa Ogunjobi believes that teenagers are at a very vulnerable stage of their lives and therefore required the attention of both the church and the society at large. He is convinced that when teenagers are properly handled and given proper mentoring most of the evils in our society will be nabbed in the mud before they rear their heads. In this interview, he speaks with Yemi Olakitan on the various aspects of Project Hope and his mode of operations. Excerpts.

·         What is Project Hope?

It is a concept that talks about hope for our generation if we return to God and do what is necessary to regain the future. We are targeting the teenagers because they are at a very vulnerable stage of their lives. We believe that it is at this state that characters and destinies are shaped and if we give quality attention to them. We will succeed in saving our society from decadence.

·         Is Project Hope a church for Teenagers?

No, it is not a church but it is a church based project. It is anchored by a parish of the Redeemed Christian Church of God called The Lords Portion, Awoyaya. We are focusing on teenagers because God has laid it on our hearts to do so. If we do not do something about this young people we will experience the collapse in morality and cultural values which western nations are currently experiencing. Our aim is to address issues of morality, leadership and individual potentials. We are dealing with vices in the society such as drug addiction, drug abuse, sexual promiscuity, teenage pregnancy and prostitution. These vices are common to African youths.

·         How do you plan to achieve your objectives? What are your modes of operations?

We are sending evangelists to churches, schools and wherever teenagers are gathered. It is a non denominational project and we are addressing non- Christians as well, As we are part of the same society.  We are using the medium of seminars, workshops and conferences to achieve our aim and objectives. There are counselors and facilitators that would mentor them in various issues of life using bible based materials that would develop their leadership abilities.We also believe that the media can also help is achieve our goals.

·         Who are your partners in this project?

Like i said earlier, it is a church project of the Redeemed Christian Church of God, The Lord's Portion Parish, Awoyaya. In addition, we have identified people that have the same ideology with us. We also have a programme that is tagged: Training The Trainers. We are partnering with schools, faith based organizations and corporate entities that may be interested in joining us. We believe that it will take the collective efforts of the society at large to make changes in the lives of our young ones.

·         What about the parents and Guardians?

We have a project that will include both the parents, guardians and the teenagers themselves. This strategy will have far reaching impacts on tour young people. The parents will also be able to lend their support to our efforts. Take the problem of cultism for example, one of our key members is into child psychology and he is a parent. As we expand, we would bring in more facilitators, resource persons, educationists to support what we are doing.

·         What really inspire you to start this project.

It is the need for it. If we keep quiet. What is happening in advanced countries will happen here. In fact it is already happening.  There is high level moral breakdown among young people abroad, promiscuity, homosexuality, drug addiction and abuse, cultism. All these vices are occurring because of the neglect of the society to pay special attention to the formative years of young people. This is why the church must act urgently. We must set positive standards for young people and help those who are in need; particularly teenagers who are in abject poverty and have no-one to help them.

Tackling Hidden Hunger By Yemi Olakitan

-->

Tackling Hidden Hunger

By Yemi Olakitan

      Hundreds of farmers gathered at Akinale, an ancient town in Ewekoro Local Government area of Ogun state recently to collect cassava stems that was delivered to them by HarvestPlus, a Washington based international organization, dedicated to eradicating ‘Hidden Hunger’ from the planet. According to Paul Ilona, Country Manager of Harvest Plus in Nigeria. Millions of people around the world including Nigeria suffer from ‘Hidden Hunger’ or micronutrient malnutrition. This means that they do not get enough micronutrients required to lead healthy productive lives from the foods that they eat regularly. According to him, Micronutrients are vitamins and minerals (such as vitamin A, zinc, and iron), which are absolutely essential to good health. Micronutrient malnutrition can lower IQ, cause stunting and blindness in children, lower resistance to disease in both children and adults, and increase risks for both mothers and infants during childbirth. Hidden Hunger might not be outwardly visible but it is often the cause of various illnesses.  These cassava stems have gone through biofortification and contain Vitamin A, which is highly essential to health and wellness.  Ilona explained this extensively in layman terms and in Yoruba language to the farmers who listened attentively.  ‘‘It is not enough to fill up the stomach. We must have adequate nutrients for healthier life’’ he said.

  According to him both children and adults suffer from hidden hunger and both need micronutrients to enjoy better health. HarvestPlus is willing to work with the Government, farmers and the private sector to significantly scale up vitamin A cassava dissemination in Nigeria.

    Traditional ruler of Akinale Oba Olufemi Ogunleye, the Towulade of Akinale who facilitated the event thanked Harvest Plus for making the cassava stems available to farmers. He said it was a very important milestone in Akinale because it was the first time the team is coming to Ogun state and Akinale was the first place on the list. He encouraged the farmers to take advantage of the new cassava and spread the good news to surrounding villages.

  Dr Samson Odedina of Envoy Envoy Consult and Agric Product Ltd, a major partner of Harvest Plus in Nigeria sad “that biofortified staple food crops such as vitamin A cassava can contribute immensely to health and wellness in Nigeria. He called on Ogun state Government and other stakeholders to show active involvement in making sure that more farmers receive such stems in large quantity in the state. According to him, the dissemination of vitamin A cassava was launched in Nigeria on July 30, 2012 under the Agricultural Transformation Agenda of the Federal Minister of Agriculture, Dr. Akin Adesina, alongside in Akwa-Ibom state to over 2,000 farmers. ‘‘The project has now spread to eight states and Ogun is new on the list’’ he said.

    In a chat with Chief Salako Yawe, Baale of Jaguna village, he thanked the companies and expressed his appreciation for the good work done. Another Chief Isiaka Eleyele was also full of accolades for Harvest Plus and partners. He however requested that the organization to follow up on other towns and villages in Ogun state so that the new cassava can be embraced by all. The farmers were treated to a taste of the cooked Vitamin A cassava. There were cassava cakes, Fufu, Eba, cassava chips that were all prepared before hand for the crowd to taste.

   Harvest Plus Reports say, the vitamin A cassava can meet 25 percent of the daily vitamin A needs of consumers in a country where vitamin A deficiency (VAD) is a serious public health concern.  VAD affects nearly one in three Nigerian children under five, increasing their vulnerability to immune system weakness. The cassava is the culmination of work by scientists from the International Institute of Tropical Agriculture and the National Root Crop Research Institute of Nigeria (NRCRI) under the HarvestPlus program. The project, led by HarvestPlus, has expanded to eight states, and expects to reach more than 100,000 farming households in a few years.

    HarvestPlus leads a global effort to improve nutrition and public health by developing and disseminating staple food crops that are rich in vitamins and minerals. The organisation work with public and private sector partners in more than 40 countries. Its science is carried out by 15 research centers in collaboration with hundreds of partner organizations around the world. The HarvestPlus program is coordinated by two of these centers – the International Center for Tropical Agriculture and the International Food Policy Research Institute.