CAN, ACF, Others Condemn US Criticisms Of Anti-Gay Law!

Nigerians have reacted to US criticisms of the country over the anti-same sex bill signed into law by President Goodluck Jonathan, Monday, saying that Nigeria will not become the modern day Sodom and Gomorrah in the name of human rights.

CAN President: Ayo Oritsejafor

The Christian Association of Nigeria, CAN, the umbrella association of all Northern socio-political organisations, Arewa Consultative Forum, ACF; Ndigbo Cultural Society of Nigeria, NCSN; Adada Media Forum, ADF; Jama’atu Nasril Islam, JNI;   and some individuals including, Senator Rowland Owie condemned the US attack on Nigeria over the same sex marriage law.

Senator Rowland Owie

A statement signed by the former Senate Chief Whip, Senator Rowland Owie, said that Nigeria does not regret forbidding same sex marriage.

Also, the National Publicity Secretary of ACF, Mr Anthony Sani, said “It is difficult (for Nigerians) to share the sentiments of US and its allies on this matter, considering that it is not long that some of them approved same sex marriage.”

Elder statesman and veteran politician, Alhaji Tanko Yakasai, commended Jonathan for signing the bill into law.

Yakasai said: “President Jonathan should be commended for taking a bold step to sign the bill into law.

“Same-sex marriage is not only alien to Nigeria but to the entire African continent.”

He said that the law was meant for Nigerians, who had expressed their support for it.

“The Federal Government should ignore whatever other countries will say on the law because it is meant for Nigerians only.”

Jonathan, NASS took the right path – NCSN
The NCSN commended President Jonathan and the NASS for passing the law against same sex marriage.

The NCSN President, Chief Udo Udeogaranya, said the law would preserve and sustain African culture and insisted that “on the issue of marriage, relationship, social behaviour and our country, members of National Assembly and President Jonathan made the best choice.”

His words: “We commend President Jonathan for taking a strong moral stand in the face of vindictive Western world by signing the anti-gay bill into law. This singular act has once again crowned President Jonathan’s efforts towards promotion, preservation and sustenance of our African culture, heritage and values.

We urge members of the National Assembly and the President to consider filtering and censoring programmes being disseminated into the country from the Western media, as another major step in protecting our young ones from immoral and uncultured views.”

US cannot dictate to us, CAN, others.....The umbrella body of Christians in the country, Christian Association of Nigeria, CAN, also said the US government cannot dictate to us to leave our moral, and accept their own immoral ways of life.

Responding to the US opposition to the recently signed bill banning same-sex marriage in Nigeria, the General Secretary of CAN, Rev. Musa Asake said, “the thing that bothers me is that, none of them in the US that is promoting this thing have gays in their family.

“We are solidly behind our president for doing the right thing. Can they allow their sons and daughters to marry each other like that or why are they bothered to meddle into our own affairs?

“I congratulate our president, our legislature, this is the right thing we are doing. We don’t have to drift into a situation, where we don’t have moral values, because somebody is helping you with a little money. Let them hold on to their money, we will still survive by the grace of God.”

Source: ThisDay news

Dozens Killed, Scores Injured in Sallah Day Suicide Bombing!

As the Muslim community worldwide celebrated the birth of Holy Prophet Mohammed, Maiduguri, the troubled capital of Borno State, was thrown into pandemonium tuesday  when a suicide bomber detonated a massive bomb in the centre of the town which led to the death of about 30 persons, with 50 others injured.

The bomb blast, which left the streets deserted, was greeted by protests by some aggrieved youths who alleged that the latest ordeal was traceable to the immediate past governor, Senator Ali Modu Sheriff, who had stayed away from the state for a long time.

The youths went about smashing every car on the road with the sticker or poster of the former governor or his alleged anointed political son, Mohammed Imam, who he is believed to be supporting to take over from the incumbent, Alhaji Kashim Shettima in 2015.

In the last four days, tension had risen in the state which degenerated when supporters with alleged ties to Sheriff pelted the governor with stones at the weekend.
On Monday, Sheriff got a taste of his own medicine when alleged supporters of Shettima got their revenge when they pelted the former governor with stones at the Shehu of Borno’s palace.

Immediately the bomb went off, the youths took to the empty streets to protest the incident as they were seen shouting “Sheriff means no good for us and he has brought this present bomb explosion.”

The irate youths also destroyed the political office of the former governor at the UTC area, along the popular Kashim Imam Way, and headed for the highbrow GRA to torch Sheriff’s imposing residence, but were turned back by the military and police who had been alerted to keep them off.

A military source revealed that Sheriff, who was still in the state at the time of the explosion at 1.30 pm, was ferried to the airport to his waiting private jet by the police to avoid being lynched by the angry mob.

The police were said to have dispatched a strong team to his residence to escort him out of town.

As a result of the explosion, businesses and shop owners were forced to hurriedly close their shops and scampered home.

Hospital sources revealed that 30 corpses were deposited at the morgue with over 50 persons brought in injured.

The Commissioner of Police, Lawan Tanko, however, told journalists that 17 persons had  so far died in the explosion and that his men who had brought back reports said five persons including a police traffic warden was seriously injured, adding, “They are still going round hospitals to confirm the number of casualties.”

He said the explosion which happened between 1.15 pm and 2 pm was caused by a suicide bomber who drove a firewood seller truck and detonated the bomb in the middle of the road.

Tanko revealed that security personnel had to be sent immediately to all public buildings to forestall more attacks.

The bomb was detonated close to a roadblock mounted by the military and at the centre of the town, which is a beehive of activities and densely populated.
Also confirming the attack, the spokesman of the 7 Division of the Nigerian Army Maiduguri, Col. Mohammed Dole, in a statement, said: “At about 14:13 hours on Tuesday, January 14, a Honda car laden with an improvised explosive device IED) exploded near the post office area in Maiduguri metropolis.

“Members of the frustrated Boko Haram terrorists are suspected to be behind the bomb explosion.

“Scores of deaths and injuries were recorded and 10 vehicles and five tricycles are confirmed damaged and one suspect has been arrested.

“This incident happened after a long period of relative peace in Maiduguri and its environs.”

Also speaking on the attack on the state capital, the Borno State governor condemned the explosion which rocked the city.

The governor said it was regrettable that the explosion came when the people in the town have started celebrating the return of peace to the town.
Shettima, in a statement by his spokesman, Isa Gusau, described the incident as most cruel, evil and inhuman.

He expressed his deep condolences to the families and friends of all affected victims and prayed for the repose of the souls of those who lost their lives and the quick recovery of those who might have suffered injuries.

The statement read: “He has directed the security to carry out a full scale investigation into the bomb explosion which resulted in the unfortunate youths rampage that led to the breakdown of law and order.

“The governor also condemned the uprisings in the last three days in the state capital which he described as unfortunate even though avoidable.

“He also directed the Ministry of Health to ensure proper medication for all victims who might have suffered injuries with government bearing all costs of treatment, insisting that the Borno State Government will take firm measures to continually protect lives and property of citizens.”

Gusau revealed that as part of such measures, Shettima met with the National Security Adviser, Col. Sambo Dasuki (rtd), in Abuja, during which the issue of security of lives and property of Borno citizens was topmost on the agenda.

The governor, while appealing to all residents of the state to remain calm and law abiding, said he was already on his way back to the town.

He reminded all that peace was a collective responsibility that requires the input of both the government and the governed through the exercise of constitutional and moral obligations, duties and responsibilities, and called on residents to remain prayerful and committed in the search for peace.

He told them to remain extra vigilant, report suspicious persons to security agencies and be their neighbour’s keepers at all times.

In a related development, the Commanding Officer of a special operative battalion situated in Mubi, Adamawa State, Lt. Col. Beyidi Martins, has revealed that the military in the city has killed 13 suspected members of the dreaded Boko Haram during a battle in December last year.

He revealed that two notorious members of the dreaded sect who had been on the  wanted list of the military were among those killed, adding that they have been terrorising the ancient town and its environs.

Martins made the disclosure yesterday, adding that the 13 Boko Haram suspects were killed during a raid at a Mubi Bureau De Change on the 18th of December, last year.

Source: ThisDay Newspapars

Pakistani teen honoured for sacrificing his life to save hundreds of students!

A 15 year old Pakistani teenager Aitzaz Hassan, who sacrificed his life to stop a suicide bomber, saving the lives of hundreds of students, in Hangu district in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province was honoured with the country's highest award for bravery.

Hassan become a national hero after tackling the bomber who came to attack his school on Monday while hundreds of students were inside. 

He died in hospital after the bomber blew himself up at the school gates. No one else was wounded or killed in the incident.

The office of Pakistani Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif said it had advised President Mamnoon Hussain "to approve the conferment of Sitara-e-Shujjat [star of bravery] to Shaheed [martyred] Aitzaz Hassan.

"Shaheed Aitzaz's brave act saved the lives of hundreds of students and established a sterling example of gallantry and patriotism," it said in a statement issued late on Friday.

A senior adviser to the provincial government Amjad Afridi, told AFP: "We have decided to name Aitzaz Hassan's school after him. We will also construct a sports stadium in Hangu and will name it after Hassan." 

Egging incident- Justin Bieber's house raided by police, his friend arrested for Narcotics!

Detectives searched Justin Bieber's home looking for surveillance footage that might serve as evidence that the pop star was involved in an egg-tossing vandalism case that caused thousands of dollars in damage to a neighbour's home recently.

According to information genered, police arrived with a battering ram.

Officers dismantled Justin's security system and removed it from the premises. The site also said that police was searching for possible surveillance video from Justin's house.

According to the LA Times, a neighbor told police that he saw Bieber throwing the eggs.

Law enforcement sources said they were looking for ANYTHING in the house that could link J.B. to the crime ... and as far fetched as it seems, even eggs were a possibility.

The Lost Hills Sheriff's in Malibu held a press conference in the afternoon which states that Justin Beiber was "neither arrested nor exonerated."

Los Angeles County Sheriff officers leave Justin Beiber's home

It was also stated  that Justin and the other people present were "co-operative" and that the investigation is ongoing.  "none of this has anything to do with him being a celebrity." 

"I get that the eggs don't seem that significant, but it does rise to the level of a felony,"  

"There is a victim in this case who has extensive damage done to their home. And that's a serious incident." Lt Thompson said.

Below's a photo of Justin Bieber's BFF Lil Za getting arrested for drug possession at Bieber's home.

Attitude is all it takes!

Hello R.V readers, i found this very interesting msg, and thought it wise to share with you;

Hope it motivates u in 2014
If:

A B C D E F G H I J K LM N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z
Is equal to;
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26

Then

H+A+R+D+W+O+R+K ;
8+1+18+4+23+15+18+11=98%

K+N+O+W+L+E+D+G+E ;
11+14+15+23+12+5+4+7+5=96%

L+O+V+E;
12+15+22+5 = 54%

L+U+C+K ;
12+21+3+11 = 47%

None of them makes 100%.
Then what makes 100% ???
Is it Money?
NO !!!

M+O+N+E+Y= 13+15+14+5+25=72%

Leadership?
NO !!!

L+E+A+D+E+R+S+H+I+P= 12+5+1+4+5+18+19+8+9+16=97%

Every problem has a solution, only if we perhaps change our "ATTITUDE".A+T+T+I+T+U+D+E ;
1+20+20+9+20+21+4+5 = 100%


It is therefore OUR ATTITUDE towards Life and Work that makes
OUR Life 100% Successful.

Jonathan urges Nigerian muslims pray for nation’s unity!

President Goodluck Ebele Jonathan has urged Nigerian muslims to offer special prayers during the Eid-el-Maulud for greater peace, unity and progress in Nigeria.

Jonathan made the request in a special message to salute Nigerian muslims on the occasion of the birthday of Prophet Mohammed.

With the religious observance coming on the eve of the nation’s Armed Forces Remembrance Day, President Jonathan urged all Nigerians to join in the prayers not only for the nation but also for Nigerian Armed Forces personnel, who continue to do their best to protect the nation’s territorial integrity and achieve greater security in all parts of the country.

statement signed by Reuben Abati, President Jonathan made particular note of the increasing tempo in political activities in the country, but pledged not to be distracted in pursuing the developmental agenda of his government.

He gave assurance to all Nigerians that his administration ” will not be distracted from working diligently to bring all of its priority developmental programmes and projects to a successful conclusion.”

“The President also assures the nation that his administration will continue to act on its belief that only free, fair and credible elections can make democracy in Nigeria truly meaningful and useful as a vehicle for development and progress by working with the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and all stakeholders to make the best possible preparations for the next elections”, Abati added.

Whitney Houston's Daughter Officially Marries unofficially Adopted Brother!

Whitney Houston's daughter appears to have tied the knot with her 24-year-old fiancé, with whom she has shared a sibling-style bond since he was informally adopted by the legendary singer at the age of 12.

She proudly informed her Twitter followers on Thursday "#HappilyMarried So #Inlove if you didn't get it the first time that is."

The excited 20-year-old star accompanied the message with a picture of her and Nick's hands, showing off their wedding bling.

Bobbi and Nick announced their engagement in October 2012, during her family's short-lived reality series 'The Houstons: On Our Own', but their unconventional love was met by widespread disapproval.

The feisty star wrote on her Facebook page at the time: "YES, we me nick are engaged. I'm tired of hearing people say "eww your engaged to your brother" or "if Whitney was still alive would we be together or would she approve of this. (sic)"

The pair called off their engagement shortly afterwards, before recommitting in July 2013. Last September, Nick upgraded Bobbi's custom-made Neil Lane sparkler with two extra bands."