Ministerial Reshuffle: Jonathan May Sack Oduah, Wike, Orubebe

Thin information has been gathered by Daily Post.The ministers who are likely to keep their positions are Diezani Alison-Madueke, Minister of Petroleum Resources; Dr Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, Coordinating Minister for the Economy and Minister of Finance; Dr Akinwumi Adesina, Agriculture Minister; and Labaran Maku, Minister of Information.

The list of those who may lose their seats includes Nyesom Wike, Minister of State for Education; Stella Oduah, Aviation Minister; Professor Onyebuchi Chukwu, Minister of State; Prof. Chinedu Osita Nebo, Minister for Power; Elder Peter Godsday Orubebe, Ministry of Niger Delta Affairs; and Hajia Zainab Maina, Federal Minister of Women Affairs and Social Development, among others.

Earlier, on January 9, President Goodluck Jonathanannounced that the list of nominees to fill the vacant ministerial positions would be forwarded to the Senate on Tuesday (tomorrow).

President Jonathan Signs Same Sex 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 sex 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 sex 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 Sex 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 sex 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 sex: (a) is prohibited in Nigeria; and (b) shall not be recognized as entitled to the benefits of a valid marriage."

A marriage contract or civil union entered into between persons of same sex by virtue of a certificate issued by a foreign country is void in Nigeria, and any benefit accruing there-from by virtue of the certificate shall not be enforced by any court of law."

A marriage contract or civil union entered into between persons of same sex shall not be sole nixed in a church, mosque or any other place of worship of Nigeria."

No certificate issued to persons of same sex in a marriage or civil union shall be valid in Nigeria. Only a marriage contracted between a man and a woman shall be recognized as valid in Nigeria."

The registration of gay clubs, societies and organizations, their sustenance, processions and meetings is prohibited."The public show of same sex amorous relationship directly or indirectly is prohibited."

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

"A person who enters into a same sex 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 sex 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 sex 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."

RIVERS CHAOS: Scared Nyesom Wike Flees The State?

According to some sources, hours after policemen shot a serving senator, Magnus Abe after he tried to stop them from disrupting a pro-APC rally in Port Harcourt, education minister, Nyesom Wike who allegedly is the mastermind behind the attack has fled the state through Bayelsa.

According to sources, Nyesom Wike, apparently scared of a reprisal attack, could not make it to the Airport as he drove out of Port Harcourt through the East-West road leading to Bayelsa State.

Wike is believed to have worked with Joseph Mbu, the now notorious commissioner of police in Rivers to disrupt the rally and possibly shoot at one who tried to stop them.

Nyesom Wike, the acting Minister of Education has also been holding series of rallies in the state for PDP and praising President Goodluck Jonathan, with live coverage by NTA.

However, no official information has been provided on the current location of the minister.

See What Pope Francis Has To Say About Abortion

Pope Francis, whom conservatives in the Roman Catholic Church have accused of not speaking out forcefully enough against abortion, on Monday called the practice "horrific".

The pope made his toughest remarks to date on abortion in his yearly address to diplomats accredited to the Vatican, a speech known as his "State of the World" address."It is horrific even to think that there are children, victims of abortion, who will never see the light of day," he said in a section of the speech about the rights of children around the world.

Since his election in March, the pope, while showing no signs of changing the Church's position against abortion, has not spoken out against it as sternly or as repeatedly as his predecessors Pope Benedict XVI and the late John Paul II.

Both of those popes often delivered sermons against abortion, which the Church considers murder.Conservatives in the Church were alarmed when Francis, in a landmark interview in September with the Italian Jesuit magazine Civilta Cattolica, said the Church must shake off an "obsession" with teachings on abortion, contraception and homosexuality.

His stance favoring mercy over condemnation has disoriented conservative Catholics, notably in rich countries such as the United States, where the Catholic Church has become polarized on issues such as abortion.Last year, Bishop Thomas J. Tobin of Providence, Rhode Island, spoke for many conservative Catholics when he said he was disappointed that the pope had not addressed "the evil of abortion" more directly.

Conservative Catholic websites have criticized the pope in the past months for what they called his silence on abortion.

AfroCandy’s Movie Not Selling As Expected! Blasts Marketers

AfroCandy is such an honest person. Her movie, Destructive Instinct is not selling as expected because marketers have increased the price. Instead of selling it N300, they sell it between N500- N1000.

Meanwhile, Candy wants every Nigerian to have a copy of it, because of what she did in it, lol. So she announced on Facebook that they shouldn’t buy it more than N300. She’s even fighting the marketers right now and said she will bring in her team from the US for her next movie. Oh well..

Her words;
Why are Nigerian Marketers too Greedy? Guys pls Do not Buy the Movie Destructive Instinct if the price is more than #300 cos I did not discuss that with the marketers they just wanna rip where they did not sow and it’s not fare.

How can they be selling my Movie for #500, #700, #1000 that’s crazy. I made sure it would be cheap and available for all my Fans in Nigeria to be able to afford it so why the hike in price?

Leave it for them let them eat it. They’ve really thought me a big lesson now that I know Nigeria is ready for me, I will bring in my foreign Partners and let’s do this motherf*cker. They will never smell my projects again if they keep up with this sh*t.

Actress Ebube Nwagbo Is Aging Ungracefully

The beautiful actress once in a while keeps connected to fans and releases  current pictures of herself….and well she released one yesterday;
Since releasing it however, fans have been expressing conflicting opinions about how she looks. Some have suggested that she looks completely different from her “original” self.! While others have liked her new look and think there’s nothing wrong with it.

The actress normally looks like this;

Or was it the camera?

Pastor Chris Okotie joins 2015 presidential race

Pastor Chris Okotie of the Household of God Church has announced his intention to run for President in 2015 under his Faith, Responsibility, Equality, Security and Hope (FRESH) Democratic Party.“I will run in 2015, God willing. God spoke to me about my participation in the political process, which was why I took the step in the first place. He has not said anything contrary.’’ He told Punch.
If he goes ahead this will be his third attempt.
He ran against Obasanjo in 2003 and against late President Umaru Yar’Adua in 2007.

POPULAR SINGER IS BROKEN-HEARTED!!

Popular singer, Waje, is currently going through a rough patch after her relationship came to an end recently. She and her boyfriend of almost a year broke up very recently. Waje took to twitter to express her sadness over the end of the relationship.

She will probably make this into a song.

Most Spoiled Celebrity Kids. No. 4

Beyonce's Kid: Blue Ivy Carter. There were rumors that Blue Ivy Carter has a gold rocking horse and a Swarovski-encrusted baby crib, which might be true and when she came into this world, her ma (Beyoncé) rented out an entire floor of the hospital.

Most Spoiled Celebrity Kids. No.3

Mariah Carey's Twins: Moroccan and Monroe Carey-CannonUhh, the Mariah Carey and Nick Cannon twins. They’re not even grown enough to hold their heads up and one of them is wearing a three-piece suit! It’s probably Tom Ford!

Golden Globes: American Hustle wins three awards .

American Hustle has won three awards at the Golden Globes including best film comedy or musical.

Its stars Amy Adams and Jennifer Lawrence also picked up best actress and supporting actress prizes for their roles in the 1970s-set crime movie.Steve McQueen's 12 Years a Slave picked up the top honour of the night, winning best film drama.

However, it was the only award the movie picked up, after going into the evening with seven nominations.Both McQueen and stars Chiwetel Ejiofor, Michael Fassbender and Lupita Nyong'o had received nods but came away empty-handed.

Collecting the award, McQueen said he was "a little bit in shock" and thanked his wife for finding the book by Solomon Northup, on which the film was based.

The other film awards were spread around a number of movies.

Matthew McConaughey was named best actor in a drama for his role as Aids patient Ron Woodroof in Dallas Buyers Club.

The actor said the award was "unexpected, but graciously accepted".His co-star Jared Leto also won the best supporting actor prize for his depiction of a transgender woman.

Cate Blanchett collected the best actress in a drama award for her part as a disgraced socialite in Woody Allen's Blue Jasmine, while Leonardo DiCaprio won best actor in a comedy or musical for The Wolf of Wall Street.
DiCaprio, who won his second Golden Globe after nine nominations, thanked director Martin Scorsese for his mentorship and for "allowing me to stalk you to make this movie".

N255m car scandal: Presidential panel indicts Oduah

The committee set up by President Goodluck Jonathan to probe the N255m bulletproof car scandal in the aviation ministry has indicted the Minister, Ms. Stella Oduah.

It was gathered  in Abuja on Sunday  that the report of the presidential committee tallied  with some findings of the House of Representatives  Committee  on Aviation on the scandal.