Author: The Nation

Twelve days before the Presidential and National Assembly elections, the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) has charged its women leaders in the North to mobilise and secure a minimum of 21 million women votes in the region come February 25.

To this end, the party has mapped out strategies to deploy women leaders from across the wards and polling units of the northern states on the 17th of this month to canvass for their votes.

National Women Leader of the party, Betta Edu disclosed this on Sunday during the APC northern female stakeholders strategy session, with the theme, “Progressive Northern Women Playing a Pivotal Role Towards 2023 Election Victory” at the headquarters of the party’s presidential campaign council in Abuja.

The National Women Leader, who commended the active participation of northern women in politics, urged women electorates in the region to cast their votes for the Tinubu/Shetimma ticket, assuring them of a better deal if the party’s candidates are elected.

In a keynote address, the Assistant National Youth spokesperson for the APC Presidential Campaign Council, Zainab Buba Marwa stressed the need for women supporters of the party from the North to take the campaign for the Tinubu-led presidency to the grassroots.

Decrying a plethora of barriers that impeded women’s participation in politics in the North over the years, she called on traditional and religious leaders to wade in to address the challenges.

Governor Abubakar Badaru of Jigawa state, who graced the occasion, assured that Tinubu and Shettima’s joint ticket would surely ensure the empowerment of women.

The Deputy National Women Leader and convener of the strategy session, Zainab Abubakar Ibrahim, highlighted why women from the region must queue behind the APC presidential candidate.

She recalled that the two leaders, as former governors of Lagos and Bornu states, empowered women significantly and expected that they would do more if they emerged as President and Vice President.

North Central zonal women leader Zainab Audu expressed optimism that Tinubu would coast home to victory during the presidential poll.

The Appeal Court sitting in Asaba, Delta State has awarded N5.5million damages against Multichoice Nigeria Limited for disconnecting a customer, Chief Victor Otomiewo, before the expiration of his DSTV subscription.

Otomiewo, a former Delta State Attorney-General and Commissioner of Justice, with the smart card number 42793244742, had paid a six-month subscription fee of N69,900 on December 19, 2014, which was to expire on July 19, 2015.

He was, however, disconnected on June 2, 2015, and was only reconnected after he went to court on June 19.

This was about the fifth time the customer would be experiencing such a breach for paid service by the company.

Justice Abimbola Obaseki-Adejumo, delivering judgment in the case with appeal number CA/AS/131/2017, held: “When a subscription for the use of a facility or access to get a benefit is paid for or subscribed for whatever purpose, once it is paid, a duty and obligation fall on that office/agency/outfit howsoever described, to render services.

“If it is disconnected, a prompt restoration and explanation ought to be offered to assuage the deprived party.

“This is what those in the service industry should cultivate to avoid suits and damages which may put them in a bad light and affect their businesses. This is what consumer protection is all about…”

Obaseki-Adejumo stressed that the cost of damage awarded by the lower court was “grossly insufficient,” and was made on “wrong principles”.

To correct the injustice, the court ruled that the sum of N5.5 million be awarded in favour of the cross-appellant.

Two other Justices, Mohammed Danjuma and Joseph Eyo Ekanem, endorsed the lead judgement delivered on March 26, 2021.

A Delta State High Court sitting in Warri had on June 27, 2016, passed judgment in favour of Otomiewo (claimant) by slamming a N500,000 fine on Multichoice.

Justice Ebiowei Tobi had assessed the damage at said sum, holding that the claimant did not give “cogent evidence” as to the “cost of embarrassment, stress and distress” he suffered to be reconnected.

However, the appellant through its counsel, Mamud Adeshina, Ekundayo Ajetunmobi and Richard Adams of Ogunsanya & Ogunsanya, approached the Appellate Court to determine “whether the lower court was right in awarding the sum of N500,000 as damaged against the appellant in view of the principle of restitution in integrum and in the absence of credible evidence”.

Otomiewo of V. E. Otomiewo & Co filed a brief for the determination of two issues: “Whether the learned trial judge made good and legal use of the opportunity of seeing and hearing the witnesses in the evaluation of the evidence and his ascription of value to same.

“Whether the quantum of damages awarded by the learned trial judge at N500,000 in favour of the cross-appellant is justifiable having regards to the evidence adduced by the cross-appellant in support of the claim for damages and the circumstances of this case.”

Jehovah’s Witnesses in Nigeria on Sunday unveiled the New World Translation Bibles in Urhobo and Pidgin English.

The event coincided with the visit of representatives of the Governing Body of the organisation to Nigeria.

It was broadcast live to Kingdom Halls and Assembly Halls of Jehovah’s Witnesses located around the country with over half a million people participating.

The highlight of the event – the release of the New Testament of the New World Translation of the Holy Scriptures in Urhobo and Pidgin English – was overseen by Mr. Jeffrey Winder, a member of the Governing Body of Jehovah’s Witnesses.

Media representative of Jehovah’s Witnesses, Mr. Jama Onwubuariri, said: “Pidgin English is spoken by over 75 million persons in Nigeria. Other speakers can be found in West Africa, Europe and the US. These speakers deserve to understand God’s Word without the hindrance of language.

“The idea is to produce a Pidgin translation that could speak to the heart of Pidgin English speakers in different countries of West and Central Africa.

“There are about five million users of the Urhobo language. The language has some dialects and has changed over time.

“This translation in Urhobo is done in accordance with the dynamism of the language and can easily be understood by various dialectal groups within the Urhobo community.”

Another media representative of Jehovah’s Witnesses, Mr. Jahswill Stevens, added: “In a world full of challenges, the message of the Bible brings the comfort and hope we so desperately need.

“Our goal is not financial profit; we are motivated by love for people because we want to help as many people as possible to have access to this message in their language.”

All translators are volunteers and have chosen to remain anonymous.

Jehovah’s Witnesses have been publishing an increasing number of videos in Urhobo and Pidgin English with the content of Bible-based books, magazines, movies and songs with advice that helps people deal with everyday challenges.

There is content available for all audiences: children, young people, parents, and families.

One of the most widely distributed magazines in the world – The Watchtower – is also available in Urhobo and Pidgin English.

The Pidgin and Urhobo language publications can easily be accessed from jw.org by selecting the required language from the top right corner of the site.

Also, the publications, including the newly released Urhobo and Pidgin English Translations, can be downloaded and read on JW Library App.

All the materials produced by Jehovah’s Witnesses is made available free of charge.

Their publications are part of voluntary work to help people around the world to understand the Bible. Expenses for their work are covered by donations.

Jehovah’s Witnesses have been active in Nigeria since 1921. They now number over 400,000.·

Their educational work is carried out in over 240 lands and is voluntary.

All publications produced by the Witnesses, including the Bible, are distributed free of charge.

The Witnesses respect each person’s right to decide whether to listen to their message or not.

There are no national or social barriers among Jehovah’s Witnesses – they are from hundreds of countries, speak hundreds of languages and address one another simply as Brothers and Sisters

The New World Translation of the Hebrew Scriptures (1953-1960, in English) was based on Rudolf Kittel’s Biblia Hebraica.

Since then, updated editions of the Hebrew text, such as the Biblia Hebraica Stuttgartensia and the Biblia Hebraica Quinta, have included recent research based on the Dead Sea Scrolls and other ancient manuscripts.

These scholarly works reproduce the Leningrad Codex and include notes with comparative texts from other sources, such as the Samaritan Pentateuch, the Dead Sea Scrolls, the Greek Septuagint, the Aramaic Targum, the Latin Vulgate, and the Syriac Peshitta.

The editions of Biblia Hebraica Stuttgartensia and Biblia Hebraica Quinta were consulted.

Greek (New Testament) text: In the late 19th century, scholars B. F. Westcott and F.J.A. Hort compared existing manuscripts and fragments of the Bible in preparing a standard Greek text that they believed faithfully reflected the original writings.

The standard text of these scholars was used as the basis for this translation, in addition to other ancient papyri, probably dating from the second and third centuries CE.

Furthermore, standard texts such as those by Nestle and Aland and the United Bible Societies reflect recent scholarly research.

Some of the findings from these surveys were included in the 2013 revision of the New World Translation of the Bible.

The Auto Spare Parts and Machinery Dealers Association (ASPMDA), Lagos Trade Fair Complex, has vowed to tackle sub-standard products by digitalising its operations.

The new president, Ngozi Emechebe, said digitalising the market would enable ASPMDA members and customers to access every strategic business information about the market from anywhere in the world.

Addressing reporters in his office at the weekend, he said modern businesses are now online and ASPMDA, the largest auto trading plaza in Africa, would not be an exception.

Emechebe said: “I want to rightly place ASPMDA on the global map of digital access so that by the punching of a button, everything you need to know about our businesses from anywhere in the world will be in your hand seamlessly.”

On substandard auto products, the president said his administration would work with the Standards Organisation of Nigeria (SON) and relevant task forces to end incidences of fakery.

On the planned February 14 event to mark 23 years of ASPMDA’s exit from Lagos Island to the Trade Fair complex, he said: “It will be a day of re-dedication of our lives and businesses to God.

“We are going to ask for His Grace and more blessings to continue in service of the motoring Nigerian public.”

• .We’ve commenced investigations, say police

Parents of 12-year-old Chrisland School pupil, Whitney Odesola Adenira, who died allegedly at an Inter-House Sports competition in Agege last Thursday, have demanded investigation into the circumstances surrounding her demise.

They also cried out for justice accusing the school of negligence, cover-ups.

Whitney, a year eight day pupil of the school was alleged to have fainted at the Agege Stadium venue of the competition and was rushed to Agege Central Hospital, where she was confirmed dead.

But another pupil of the school in a viral audio alleged that Odesola was electrocuted by a cotton candy machine at the stadium when she went to buy cotton candy and popcorn.

According to the unnamed pupil, Whitney’s hand was wet when she touched the machine, adding that she immediately fell on the ground, foam gushed out of her mouth while her veins vibrated violently.

Whitney’s father, Michael Adeniran, while narrating their ordeal, said she had no health condition or heart related issues, adding that she was healthy when the school bus picked her up from home for the event.

He said: “To the biggest shock of my life by 1pm that fateful day I got a call from my wife that she was informed that our daughter slumped at the inter-house sport and she was rushed to a health centre at Agege.

“My wife was at the venue of the inter-house sport. But she was never informed until they conveyed my child out of the venue before they informed her.

“When my wife told me, I rushed down to the health centre. Unfortunately I saw my daughter lying dead with her lips and her tongue black.

“When I got to the health centre my daughter was lying dead on the ground. When I asked what happened to her, the school authority could not give me useful information as to what happen to my child.

“I gave my daughter to Chrisland School healthy and vibrant but the school returned a dead child to me. My entire family is in deep sorrow now but the school authority claimed they know nothing about my daughter’s death and all they know was that my daughter slumped and died.

“Unfortunately my daughter was conveyed to the health centre with the school bus, not a fully equipped ambulance, no safety corps at the venue. No paramedics except the school’s quack nurse who later confessed to me that my child died at the stadium but she could not pronounce her dead because she was not a doctor. “My question is, what happened to my daughter at the stadium?

“As a father, I demand answers from Chrisland High School. I am in deep pain and sorrow right now. If you are a father you will understand my pain.

“My daughter is highly loved by us. We cherished her existence and we can never allow an institution to gloss over the death of our daughter. I am appealing to Nigerians to come to my aid. I don’t want my daughter to die in vain.”

Whitney’s mother, Mrs. Adeniran in a video posted on Instagram also accused the school of attempts to cover up what happened to her daughter.

She narrated how she was at the stadium and went round looking for her child only to hear from another student that Whitney fainted and water was poured on her body before the school bus took her away.

She also accused the school of making no emergency arrangements despite gathering over 500 children and more than 100 parents at the venue of the competition.

She lamented how her daughter was allegedly taken to the Agege Central Mosque but said the Principal claimed she was rushed to Agege Central Hospital.

Contacted for reaction on Chrisland’s official telephone number, a woman who received the call told reporters she was not in a position to speak.

“The phone number you are calling is for education enquiries. You may come to the school on Monday for confirmation,” said the woman who refused to identify herself.

Spokesman for the Lagos Police Command, SP Benjamin Hundeyin confirmed the incident, adding that investigations had commenced.

He said the police received a complaint from the deceased’s father and that all parties in the case would be invited for questioning.