At a time when the drive for better inclusion of a marginalized section of society (Persons with Disabilities) is gaining speed the world over, it is sad to witness religious institutions (by their very nature and calling supposed to be shining examples in this just cause) acting with apparent indifference.
Whether this is happening unintentionally or otherwise, I do not know. One thing I know: the situation calls for urgent redress.
In June last year, I was at the headquarter church of one the country’s leading Pentecostal denominations for Sunday worship service. It was my first time. Among the features that caught my attention on that first visit was the sheer size of the location, the state of the art equipment in use, the warm welcome of public relations staff, the fine show of opulence (children of the King are not supposed to be poor), and the generally conducive ambience. With these and more on ground, i was eager to settle down to quality time in Divine fellowship.
Alas, that wasn’t to be.
Fustration began when I made it clear to attendants that as a deaf person, I required sign language interpretation to easily assimilate spoken communication. In other words, without it, I couldn’t really benefit from the sermon and other parts of the service.
Ordinarily, one would expect the headquarter church of a denomination of such status to have ready arrangements to cater to the language needs of all kind of attendees at any given time. Also, it is a “no-brainer” that this mammoth religious organization has the capacity for that – and more. So, I was both surprised and disappointed to discover that in that audience numbering into hundred of thousands, there couldn’t be found interpreting services for the deaf and hard of hearing. I will never forget the rollercoaster of emotions of embarrassment, indignation, and disappointment I experienced that day.
The matter got more ridiculous when it became clear that even the ushers were not sure whether or not there was provision for such special need. I still recall an usher walking me almost the circumference of that expansive auditorium asking for, I will say, a nonexistent section for the Deaf.
At the end of the stress and embarrassment, all I got were some pacifying words.
Although it’s almost a year since that encounter, I am still trying to grasp why one couldn’t find a deaf person in that huge crowd of worshippers. Even if there was, there was no sure way to tell. Furthermore, the various responses and reactions clearly showed that these people are not used to having deaf brethren in their worship meetings. One may therefore understand why they appeared clueless in such situation.
Years earlier, I had a similar experience at a branch of same church where I again happened to be the lone deaf person. After much frustration, I somehow took the matter to the head pastor. Unfortunately, nothing concrete came out of it.
PERTINENT QUESTIONS
At this point, some pressing questions arise. Why, for example, was there no single deaf person in those congregations? Could it be that no deaf person is interested in worshipping there? I don’t think so. Again, could it be that the church inadvertently threw them out through non-chalant attitudes – no provision for their language needs, for example? As if to validate this reasoning, among the three or so top church names in the country, this is the only one of which I have heard practically nothing about a deaf section/ deaf persons. Oddly enough, a friend once said that this particular church has a policy of not accommodating deaf worshippers – insisting on the power of God to heal all infirmities. Well, I choose not to believe such outrageous claim until it is proven beyond doubt. My position is that in the mix of things is a lack of vital information, proper enlightenment and correct orientation that could have made a world of difference.
By beaming a searchlight on possible reasons for the marked absence of deaf brethren in that congregation of believers, we will understand that this kind of thing don’t just happen. It follows the law of cause and effect – some of which we may not know. From the known, I offer a fact: “It is unreasonable to expect a people whose unique communication needs have not been provided for to happy in, or want to be in any type of gathering – not the least, religious ones. I write from experience.
Let’s be clear about it, this unsavory non-inclusion of a disadvantaged minority in our worship places isn’t limited to one big name church. It cuts across churches, mosques, etc.
Nor is the case being made only for deaf persons and sign language interpreting services. No! It covers just about every cluster of People with Disabilities (PWDs) whose rights and human dignity are being denied/trampled on one way or the other. Consequently, there’s a steady build up of a disgruntled set of worshippers who feel ignored disrespected and insulted. This is a dangerous trend that needs to be checked.
What’s more, if we will see it for what it is, this subtle injustice stands in stark contrast to the spirit and letters of the holy writs of all the religions.
CHARTING THE WAY FORWARD
In recommending the way out of the present quagmire, we need to be fair.
“He that comes to the table of equity must come with clean hands”.
We need to acknowledge that this subject of inclusion is a knotty one – complex and complicated. It should be mentioned too, that either side could be at fault in this matter. Most often than not, the conflicts, dissatisfactions, blame trading and grudge bearing driving the “Inclusion narrative” have their root in a lack of enlightenment on the subject of disability, ignorance, ‘far off the mark' assumptions and speculations, differences in perspectives, poor awareness level, prejudice and other indices of human failings and limitations.
Personally, I hold the belief that people are basically good (more so, from the context of places of worship where godliness and piety is the norm) and wouldn’t just go about hurting feelings and infringing on rights of PWDs. You see, when good humans derail and offend in this matter, it’s often because they don’t know how to navigate this rather tricky terrain, so rife with sensitive egos, stereotypes and fragile emotions. Notwithstanding, in law, as they say, ignorance is not an excuse. So, here’s the home truth: “our places of worship need to invest on getting educated and enlightened on the subject of Disability and PWDs. Both leaders and laity need it.
Expert knowledge and advice should be sought from Organizations of Persons with Disabilities (OPDs) and other reliable sources.
Recommendations should be implemented with efficiency.
Special trainings and seminars should be held.
There should be brainstorming sessions where experts in various fields of human endeavors bounce off ideas on the way forward.
An important caveat though: the people in the eye of the storm, namely, PWDs, should be carried along every step of the way.
Despite being a minority, the case of these marginalized persons is worth all due attention. And I’m convinced our religious stakeholders are fair-minded enough to grasp the substance of the parable of the shepherd with a hundred sheep leaving the ninety and nine to seek the one that went astray.
Enough of this subtle non-inclusion.
In dependence
We felt the bitter pangs of hunger
Hunger that brought tears to the eyes
Eyes that cried for deliverance
Deliverance that was well hidden
Hidden in our roots
Roots that were looted.
In dependence
We cried for justice
Justice that never came to us
Us; Africans
Africans from Botswana to Uganda
Uganda to Mali to Tunis
Tunis to Zimbabwe to South Africa
South Africa to Sierra Leone to Nigeria
Nigeria: the proclaimed giant of Africa.
In dependence
We felt our blood flowing
Flowing deep from our wounds
Wounds from whips and abuse
Abuse of power by the masters
Masters whom we rebelled against and fought
Fought but never conquered.
In dependence
We feel we are independent
Independent yet we are not liberated
Liberated from slavery and anguish
Anguish suffered by the masses
Masses who have suffered
Suffered in the hands of the country that bore us.
In dependence
We celebrate victory
Victory of millions living in poverty
Poverty the father of mischief
Mischief our means of survival
Survival, our striving and struggling
Struggling but never achieving.
In dependence
Our hearts are wounded
Wounded enough to make us crouch
Crouch and beg till we stop living
Living and dying in the darkness of our country
A country that has refused to help its children
Children: the ones that die before seeing the day.
In dependence
We have sang and written
Written letters upon letters
Letters to help us see the light
Light that is covered by darkness
Darkness that lays deep down in our hearts
Hearts that never rise
Rise above the boundaries set.
In dependence
We kill each order
Orderly we are disorderly
Disorderly we have lost our voices
Voices that are being stumped
Stumped till they die early
Early, the good ones die.
In dependence
We are writing again
Again, we are celebrating
Celebrating the dead giant gallantly
Gallantly, we will hold our heads up
Up above so we will rise
Rise like we never have.
In dependence
We hope we will become independent
Independent of hunger... Of terrorism
Terrorism, discrimination and inequality
Inequality of the citizens
Citizens that are buried deep
Deep under the ground of the powerful.
In dependence
We pray
Pray and act
Act and hope
Hope that we will be okay
Okay to celebrate a real independence
Independence without being in dependence.
Happy Independence Day.
A. M. M. Winnie
#poetic hood
#legal exponents
#Ifelaw
#OneNigeria
Karimu Sunday v. The state
Judgement delivered by the Supreme Court of Nigeria on 5th of May, 2017.
INTRODUCTION:
This appeal borders on criminal law and procedure.
FACTS:
This is an appeal against the judgment of the Court of Appeal, Ibadan Division wherein the Court dismissed the appeal of the accused/appellant after his conviction and sentence by the High Court of Ogun State.
At the High Court of Ogun State, it was alleged that the appellant who was wearing a black cap, black goggles and a black handkerchief which covered his mouth, on 09/03/04, at about 5pm, went to a cement shop in Ijebu-Igbo, owned by one Ramotalai Alege (PW1), on a motorcycle. Upon arriving at the shop, the appellant alighted from the motorcycle and asked the rider, one Alaba Adesina, to wait for him. The appellant was alleged to have entered the shop on the pretext of purchasing 70 bags of cement from PW1. The appellant requested the cost of the bags of cement and as PW1 was about to take out a calculator from her bag, the appellant was alleged to have snatched her bag containing N3,600 and bolted out of the shop. The appellant then jumped onto a waiting motor cycle in a bid to escape with PW1 in pursuit. The appellant then threatened PW1 with a dagger which he pulled from his back pocket, but PW1 then began to shout for help, which attracted people to the scene. According to PW1, when people started coming to the scene, the person who was waiting with the motor cycle tried to move away with the appellant, but PW2 pulled down the motor cycle and the appellant jumped down and started running away. However, the appellant and the rider were eventually apprehended by concerned bystanders, including an off-duty policeman, who had been alerted by the alarm raised by PW1 and PW2. The rider was apprehended at the scene of the crime, while the appellant was arrested a short distance from the scene of the crime. Upon his arrest, the appellant was taken to the police station along with PW1 and PW2, and the rider of the motor cycle. At the station, the appellant made an extra judicial confessional statement.
At the trial, the appellant pleaded not guilty to the charge. The appellant testified in his own defence but called no other witnesses in support of his case. The appellant however made a bare denial of the charge and sought to retract his extra-judicial confessional statements on the ground that he did not write it. The appellant however, admitted to appending his signature to the confessional statements after they had been read to him by the Police.
The learned trial judge held that the prosecution had proved its case beyond reasonable doubt and convicted the appellant and sentence him to death by handing. Aggrieved by the decision of the High Court, the appellant filed an appeal at the Court of Appeal seeking orders quashing his conviction and the sentence of death passed on him. The Court of Appeal dismissed the appellant's appeal and affirmed his conviction and the sentence of death passed on him by the trial Court under Section 1(2) (a) of the Robbery and Firearms (Special Provisions) Act. The appellant, aggrieved with this decision filed a Notice of Appeal against the decision of the Court of Appeal.
ISSUES:
The appellant distilled four issues for determination. The respondent distilled a sole issue for the determination of the appeal. The Court noted that the single issue of the respondent clearly covers all aspects of questions that need be answered in the determination of the appeal and so the Court adopted the issues formulated by the respondent for the determination of the appeal.
SOLE ISSUE:
This raises the question whether the Court of Appeal or Court below rightly held that the prosecution proved the offence of armed robbery against the appellant beyond reasonable doubt.
DECISION/HELD:
On the whole, the Court held that the appeal lacks merit and it was thereby dismissed. The Court affirmed the decision of the Court of Appeal in its affirmation of the judgment, conviction and sentence of the Accused/Appellant.
OPINION
There issues in the above case will be considered.
1. Was the sentence proportionate to the offence?
2. Did the Courts apply any rule of interpretation to Section 1(2) of the Robbery and Firearms Act?
3. The appeal to the Supreme Court. The appeal against Conviction. Why not the sentence?
The Robbery and Firearms Act clearly specifies the penalty for armed robbery as death by hanging. However, the accused only brought a dagger. The Courts could have realised that no one was stabbed. He only threatened with a dagger and the full wrath of the law is on him. Nothing got spoilt and destroyed then life must go on. The writer opines that he could have gotten a lesser sentence.
On the rule of interpretation the Courts employed, it seems the literal rule. Juris novit curia- it is for the Courts to know the law. Apparently, the penalty for Armed Robbery is death but liniency is in the sceptre of the Courts. Flexibility and reformative justice must be behind every the dispensation of criminal justice. We must have in mind that other things would influence the decision of the Courts.
On the appeal against Conviction, it could have been better if the appeal was against the sentence. The confessional statement of the accused and other evidences pinpoint the fact that he was indeed guilty. Thus, an appeal should have been for mitigation of sentence.
This Post COVID-19 season has brought with it, really difficult growth businesses all over the world. While some are out of goods, some have not been able to operate wherever they are. This has taught business owners and the world at large a lot of things including Risk Management.
Risk Management is an important element in business that helps the business thrive and secure them during any unforeseen circumstances that might threaten to hold the business down. There are several ways by which your business can be taken care of in this season
At this point, brands should secure viable ways by which customers would still get products and services safely without starving them of what they've always had from you. Operate a delivery system where people can order and still get what they need and also plan well, how you want to get the product to them in this time.
At this time, a lot of businesses will collapse and close down because they would lose customers due to negligence. Your brand should not always ask all the time for patronage, they should also get to know how customers are doing and what they can do to serve them in this time.
This is also a time to recharge yourself as a CEO and also get your workers recharged so they do not lose the vibe to work and they also come up with great ideas even during this break. Chances are that a lot of workers would find it difficult to resume once all this is over and so a structure that helps them recharge and recreate would do a lot.
Imagine you resumed work and you found out that five of your workers had the virus and you never knew, how would you feel? Sad, yeah? That's it. You have to check up on your workers. How are they faring? What's their current situation? What if you just called or emailed them to let them know you care and wouldn't mind listening to them? This should just be an act of love but it's more than that— it would create a bond and also get you to become supportive.
In this article ,we look forward to WHO creating a week awareness for more people and their communities to know the importance and value of vaccines and immunization and to be protected from vaccine-preventable diseases. This article aims to highlight the collective action needed to promote the use of vaccines to protect people of all ages against disease and to ensure that governments obtain the necessary guidance and technical support to implement high-quality immunization programmes.
Immunization: This is a process by which a person becomes protected against a disease through vaccination. This term is often used interchangeably with vaccination or inoculation.