Christmas, pagan celebration – Jehovah Witnesses

A Christian sect, the Jehovah’s Witnesses is shunning worldwide frenetic preparations for Christmas, meant to celebrate the birth of Jesus.
The group banned in Russia dismisses Christmas as a pagan celebration and trashed the widely held belief Jesus was born on 25 December. It says emphatically that the Bible does not give the birthday of Jesus.
Besides, the group argues that Jesus commanded that Christians commemorate his death, not his birth.
“Jesus’ apostles and early disciples did not celebrate Christmas. The New Catholic Encyclopaedia says that “the Nativity feast was instituted no earlier than 243 [C.E.],” more than a century after the last of the apostles died”, it says.
It’s 8.5million members worldwide will thus be shunning the celebration this year as it has done for more than a century since its foundation in 1870 in Pittsburg, Pennsylvania, United States.
It says the celebration violates the teachings of the Bible.
In a recent article, What Does the Bible say about Christmas, published on its website, jw.org, it says in justification of its stand: The Bible does not give the date of Jesus’ birth, nor does it say that we should celebrate his birthday. As McClintock and Strong’s Cyclopaedia states: “The observance of Christmas is not of divine appointment, nor is it of NT [New Testament] origin.”
“Instead, an examination of the history of Christmas exposes its roots in pagan religious rites. The Bible shows that we offend God if we try to worship him in a way that he does not approve of.—Exodus 32:5-7.”
The article gives six reasons the Jehovah Witnesses will not be part of the celebration: Among such reasons are; history of Christmas customs, the fact that there was no proof that Jesus was born on December 25, Gift-giving, feasting, partying and Christmas lights among others.
The group wonders why many people still celebrate Christmas despite its unedifying origin and explained that its anti-Christmas stance does not subtract from its belief in Christ as the saviour.
“We believe that salvation comes only through Jesus Christ.—Acts 4:12. We care deeply about families, and we use the Bible to help build stronger families. We strive to be generous and peaceable every day.
“We believe that Christmas is not approved by God because it is rooted in pagan customs and rites. — 2 Corinthians 6:17.”

…no Jollof rice in many Nigerian homes at Christmas – Report

Many Nigerian homes may have to do without their favourite jollof rice delicacy this Christmas.
Jollof, a mixture of rice, tomatoes and spices, is practically a dish loved by Nigerians and is particularly coveted by the poor at Christmas and other festive periods, when increased demand for its ingredients contributes to seasonal price rises.
The cost of imported rice, the main ingredient in Jollof, has already almost doubled since the Buhari administration shut Nigeria’s borders with neighbouring Benin and Niger in August in a bid to curtail smuggling. Domestically produced grain prices are now up by 70%, said a report by Bloomberg reporters in Nigeria.
“I cannot afford to cook rice for my family this season,” said Olatunbosun Bosede, a 30-year-old mother of three who sells candy and groundnuts on the streets of Ado Ekiti for a living.
“Rice is very expensive here. It has turned to gold.”
President Muhammadu Buhari ordered the partial closing of Nigeria’s border with Benin in August to halt illegal imports of foreign rice that undercut the price of locally produced grain. In October, his administration further restricted the trade of all goods across land borders with Benin and Niger.
While the government has begun talks with the neighbouring states, it has yet to find a way to stem smuggling once they re-open and the authorities say the frontiers will remain shut until at least January.
The resulting increase in food prices drove Nigeria’s inflation rate to the highest in 19 months in November. More than four out of 10 Nigerian households are unable to feed themselves properly, according to the National Bureau of Statistics.
“Forty-four percent of households reported being unable to eat nutritious and healthy preferred food because of lack of money, while 41% ate only a few kind of foods because of lack of money,” the NBS said in its latest household survey. “The increase in the price of food items was the most prevalent shock.”
Nigerian households spend almost two-thirds of their income on food, according to Lagos-based SBM Intelligence, a research firm that publishes the Jollof Index, which tracks the changes in prices of the main ingredients of the dish.
“On average, Nigerians pay 60% more for the family pot of Jollof today than they did three years ago,” SBM said in its October report.
Those prices mean Bosede will feed her family locally produced vegetables for Christmas. And they’ll forego chicken, which is 50% more expensive now than in August.
“We will rather eat pounded yam, cassava or dried plantain porridge,” she said. “I don’t know how I will go about the protein supplement. I just know we will survive.”

…Kwara Police, NSCDC, NDLEA, others deploy 5,967 officers, ban use of fireworks

By Ahmed Ajikobi

To ensure a crime free celebration and for the safety of lives and property during the yuletide period, the Kwara State Police Command, the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), the Nigeria Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) and other sister security agents have deployed 5,967 officers to strategic locations across the state.
For the Christmas and New Year celebrations, the Kwara Police Command deployed, 3,000 of its men, NSCDC, 2000; NDLEA 40, Nigeria Customs Service, seven while the Vigilante Group of Nigeria (VGN) will be deploying 920 officers.
The state Commissioner of Police, Kayode Egbetokun in a press statement signed by the Police Public Relations Officer, DSP Ajayi Okasanmi assured residents of the state of adequate security measure to guarantee a hitch free Christmas and New Year celebrations.
Egbetokun added that, “In a bid to making the celebrations crime free, the Command has deployed a total number of three thousand (3,000) policemen and women,  drawn from the Conventional, PMF, Anti-Cultism, Anti- kidnapping, Counter Terrorism  and the Intelligence units of the Command to forestall any breakdown of law and order before, during and after the yuletide period.
“Consequently, the Command is by this release calling on members of the public to go about their lawful endeavours without any fear of molestation.”
The Command however warned against the use of low explosive without the necessary permit during the yuletide adding that any person found disobeying this order if arrested will be prosecuted.
“The Command also wishes to use this medium to advise NYSC Members across the state to always shun the temptation to embark on unnecessary and unauthorized journeys especially during this period. Any corps member who must travel outside the state should always obtain the necessary clearance from the NYSC authority before undertaking such journey but should be mindful of the risks associated with traveling outside the state including the risk of kidnap.”
The statement further added that the police is collaborating with the NYSC authority in the state to ensure maximum safety of corps members.
On his part, the Public Relations officer of NSCDC in the state, Ayeni Olasunkanmi said that the command has zero tolerance for crime and criminality and warn members of the public not to partake in any criminal activities during the festive period.
Also, the Kwara NDLEA boss, Umoru Ambrose said 40 operatives have been deployed to ensure drug-free celebrations.
Ambrose warned members of public to do away with hard drugs such as cannabis, tramadol and marijuana among others.