ASHENEWS reports that reactions have continued to trail the recent attempts by the Minister for Women Affairs and Social Development, Uju-Kennedy Ohanenye to stop the marriage of 100 orphaned girls in Mariga local government area of Niger State.
The wedding, organised by Kontagora Emirate in Niger State was supported by the Speaker of the Niger State House of Assembly, Abdulmalik Sarkin-Daji.
The wedding which was scheduled for the 24th of May, 2024 in Mariga received heavy backlash from the minister who alleged that the girls were being forced into marriage.
The minister petitioned the Inspector General of Police, IGP Kayode Egbetokun seeking a court injunction to stop the marriage of the girls.
Shortly after the minister’s pronouncement, the speaker called a press conference, where he spoke strongly against the action of the minister.
Sarkin-Daji, who accused the minister of attempting to taint his image said that he would not be attending the ceremony in Mariga as earlier planned.
At a town hall meeting organized by the Personal Assistant to the President on Constituency Affairs on Wednesday in Minna, many stakeholders lent their voices in support of the speaker.
The Muslim Students Society of Nigeria (MSSN) represented by its General Secretary Muhammed Shaheed urged President Tinubu to immediately suspend the minister over her petition against the speaker.
“The MSS in Niger state is calling for the suspension of the minister of Women Affairs. As far as the issue which has to do the suspension of the marriage of 100 girls initiated by the speaker of the Niger state House of Assembly.
“He should immediately suspend that minister if not she is trying to cause crisis in Nigeria. As Muslims, Islam guided us as far as marriage is concerned,” he said.
Also speaking, the Chairman of the Chanchaga local government area of Niger State, Aminu Ladan urged the minister to withdraw her comments with immediate effect.
In his words, “No religion in Nigeria is against marriage be it Christian or Muslim. We have listened to the minister with keen interest. We are not trying to find any trouble, we already have existing troubles, as you can see many speakers have emphasized about insecurity.
“This man, the speaker of Niger state who has agreed to sponsor 100 with his money, is the custodian of the law. I don’t think it is okay of the minister to send such comments.
“We are urging her to withdraw her statement with immediate effect. What he is trying to do is not against the law, we are sending this with a clear voice. We are not against it.
“If she has observation, we can give her one million women in Niger state that she can intervene and help them,” the Chairman said.
Similarly, the former Chairman of the National Youth Council of Nigeria (NYCN) in Niger State and presently the Director General, Student Affairs under Governor Mohamed Bago, Bello Shariff said “That petition is against our religion and culture. We have peculiar customs and traditions and she must allow that to thrive.
“If she has a problem with the marriage, let
“We are calling on the president for her immediate sack.”
Earlier, the Imams Forum and Heads of other Islamic organisations in the state while rising from an emergency meeting issued a seven-day ultimatum for the minister to withdraw her petition or face legal action.
The Secretary of the Imams Forum, Umar Abdullahi while speaking to newsmen shortly after the emergency meeting called for the minister sack.
According to the forum, the minister was unfit to serve in that capacity and that she is not qualified to be a member of the executive council of Nigeria.
“She used many words to blackmail the Speaker and Muslims in Niger state so this is our stand.
“We are giving the minister the ultimatum of seven days to withdraw the statement she used against us, our Speaker, against Muslim leaders in Niger state that we want to force them into marriage that they are underaged. That we contravened the Child’s Rights Act. We are giving her the ultimatum or legal action will be taken against her after seven days.”
The Secretary maintained that the May 24th date is still sacrosanct, adding that “None of the 100 girls is below 18. It’s from 18 and above. There is even 25, we have all the documents with us.”
