‘Totally unacceptable’ — minister to sue Niger speaker over plans to ‘marry off’ 100 girls

‘Totally unacceptable’ — minister to sue Niger speaker over plans to ‘marry off’ 100 girls

Uju Kennedy-Ohanenye, minister of women affairs, has
petitioned the inspector-general of police (IGP) and sought a court injunction
to halt the marriage of 100 girls in Niger state.

 

Abdulmalik Sarkindaji, speaker of the Niger state house of
assembly, announced last week that he would sponsor the wedding of 100 girls,
some of whom were orphaned by insurgency, as part of his Maringa constituency
project.

 

He said he had procured materials for the event scheduled
for May 24, and promised to pay dowries for the bridegrooms.

 

Following the outcry that trailed the announcement, the
speaker explained that he was only financing the wedding — not forcing the
girls into marriage.

 

However, Kennedy-Ohanenye said the plan is unacceptable, and
that the future of the girls should be a priority.

 

Speaking to journalists in Abuja on Monday, the minister
said a thorough investigation into the circumstances surrounding the issue will
be carried out.

 

She said the ministry will take responsibility for the
girls’ education and vocational training.

 

 “I want to let the
honorable speaker of house in Niger state know that this is totally
unacceptable by Federal Minister Of Women Affairs and by the government,”
Kennedy-Ohanenye said.

 

“Because there is something called the Child’s Right Act and
I said it from the onset, that is no more business as usual.

 

“These children must be considered, their future must be
considered, the future of the children to come out of their marriage must be
considered.

 

“So I have gone to court. I have written him a letter and
written a petition to the IG of police.

 

“And I have filed for injunction to stop him from whatever
he is planning to do on the 24th, until a thorough investigation is carried out
on those girls, find out whether they gave their consent, their ages, find out
the people marrying them.

 

“As the speaker did not think about empowering these women
or sending them to school or giving them some kind of training support
financially.

 

“The women affairs have decided to take it up and we are
going to educate the children.

 

“Those that do not want to go to school, we will train them
in a skill, empower them with sustainable empowerment machines to enable that
child build his or her life and make up her mind who and when to get married.

 

 “If for any reason
the speaker tries to do contrary to what I have just mentioned, there will be a
serious legal battle between him and the Federal Ministry of Women Affairs.”

 

The minister added that based on the Child Rights Act, every
child belongs to the state, hence the rights of every child will be protected
from harm and violence.

Source: ‘Totally unacceptable’ — minister to sue Niger speaker over plans to ‘marry off’ 100 girls

 - NigerianEye

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