Niger State House of Assembly speaker plans to marry off girls whose parents have been killed by bandits is cracking up the Minister of Women Affairs, Uju Kennedy-Ohanenye.
According to reports, the Niger house speaker Abdulmalik Sarkindaji, has unfolded plans to marry off about a 100 girls on May 24, 2024. The girls, many of them underaged, had lost their parents during bandits attacked in the Mariga Local government area of the state.
Speaking during a press conference in Abuja, Tuesday, Mrs Kennedy-Ohanenye pointed out that the speaker’s action contravened the Child’s Rights and she called on the Inspector-General of Police to investigate the matter.
“I want to let the honourable speaker of the house in Niger state know that this is totally unacceptable by the Federal Minister of Women Affairs and by the government.
“Because there is something called the Child’s Rights Act and I said it from the onset, that it 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 an 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,”
But the speaker had a strong reaction to the Women Affairs Minister’s assertion.
“I am a typical Hausa man. What is out of order in what I have done, why is this issue being over flogged. I have pledged to take care of orphans and that is what I am doing. If the federal government through the Ministry of Women Affairs wants to extend their helping hands, let them do so, they are welcome.
“Where was the minister when my people were facing insecurity? Let her go to the local government, let her find out who those girls are. They are not underaged. If she wants to help them, she is welcome. She should stop tarnishing my image. I am a public figure and the speaker of Niger state House of Assembly.
“The approach of the minister is bad. She should have reached out to me and discussed it with me, I would have accepted whatever suggestions she made because I value any help and assistance that would come to my people. I am disappointed with her actions and disheartened by it.”
