In this interview culled from PUNCH newspapers, first Executive Governor of Zamfara State and now representing Zamfara West Senatorial District in the Senate, Alhaji Ahmed Sani Yerima Bakura, speaks about the recent controversy surrounding the 1999 constitution review as well as his reply to allegations that he is an extremist, who uses religion to suit his purposes.
Explaining why he called for the vote on the deletion of Section 29 (4) (b) from the 1999 Constitution to be retaken after the Senate had gotten the required 2/3 majority to push for its removal, Senator Yerima says:
“People do not seem to understand the issues; most of the criticisms about my position are based on ignorance. The issue was not about marriage, it is about renunciation of one’s citizenship. If you read the section carefully, it says a woman who is married shall be deemed to be of full age. The preceding section described “full age” as meaning age of eighteen years and above. Now, removing this section, will infringe on Islamic law because Islam recognises a married woman as having attained full age.
“Item 61 of the Second Schedule, Part I in the Exclusive Legislative List of the Constitution says the Legislative Powers include: “The formation, annulment and dissolution of marriages other than marriages under Islamic law and customary law including matrimonial causes relating thereto.” To delete sub-section (4) (b) will amount to a breach of Item 61 as I mentioned earlier. Our people should understand the provisions of our constitution.
“Now to the other part of your question, when we voted on the item the first time, I said nothing and I left to go and pray. When I returned from prayers, I discovered that there were two items which had been voted on but were revisited. I then raised the issue and the President of the Senate, Senator David Mark, being a just leader, a leader who listens, said a vote had been taken and passed. But I insisted and he gave us the opportunity to revisit the issue in the interest of fairness, we took another vote and we won.
“People don’t seem to understand that this provision has been in the constitution since 1979, not even 1999, it has been there. Framers of the constitution recognise the fact that Nigeria is a multi-religious society so they made provisions to guarantee religious freedoms. The constitution recognises that there are Christians, Muslims, animists and even those who do not believe in anything.”
He also cleared the air on the controversy surrounding his marriage to a then 13-year old Egyptian girl saying it was another “misunderstanding” of actions he took in conformity with the tenets of Islam.
According to him, “When I married my Egyptian wife I followed laid down procedures for marriage in Islam. When I informed the Ulama that I wanted to get married as is required by Islam they said they had to witness it because this was required before they could issue a marriage certificate. They were there, it was not done in secret; they witnessed it and issued me a marriage certificate, I still have it. So when NAPTIP (National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons) wrote me a letter on the issue, in my reply, I attached a photocopy of the certificate. Those who have decided to oppose anything that Yarima says or does speak about these things ignorantly. There was nothing Islamically wrong with my marriage.”
Backing up his view-points with example from the Holy Quran, the controversial Senator states that, “The Holy Quran says any married woman is of full age. That is why the Holy Quran says any married woman who commits adultery should be stoned to death that is under Islamic law. It is not a matter of a woman who has reached the age of 18 years. Some Muslims are ignorant about their religion. As far as the Quran is concerned, any married woman is of full age. And the Prophet Mohammed (S.A.W) said, for you to be married, there are conditions you must have attained as a woman. One of it is menstruation. Once you start your menstruation, you are of full age, you can marry, that is the Quran and the Haddith (saying and actions of the Prophet) I refer them to.”
On the seeming selective application of the Sharia legal code as it regards the amputation in 2001 of the wrist of Bello Jangebe, who was accused of stealing a cow and public servants, who allegedly pilfer billions in state funds without recourse to the law, Senator Yerima explains:
“Sharia law defines every minute issue that affects human life from conception, even s*x, even going to the toilet, how you enter the toilet: you enter beginning with the left leg, you come out with the right leg, sharia law defines everything that has to do with human life especially the life of a Muslim. It clearly defines theft, betrayal of trust, mischief, they are all defined and the various punishments are also defined. Under the Sharia law, if you are my security guard and you officially have access to my bedroom or even if you are my cleaner and I kept my money on the table and you take it, that is considered betrayal of trust not stealing. If you are appointed by government or you are an employee of government and you are entrusted with funds and you took part of it, that is also betrayal of trust, it does not mean that you will not be punished but you will not have your hand cut. The only way you can have your hand cut is take for example, my employee, you are my cleaner, you enter my room break open my safe and take money out of it, you have stolen and should have your hand cut. People should understand these things.”
The former governor, who is a masters degree holder in Economics and once worked with the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) before he joined politics explains that he is only observing the teachings and practice of his religion and is not an extremist in so doing.
“I am not an extremist, I don’t believe in extremism” he says in reaction to being tagged one.
“I believe Islam wants you to be a moderate Muslim but moderation does not mean abandoning the tenets and principles of your religion. If you have to abandon the basic principles of your religion to be moderate, that is not moderation. I am a moderate in the sense that one, I believe in peaceful co-existence between Christians and Muslims, two, I believe in the right of a Muslim and the right of a Christian to practise his religion without hindrance as provided for in our Constitution. I don’t believe in killing human beings without any just cause, I believe that the only way life can be taken is through the legal process. If you are taken to court for a crime that deserves the death sentence, you are tried, found guilty and sentenced to death, the government should kill you. Any other way is unacceptable that is what my religion says. I don’t believe that people should be forced to renounce their faith. I don’t believe that, because my faith teaches me that there is no compulsion in religion. These are the kind of things; I have to practise my belief, my faith, based on my understanding.”
When asked if he will contest the 2015 presidential elections, the one-time presidential hopeful was not forthcoming but hinted he might be interested so long as former Head of State, General Muhammadu Buhari (rtd) is not in the race.
In his words, “In 2007 I came out to contest for the ANPP ticket but I stepped down for General Muhammadu Buhari, not because of pressure from people but because I believed he was a better candidate than myself. If tomorrow he is interested, I will not be interested. The only way I will contest is if General Buhari says no, I am not running. If Buhari is running, I am his supporter, I will campaign for him, I will endorse him.” Click to signup for FREE news updates, latest information and hottest gists everyday
Advertise on NigerianEye.com to reach thousands of our daily users
What did you expect from such a pedophiles barbaric human being. Nigeria ti ko eran month ero.
ReplyDeleteSenator Yerima is a paedophile. He needs psychiatric treatment. That aside, fellow Nigerians, why are people not talking of these 'calabar,Akwa-Ibom' people that go to illegally occupy uncompleted buildings and in-turn use charm(or so people claim) to prevent owners of such buildings from moving in or completing their houses?
ReplyDeleteThis man is idiotic. I can't he has a masters degree. The university that awarded him that degree should revoke it immediately, cos he is a total disgrace to them.
ReplyDeleteHausas are animals we dat lives wt dem knws dat,they can sleep with a girl of 10yrs old in d name of marriage,Lord Lugard made a greatest mistake by joining us togeda
ReplyDeleteAsk senator Yerima how many of his daughters got married at age of 13 year.
DeleteI love this man beyond reason. What he said is just the truth. Nigeria is not for the christian nor for the Muslims but is it for every one living in her. So others have to respect other peoples culture and religion. Chkena!
ReplyDeletePlease I cannot stay with you in the same country. Go and form your own as we have little in common
DeleteI cannot expect any other thing 2 come out of yerima since he απϑ his cohorts are used to having girl child scream into their ears while. Having sex with them to make them feel like men i̶̲̥̅̊n̶̲̅ other to make their ego big.he should give out his daughters to at age 13 & camp next 2 her husband during sex so he knows how I̶̲̥̅t feels. MAD MEN
ReplyDeleteYou and your ilks are so devoid of reasoning I often wonder if you are an alien or robot. Or to be more precise, your display of ill feelings has aflicted your thinking faculty and at your best, you are equal to a moron for how can you call someone a phedophile when all you now about the word is that it appeared in a news item recently. Another point you all lost point is equating marriage with sexual unification. Clearly you are so bereaved of common sense for when God created Adam, he didn't think it necessary to creat eve because Adam has sexual desires but because Adam needs company even though in company come sexual unification. The manifestation of your dirty mind even became more glaring when you begin to imagine how and what would happen should Yarima become close to his legitimate wife. What an idiot you are. I guess you must have stole into your fathers vicinity late in the night just to catch the moaning of your mother as he tries to become close with her. Such a stupid person you are. Advice: try to be decent for all societal evil start because decency is lost in the society.
DeleteThis man is an anomal. He had stole so much from the state fund. most yoi shAll see hell on earth
ReplyDeleteSo Mallam SANI, "marry 12/6yrs old" na im be Ur CONTRIBUTION 4 NATIONAL ASSEMBLY? Is this how U intend to HELP in IMPROVING the COUNTRY'S GDP? Pls think of other POSITIVE IDEAS. Abi the M.Sc in ARABIC don CURRUPT Ur SENSE of REASONI.
ReplyDeleteThe fact is that I don't know if this man breaths from his anus, this man is a murderer and he is suporting the bill that is kinng Boko Haram while he is one of them and shldnt be among the law makers. A countries constitution has nothing to do with Religion to carry out its activities rather a Religion shld consider the laws of the land before making there's. I think this man really need a serious general deliverance both physically and spiritually before he possess our Godly leaders
ReplyDeleteYerima is a pervert and pedophile. Period!
ReplyDeleteso this man could actually insert his penis into the vagina of a 13 year old girl.he looks like a cultist though.may u reap what u sow.
ReplyDeleteYarima, good are you. You are a good muslim who cares about his religion. A good muslim cannot be parted with his religion. Thank you Yarim,forget about nincompoops who their lifestyle is better than their religion. Its enough to be mad who vomits-out everything he thinks. Think before you do and chew before you swallow.
ReplyDeleteWhy do prejudices and sentiments becloud senses of reasoning .This man has offer logical explanations which you found difficult to counter but rather you resort to insults and blames.lets think of this,12,13...year old are children,yet they engage in promiscuity and carried unwanted pregnancies.yet no legislation would come on that.i will support pegging marriage for a particular age if laws preventing promiscuity and moral lewdeness will be banned before that age.
ReplyDeleteI do not have anytn against anybody's religion but to say when a girl starts menstruating means she is full of age. So that means if an 8 or 9 year old starts menstruationg they should get married. Have u thought about their mental, physical,emotional, spiritual etc state of mind? I believe if one wants to act. Act based on what GOD says and not man.
ReplyDeleteWhat a way to put oneself in the news!!!
ReplyDeleteNe kwanu onye awusa! So stealing billions from public treasury,according to islam,is NOT STEALING!!! Is this true? And i campaigned for Buhari in 2003,2007 and 2011.
ReplyDeletePls,ds country can no longer survive 'half-free,half-slave'.
The masses are doomed. Except they rise up against these evil men and women.
Is f##king children also koranic?
Mmadu agwukwa nu.
Senator yerima can only be describe in one word “ A BIG FAT FOOL”
ReplyDeleteIs that so! As soon as a girl starts menstruating she can marry? Is that right? Na wah o! Women are nothing to muslims but baby-popping dispensable machines. Tufiakwa!
ReplyDeleteI don't know why everyone is focusing on the paedophile's paedophilia, when he just exposed the imbalance of justice in Sharia system. Quoting Yerima: "If you are appointed by government or you are an employee of government and you are entrusted with funds and you took part of it, that is also betrayal of trust, it does not mean that you will not be punished but you will not have your hand cut. The only way you can have your hand cut is take for example, my employee, you are my cleaner, you enter my room break open my safe and take money out of it, you have stolen and should have your hand cut. People should understand these things." - This implies that Sharia law respects status before implementing the amputation decree. I pity poor people under Sharia states... they will be forever denied justice... very sad indeed!!!
ReplyDeletePls na ONLY WOMEN dey COMMIT ADULTERY 4 ISLAM?
ReplyDeleteI need ANSWERS from the "GLORIOUS" AL-QUARAN! Hmmmmmm!