I have never been more grieved about the condition
of the Nigerian state. Why do our leaders continue to make us a laughingstock
before the world? We were just recovering from the Governors’ Forum fracas when
we were again jolted by the show of shame in Rivers State House of Assembly.
Now, the bug has moved to the National Assembly – and the legislators have done
the unthinkable – a fraction of them has voted for underage marriage!
Underage marriage is just another euphemism for
child abuse. Actually, it is tantamount to paedophilia. Merely contemplating
the idea would have been utterly loathsome. It is therefore totally
inconceivable that some sectarian demagogues in Abuja would actually attempt to
give it legal backing. Apparently, these folks have been active proponents of
this ignoble practice all along and were only seeking the slightest avenue to
announce their shamelessness under the cloak of legislative duties.
Recently, while discussing my views on the gay
rights debate on the Signorile Show – a radio programme that airs across the
United States and Canada on Sirius XM Radio and globally online – I drew an
analogy between homosexuality and paedophilia.
It is unfortunate that the same lawmakers who condemned gay marriage now
support paedophilia in a pitiable display of emotional entrapment that can very
well pass for conflict of interest. While a sane legislature should be making
provisions to fully execute the Child Rights Acts which stipulates 18 years as
the minimum age of marriage for girls, some of our senators are seeking new
ways to relieve their libido and assuage their concupiscence.
Let’s take note of these members of the Senate who
are compromising the well-being of our girls. We cannot continue to commit our
national destiny to this kind of people. They are misrepresenting us as
Nigerians and trampling our national values!
We must exercise our right to vote with greater discretion in subsequent
elections. Meanwhile, let’s all lend our voices to the campaign against child
marriage. A good place to start is sharing this article and similar ones across
your social media platforms. You should also consider joining the conversation
on Twitter with the hashtag #ChildNotBride.
Together, we will deliver the future!
Philip Amiola is a teacher, writer and
campaigner of empowerment. He writes from Lagos, Nigeria and tweets from
@PhilipAmiola.
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Let's pray for the senator's useless penis to fall off so that he will not be able to continue to rape this child.
ReplyDeleteThank you jare writer, other animals like him are trying to confuse themselves with big grammar, they should read his response and understand he is a beast. He acknowledged the issues on going even in his city but never proffered any meaningful solution, other than child abuse. Asuu is on strike, having steady electricity is still a struggle " how many will I Say" yet, Shame on the names of them all"
ReplyDeleteDAts why your ladies stay obove 40yrs without marrage.
ReplyDeleteThese are group of useless men, who will never allowed their daughter to undergo underage marriage. l hereby promised you that what goes up must come down.
ReplyDeleteGod ll see you all oh!useless leaders!
ReplyDeleteAm not suprise, they are signs of end time.Prepare urself bcos tomoro may be too late .
ReplyDeletewell force under marriage and force religion equal to bensen &hedges shikenen
ReplyDelete