Jonathan Vatsa, a former commissioner for information and culture in Niger state, says the proposed wedding of 100 girls in the state will go on despite public outcry.
Abdulmalik Sarkindaji, the speaker of the Niger state house
of assembly, had dissociated himself from the wedding after Uju
Kennedy-Ohanenye, minister of women affairs, threatened to sue him.
The minister said the development was unacceptable, arguing
that the girls should be in school or learning vocational skills.
Sarkindaji, who had provided financial support and was
billed to host the event on May 24, withdrew his involvement.
The speaker said it was at the discretion of the girls’ parents
and traditional leaders to proceed as they deemed fit.
Addressing journalists on Wednesday, Vatsa, a chieftain of
the All Progressive Congress (APC), advised Kennedy-Ohanenye not to go into
“issues that she knows nothing about”.
He said the minister knew nothing about the situation of the
girls and should have done due diligence before issuing threats.
“No amount of threat
of court action can stop these parents from giving out their daughters in
marriage after receiving the necessary supports,” Vatsa said.
“The minister should have done her investigation first to
know if these girls have attained the age of marriage by law or if they were
being forced into marriage before going to the air to threaten the speaker, who
is merely offering assistance.
“You cannot just sit in an air-conditioned office in Abuja
and be threatening people without knowing what these orphans are going through
after losing their parents to insecurity and those whose parents cannot afford
their marriage expenses even though they have attained the age for marriage.
“Does the minister have any plans for people whom she has
never seen or known about their plight, or is she trying to encourage
prostitution in the area?
“You don’t play
politics by interfering with the people’s culture and tradition; more so that
these girls have suitors who want to marry them.
“I am sure the speaker, being a trained lawyer, is not
afraid of going to court. The speaker is not giving the girls out in marriage
but just rendering support to the families, and there is no law in Nigeria that
forbids someone from giving assistance towards marriage. That is why I said the
minister is fighting a lost battle.”
Vatsa said banditry activities across 12 LGAs of the state
have produced over 5,000 orphans, widows, and widowers.
He urged the minister to visit Niger and “see the sufferings
of these orphans, the majority of whom are girls.”.
He urged Sarkindaji not to succumb to any threat, as “the
people will feel disappointed if you withdraw your support for them”.
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