MURIC Tackles Minister Over Attempt To Stop Marriage For Niger Orphan Girls

By Ayodele Oni

The Muslim Rights Concern (MURIC) has justified proposed marriage of 100 orphaned girls by Niger state House of Assembly Speaker, Abdulmalik Sarkin-Daji.

The Group has therefore called on the minister for women affairs and social development, Uju Kennedy-Ohanenye, to withdraw the litigation threat and petition she wrote to the Inspector General of Police (IGP).

The call was contained in a statement released on Friday, by the group’s Kano State chapter Chairman, Malam Hassan Sani Indabawa.

Malam Indabawa said: “We found as weird the harsh and hasty decision taken by the Honorable Minister for women affairs over a matter that is entirely beyond the scope of her ministry.

“The minister’s attempt at media demonization of marrying off of 100 poor and orphaned girls, who were largely traumatized for losing both parents to brutal and bloody banditry and insurgency, exposed her ignorance to the culture and traditions of the Muslim north.

“She has further as well, demonstrated her lack of empathy, compassion and respect for other people’s culture and tradition.”

The minister said she had approached a court of law to stop the speaker of the Niger state house of Assembly from marrying off 100 prospective brides.

She also disclosed that she had petitioned the I-G of Police over Sarkin-Daji’s plan.

MURIC observed, that these were deliberately done to sway public opinion against the marriage institution, and an attempt to vilify Sarkin-Daji, after demonstrating his genuine concern to the needs of members of his constituency.

While justifying the decision, the speaker, explained that the story made by the minister was untrue, malicious and a mere speculation.

“I didn’t force any girl into marriage and I didn’t arrange the marriage of anybody.”

The speaker explained that he announced plans to support orphaned girls, especially victims of banditry attacks following an appeal by religious and traditional leaders from his constituency.

He expressed surprise at the way the minister tried to smear his name and reputation without any background check or even calling him as a leader, to hear his own side of the story.

“The honourable minister should have got across to me directly, rather than making topic out of it.

“However, making a topic out of everything, has become the hallmark of minister Kennedy-Ohanenye, leading oftentimes, to avoidable embarrassment.

MURIC maintained that since her appointment as women affairs minister, she has become famous for some weird statements made in public.

“She was seen on TV recently suggesting that children can be engaged in tooth pick, sanitary pads production, thereby promoting child labour which she is supposed to condemn by virtue of her position.

“We believe, had the minister initiated some engagement with all the relevant stakeholders before rushing to press, she won’t be facing another imminent embarrassment that awaited her if she refuses to recognize the diversity and religious peculiarity of some sections of Nigeria.

“The speaker, Niger state house of assembly, should continue with the good work he has been doing in meeting the demands of his constituency members.

“The marriage preparation of the 100 prospective brides must go on as no law was broken.

“The women affairs minister should also get educated on the constitutional guarantee bestowed on all Nigerians to practice their religious, cultural and traditional customs without let or hindrance.

“The Nigerian constitution and the Human rights Act provide for fundamental rights of persons to enter into marriage for any couples in Nigeria.

“Niger state 100 prospective brides, therefore, should not be an exception. By the way, where was the minister when the governments of some Northern states were Organizing similar mass marriages?”