Nigerians are not happy. They are furious, enraged and mad at those representing them at the upper chamber of the nation’s sacred shrine. Ask an average indigene and he tells you ‘my eyes are very red, all in protest against underage marriage.
The senate had reached a resolution to alter Section 29 (a) of the proposed constitutional amendment, which states that a Nigerian girl-child can only go into marriage legally when she is at least 18 years of age, but Senator Ahmad Sani (Zamfara West) objected to the provision which inserts a minimum age for girls before getting married, on the grounds that it contradicts Islamic law.
After Yerima’s objection, the Senate President, David Mark, then called for a new round of votes and after the second round of the votes, the earlier provision was partially discarded by majority of the Senators who voted against the existing law on girl-child marriages.
Since the controversial decision of the Senate, protests have spread like wildfire across the 36 states of the federation, including the FCT, Abuja. Nigerians in the Diaspora are not left out of this campaign, which they termed ‘wicked and cruel.” They want the law reversed with immediate effect. According to them, a girl should be in the ‘classroom’ not in the ‘labour room.’
The protests spread from the streets to the internet, particularly on blogs, Facebook, Instagram and Twitter. Rancorous tweets and venomous Facebook posts are being thrown at the leaders, so strong-worded that, as a matter of fact, they seem to be the Nigerian problems at the moment.
Curses such as ”with all the problems we are facing in Nigeria… some mofos are talking child marriage. #Assholes” to “Please save our children, preserve our future. This evil must stop” have been meted on the lawmakers . Nigerians continue to vent their anger over the resolution, as they continue to use different platforms to attack the Senators.
DailyPost sampled the position of Nigerians over the Senate’s resolution and brings you their verdicts raw and uncut.
Alh. Atiku Abubakar, Fomer Vice president said; “As a father, I have never given out my daughters in marriage before university graduation. It’s a personal decision.”He went further to tweet, “I had earlier stated my personal choices on the child marriage issue. I have always supported our women and children.” The former Vice President then went ahead to take on the Senate voting controversy directly, by tweeting thus, “For avoidance of doubt, I do not support any constitutional provision which creates ambiguities about the age consent” and concluded thus,“I strongly support strengthening the constitution to protect all citizens from abuse; men, women, girls and boys”
Abiola Akiyode-Afolabi, National Coordinator, Gender and Constitution Reform Network, GECORN said, “We ask, is the Senate saying that a 13-year-old girl has the mental capacity to renounce her citizenship? Thus, we argue that Senator Ahmed Yerima, basing his argument solely on child marriage is treacherous and a deliberate attempt to misrepresent the intention of the 1999 constitution.
Sam Adeyemi, Founder, Daystar Christian Centre said, “If Islam permits something that the rest of the country & many parts of the world feel is detestable, then it’s a serious issue #ChildNotBride. There are people who ingeniously play the card of ethnicity or religion to keep Nigeria from moving forward. #ChildNotBride”
“Such misrepresentation is in our own view, what the Senate originally wanted to avoid by the (Senate Committee on the Constitution Reform’s report) proposal and its initial votes for the deletion of S 29 4(b).”
Senator Bukola Saraki, former Kwara State governor said “What I can tell you is that one of the uppermost principles which I uphold as a Senator is the well-being and protection of children irrespective of their religious background or their social status. The girl child especially needs protection under our law, therefore any bill or legal provision which is aimed at promoting the rights of any child, the well-being of children generally, the prohibition of practices that inhibits the girl-child and her potentials and the elimination of all forms of discrimination against any child will continue to receive my unflinching support”
Nasir El-Rufai, former minister of Nigeria’s capital city, Abuja said “We need your support. Please comment on #ChildNotBride”…criminals from time use religion to cloak perversion…” Omoni Oboli, Nollywood actress said
“Sitting alongside a 13yr old girl, if I’m gonna say a word to her, its gonna be focus on your education not ejaculations #ChildNotBride
Erelu Bisi Fayemi, wife of the Ekiti State governor, Dr. Kayode Fayemi said, “I am very disappointed that distinguished senators could reverse the vote that would have outlawed underage marriage. I want to charge the women to rise up and reject the action by pressing for the criminalization of early marriage in Nigeria,” .
Amaka Onwukwe, pharmacist said, “This is slavery to the women folk. The different women organization should rise up to this challenge and fight this inhumane act. Nigeria, being a secular state should not be turned into a field where different unimaginable things are planted, watered and allowed to grow to maturity”
Peter Okoye (P Square) singer said, “With all the problems we are facing in Nigeria… some mofos are talking child marriage. #Assholes
Nonso Diobi, Nollywood actor said, “A Female Child should be taken to the Classroom not Labour room .. #ChildNotBride”
Ajibola Adebayo (Holy Mallam), comedian said “You should be giving her panadol, not Postinor #ChildNotBride”
Alibaba Akporobome, comedian said, ” even people whose tl revel in porno pix & tweet all sorts of vulgarity have suddenly found their voices with this #childnotbride. We thank God”
Nick_Clayy said, “I shudder to think I wouldn’t be who I am today if some perv had convinced my parents to marry me off before I turned 18!!!”
Sally Bonn said “If u claim dey are doing it 4 selfish reasons let their conscience judge bt I dnt see hw campaigning against #ChildNotBride is selfish”
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