| Children |
Following the passage into law of the controversial child bride allegedly sponsored by former Governor of Zamfara, Ahmed Yerima and now senator in the current House of Assembly, aggrieved citizens have staged a protest will take place in different states today. Some of the states include; Lagos, Abuja, Ondo, Port Harcourt, Kaduna and Ogun States, amongst others.
The protest was designed to get people to sign a petition, with the estimate of two million people, that would be submitted to the State House of Assembly, depicting the grouse of the aggrieved persons on the law which many have termed as bad.
In the statement made available by one of the supporters, Japheth Omojuwa, he said the protest would be more of petition signing to register their grouse against the law which now permits small female children to be married off to older males.
Tagged #ChildNotBride, the rally will at Port Harcourt hold at the state Civic center, at Moscow Road between the hours of 10am. To 2pm and on Sunday at CIWA Catholic Church, House on the Rock and Heritage House by 10am.
In Abuja, he said the rally will be held today at Unity Fountain, Near Transcorp Hilton. Maitama, while in Lagos at about 9am to 12pm, different rallies would be held at
Ojeez Restaurant, National Stadium Surulere, Alausa Park, opposite Lagos State Governor’s Office, Ikeja.
Others are the Palms Shopping Mall, Lekki, New African Shrine, Agidingbi, Ikeja and
Union Bank, Alaba Junction. Oja-Alaba axis.
In Ibadan, the rally was billed for 9am to 12pm Mokola behind Group medical hospital, Press correspondent building, while in Akure, it was billed for 12pm at Adegbemile Cultural Centre, Akure.
Also, in Kaduna, between the hours of 9am to 12pm, people are expected to throng the
Lugard Hall Front Gate, to sign the petition.
Also speaking, the CEO of Rise Networks, Toyosi Akerele, said it is very unfortunate that the Senate has okayed underage women for marriage in Nigeria
She said, "This is the most absurd thing any sane government could ever do. With the teeming number of teenage pregnancies and the social and health hazards that we are already battling with, one wonders if our law makers are really thinking at all. Have they heard about obstructed labour due to small pelvis of the “child” mother?
"Have they heard about Obstetric fistula that results from prolonged obstructed labour that makes the girl leak urine continuously and makes her a social outcast? Do they know that many of these “children” are divorced and driven out of their husbands’ homes because of this malady?
"Do they know that mortality rate of children born to these “children” is very high? This is male chauvinism and child abuse being legalised, this is an assault on the sensibilities of Nigerians who care that we have a just society that looks after the welfare of the children and youths; an insult on common sense. Where are the women and the youths who are being abused by this legislation?"
She added, "We, well-meaning Nigerians will not allow this injustice happen to our children. We therefore insist that our daughters be sent to school and not to infant marriages. Education is the bedrock of every society, and the education of the girl child is as important as that of her male counterpart.
"We therefore are surprised that Nigeria’s Senate didn’t consider making it mandatory for every girl child below 18 to be in school. Instead, they gave a legislative seal of approval for the marriage of underage girls. That means even a 5 year old toddler could be married off by her parents.
"Nigerians of all tribes and religions have rejected this, and therefore undertake to stand against the state-sanctioned abuse of the girl child. By tomorrow (today), Saturday, 20th July, 2013, we’ll be signing a petition that will be forwarded to the National Assembly, Abuja."
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