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| Marriage of 100 girls: Niger Imams Forum challenges minister, sets ultimatum |
The Minister of Women Affairs, who has taken legal action against the Speaker, claims the girls are being coerced into marriage.
The potential legal confrontation between the Minister of Women Affairs, Uju Kennedy Ohanenye, and the Speaker of the Niger State House of Assembly, Abdulmalik Sarkindaji, over his intention to fund the marriages of over 100 girls in Mariga Local Government Area continues to stir controversy.
Islamic groups have given the minister a seven-day ultimatum to retract the lawsuit or face counter legal measures.
As DAILY POST recalls, the Speaker had proposed to support the marriages of approximately 100 girls affected by banditry or whose families are financially unable to cover marriage costs.
The Minister of Women Affairs, who has taken legal action against the Speaker, claims the girls are being coerced into marriage.
Following a meeting in Minna, the Niger State Imam Forum and leaders of Islamic organizations have labeled the minister's actions as defamatory and have given her a week to rescind her allegations and the lawsuit, or they will pursue legal recourse.
Dr. Umar Farouk, the Director General of Niger State Religious Affairs, asserted that the minister exceeded her authority and must retract her defamatory statements against the Speaker and religious figures regarding the issue.
He affirmed, "The wedding date set for May 24, 2024, will be honored, as the Imam Forum, together with the brides' parents, will proceed with the event. Speaker Abdulmalik Sarkindaji has contributed to ensuring the successful marriage of the 100 orphaned women."
The forum has appealed to President Bola Tinubu to dismiss the minister for alleged incompetence and for potentially inciting religious discord in Niger State and the country.
They insist the minister should also retract her defamatory statements about the Speaker, religious leaders, and the state, particularly the claim that the women are minors.
The upcoming marriage has received endorsements from all local religious and traditional authorities. The marriage's sponsor conducted extensive consultations before taking on the responsibility, and he has their full support.
"The women are of age and are entering marriage willingly, contrary to the minister's portrayal. This is an aspect the minister neglected to investigate," stated Farouk.
He encouraged philanthropists and influential individuals to follow the example set by Speaker Abdulmalik Sarkindaji. The women, ranging from 18 to 25 years old, including widows, are not being forced into marriage, as a thorough six-step selection process was adhered to for choosing the beneficiaries.
In a similar vein, the Niger State branch of the Muslim Student Society of Nigeria (MSSN) has called on President Bola Tinubu to suspend the Minister of Women Affairs immediately for attempting to obstruct the planned weddings of orphaned girls in the state.
During a press conference in Minna, MSSN Ameer Mahmud Lawal Murshid expressed these sentiments.
The society disapproved of the legal proceedings against Speaker Abdulmalik Sarkin-Daji and praised the Speaker for his commitment to the mass wedding, which is highly regarded within Islam.
A community insider, preferring to remain anonymous, informed DAILY POST that donations amounting to roughly N10 million have been collected to ensure the marriage's success.
The source disclosed, "Currently, one benefactor has gifted N100,000 to each girl, providing them with a means to become self-sufficient post-marriage."
