Niger Speaker Backs Out Of Planed 100 Marriages After Threat From Uju Kennedy-Ohanenye

Post created on 10:37 am

Speaker of the House of Assembly in Niger State, Abdulmalik Sarkindaji, has expressed his displeasure and withdrawal from the 100 orphan girls in Mariga LGA, whose marriages were scheduled for May 24.

Expressing his displeasure towards how the Minister of Women Affairs,  Mrs Uju Kennedy-Ohanenye, would have gotten across to him first but she went out publicly from her Abuja office without knowing what was happening in IDP camps in Niger State.

The Speaker said he was only working by their religion and tradition which forbid prostitution and restrict girls of a certain age from roaming the street.

Speaking further, Sarkindaji said he was approached by over 270 girls to sponsor their marriage but after consulting with religious leaders and traditional rulers 100 of them were selected because that was what he could offer.

The Speaker insisted that the girls’ parents were eager to give out their children in marriage but with the threat from the Ministry of Women Affairs, he is withdrawing his support and would only assist parents financially and the Minister should come herself to address the plight of the children.

Yesterday, Uju Kennedy-Ohanenye called out the Inspector General of Police to get a court injunction to stop Speaker Sarkindaji from sponsoring the marriages of 100 girls who would rather be sent to school, learn a trade or might even be underage.