Niger Speaker wash hands off mass wedding, directs parents of brides to meet Minister of Women Affairs

Sequel to the controversies surrounding the decision of the Niger State Speaker, Rt. Hon. Abdulmalik Sarkindaji to sponsor the marriage of over 100 girls in his Constituency, Mariga Local Government Area of the state, the speaker says he has withdrawn his involvement in the wedding.

The speaker, however, said that all the expenses already incurred and the materials purchased towards the success of the marriage will be handed over to the parents of the brides, saying that “if the parents wished to go ahead with the marriage of their daughters so it be but I have removed my hands”.

The Speaker announced the withdrawal of his involvement in the mass wedding in Minna on Tuesday when he addressed the press to further clarify the controversies generated by his intention.

He described as unfortunate and embarrassing the actions of the Honorable Minister for women Affairs, Uju Kennedy Ohanenye for blowing the whole matter out of proportion without first of all finding out from him.

“I am highly disappointed in the Minister for women affairs and it is unfortunate that she allowed herself and her office to be misled by social media reports without finding out from me the true situation on ground concerning this marriage.

“She never bothered to get across to me to even finding out the motive behind this Humanitarian gesture because I didn’t force any girl into marriage, it was the parents of the girls that approached me and solicited for my support and I gladly accepted to assist them.

“Again this was done after due consultations with religious leaders, traditional leaders and other critical stakeholders before the Brides were carefully selected. They were 270, but I told them that I can only provide support for 100 of the intending Brides for now.

“So for the minister for women affairs to be threatening me with court action on issue that she knows nothing about and never bothered to find out the true situation of things is quite unfortunate. My action has the blessing of the parents, religious and traditional leaders, including key stakeholders from my Constituency.

“The Minister should know that both my religion and tradition do not allow girls of marriageable girls to roam around in the street. We don’t allow prostitution or promiscuity in the north. This thing is being done with good intentions but some people decided to make issue out it”.

Sarkindaji pointed out that it is disheartening to hear a minister for women affairs who has never visited any Internally Displaced People (IDP) camps as a result of bandits activities in Niger state to see the plight of women and children but only sitting in Abuja and be threatening to stop marriage of orphans whose parents are victims of bandits attacks.

“This is politice taken too far by the minister. She should be properly educated on the culture and tradition of the north girls of marriageable age are not allowed to roam the streets.
“But I have decided to distance myself from participating in the marriage, and if the parents of the girls allowed the minister to stop the marriage of their children so it be.

“I have provided the material support needed from me, and I will not go beyond that if the parents like let them stop the marriage of their children because a minister sitting in Abuja has threatened to go to court.

“I will leave the Minister with the parents of these girls. Let the minister go to Mariga and stop the parents from marrying out their girls. People playing dirty politics over what they know nothing about”, he added.