Controversial Marriage: Imams move against Women Affairs Minister, tells Tinubu to sack her
Reactions continue to trail the marriage sponsorship of 100 girls, as the Imams’ Forum and heads of other Islamic organizations in Niger State have given an ultimatum of 7 days to the Minister of Women Affairs, Uju Kennedy, to withdraw statements and threats issued against the Speaker, Niger State House of Assembly, Abdulmalik Sarkin-Daji, and the entire Muslim community or face legal action.
The Secretary of the Imams’ Forum, Umar-Faruk Abdullahi, who made this known at the end of their emergency meeting in Minna on Thursday, also called on President Bola Tinubu to immediately sack the minister, saying she is unfit to serve the nation in that capacity.
Arising from a 2-hour emergency meeting, the forum of Imams and other Islamic organisations in Niger State, in a 4-point resolution, has demanded the immediate sack of the women affairs minister, Uju Kennedy, as well as for President Tinubu to relieve her of her appointment.
According to the Secretary, Imams’ Forum, Umar-Faruk Abdullahi, the May 24 date of the marriage remains sacrosanct, saying that as those to solemnize the unions, none of the 100 girls is below the age of 18.
Other speakers, including the Chairman of Chanchaga Local Government Area, Aminu Ladan, and the Niger State Area Unit of the Muslim Student’s Society of Nigeria, all condemned the minister.
They all commended the Speaker, Abdulmalik Sarkin-Daji, for voluntarily sponsoring the wedding, as requested by the religious and traditional leaders, saying they would take it from there to face the minister if she fails to comply with their resolutions.
Marriage Sponsorship Update: Tender an unreserved apology within 7 days or face legal action, says Imams’ Forum in Niger
The Secretary of the Imams’ Forum, Umar-Faruk Abdullahi, who made this known at the end of their emergency meeting, also called on President Bola Tinubu to immediately sack the minister, saying she is unfit to serve the nation in that capacity
According to the Secretary, Imams’ Forum, Umar-Faruk Abdullahi, the May 24 date of the marriage remains sacrosanct, saying that as those to solemnize the unions, none of the 100 girls is below the age of 18.
” The Minister should be mindful of her remarks on the planned weddings of the 100 orphans as planned by the Honourable Speaker of Niger State Hon Abdulmalik Sarkin Daji.
” The Minister should be reminded that the 24 of May 2024 slated for the weddings is sacrosanct. And the Minister of Women Affairs Cannot stop the wedding.
“The Minister should within the next 7 days tender an Unreserved apology to entire the Muslims in Niger State, and the speaker retract her ucomplimentary remarks against the speaker or we will be heading to court to seek redress” the secretary declared.
The Secretary of the Forum in Niger State also call on President Ahmed Bola Tinubu to as a matter of urgency sack the Minister from his cabinet before she cause religious disaffection in his cabinet as she lack the capacity to be a minister of Federal Republic of Nigeria.
The forum commended the Speaker, Abdulmalik Sarkin-Daji, for voluntarily sponsoring the wedding, as requested by the religious and traditional leaders, saying they would take it from there to face the minister if she fails to comply with their resolutions.
While calling on well meaning philanthropic political office holders in the State,and the country to emulate the kind hearted gestures of the Niger Speaker, Dr. Umar Faruq Abdullahi asked the Minister to meet the traditional rulers and the religious leaders in the community to tell them to stop the weddings of the Orphans ” and see what will happen”.
