Asari Dokubo had posted his opinion warning the Senate from tampering with the religious rights of the people. According to him, “people should learn to respect other people’s sensibilities…We Muslims have the right to marry when we want or give out our daughters at any age we want. It is not your business and the law must respect our right to do so. “Anything short of that is an infringement on our rights. We did not ask you to marry ladies of that age or give your daughters out in marriage at that age. Plzzzzzzzz respect our sensibilities.” His negative opinion of underage marriages in Nigeria was supported by a few muslims like Abubakar Usman who claims he was right. A fan named Taiwo, wondering why the Senate took that position, said:“then the gays and lesbians have such rights too as the pedophiles.” One Okide Maduka Tochukwu said,“since we all have rights, how do we protect the victims from the pedophiles? Please great Muslim cleric answer us.
” He also pleaded with one of Asari’s supporters to produce his 12-year oldgirl for marriage with his ‘mai-guard’, saying the latter is in desperate need of a wife. “In a state like Zamfara, all the distinguished senator can think of is copulation. Is that the utmost need of his constituency? “Please, one of my greatest heroes is Imra Khan of Pakistan, I wish people would emulate great minds like him,”he added. Blac Gene simply called Asari’s opinion mental instability at its height. Another friend of Asari, Soki Wokoma, maintained that on this issue,“Muslims can practise their acts, it must not come as a law. It is shameful for Yerima to raise it on thefloor of the House.” Benita Asiegbu, in anger, commented: “your right my foot! Do you consider the feelings of the young and tender girl? Did the girl accept to marry wilfully? She said she would not be surprised if the likes of Asari and those who believe in such act start marrying your mothers and sisters. “This post is one hour old now and female Muslims are yet to comment showing how withdrawn they are (to the act). Please ladies, speak up against this,” she urged. Wondering why Asari could support such an act, Malik Mohammed Bello said:“am kinda surprised that you can be sponsoring this idea of under age marriage. Will you as a father give out your daughter in marriage or take a child of that age as a wife when she ought to be in school or learning a trade to better her life in future? “Why are you encouraging pervert-ism…pedophiles, hypocrites.” He said though there are guidelines on who Muslims can and cannot marry, he asked those supporting Dokubo if they can marry an underage or if they can give out theirunderage children in marriage when such children should be in school. Akinsuyi Temidayo Spiro wondered:“at any age? It means even a day old baby can be given out in marriage. That is not marriage, it is a bloody rape, bloody pedophile.” Jonathan Alaku Teku said“God gave us brain to reason. How on earth will a grown man be comfortable marrying a minor?” He urged that the girls’ feelings should be considered instead of giving consideration for the men who cannot think well with their brains. The approval by the Senate had torn the senators apart just as many Nigerians have continued to raise objection to it using every social medium.
Many asked the various state Assemblies to reject the clause when it is their time to contribute to the review of the constitution. The implication of this new position as it is in the constitution that is being reviewed is that the mandatory 18 years for a child to qualify to engaged into a conscious agreement of marriage has been proscribed. Therefore, irrespective of her age, a woman would been seen as ‘of age’ once she is married. Josephine Effa-Chukwuma the Executive Director of PROJECT ALERT, an organisation which fights violence against women, had said the resolution contradicts the Child Rights Act which stipulates that a child is anyone below the age of 18.
She was reported as saying it is “very reckless of them (the senators) and insensitive of them to the plight of young girls, especially in this time and era of child sexual abuse; the implications and complications that come up from early marriage which we all know; VVF, RVF and all that. “So, if they go to the constitution to remove the age restriction that says one cannot marry a teen, then, they might as well throw the Child Rights Act out of the window. “The Child Rights Act says clearly thata child is anyone below the age of 18; or are they oblivious to it? It is completely unacceptable.”
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