100 orphan marriage: Minister steps down as Emir, speaker mounts pressure
The Minister of Women Affairs, Uju Kennedy-Ohanenye, on Friday, May 17, announced that she has withdrawn her legal action concerning the case of 100 orphaned girls set to be married off.
She assured that an agreement has been reached with His Royal Highness, Alhaji Mohammed Muazu, Emir of Kontagora, Niger State, and the Speaker of the Niger State House of Assembly to empower the girls in other ways.
According to the minister, this concern prompted her initial legal action to seek an injunction to prevent the marriages.
She said: “The Court injunction was gotten within 48 hours to stop the mass marriage of the hundred orphans. To think that this kind of thing still happens in Nigeria is unbelievable. As soon as I got the court injunction, the Etsu of Nupe called me, asking for peace, next was the Emir of Kotangora coming to my office, and we later resolved the issue, taking decisions that would be beneficial for these ladies.
“The Emir assured me of a thorough investigation and said the marriage will not be carried out until the investigation is over. To me, this solves the problem. I want Nigerians to know that this has nothing to do with religion, I am just doing my job as a mother.
“Presently the Ministry of Women Affairs is in partnership with the Speaker Niger State House of Assembly, Abdul Malik Sarkindaji’s government to empower these ladies, those that want to go to school will be sent to school and the ones who want to learn trading will be empowered to do so, we are taking this as a challenge, I will empower these women with sustainable economic empower.”
The minister cited the speaker, who stated that the village where these women are from is overrun by bandits and serves as a hideout for them.
She assured that President Ahmed Bola Tinubu will not stand by and watch people suffer; he will take action to address the situation.
