***Accuses women affairs Minister of misleading the public
From John Adams Minna
The Niger State Speaker, Rt. Hon. Abdulmalik Sarkindaji has withdrawn his involvement in the mass wedding of over 100 girls in his Constituency, Mariga local government area of the state following controversies sorrounding his earlier decision to foot the bills.
The speaker however said that all the expenses already incured and the materials purchased towards the success of the marriage will be handed over to the parents of the brides insisting that “If the parents wished to go ahead with the marriage of their daughters so be it, 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 media to further clarify the controversies generated by his intention.
He described as unfortunate and embarrassing the actions of the honorable minister of Women Affairs Uju Kennedy Ohanenye for blowing the whole matter out of proportion without first finding out from him (the speaker) the motive behind his kind gesture.
“I am highly disappointed in the minister of 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 mass wedding.
“She never bothered to get across to me to even find 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 to be threatening me with court action on the 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 age to roam 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 of it”.
Sarkindaji pointed out that it is disheartening to hear a minister of 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 sat in Abuja to be threatening to stop marriage of orphans whose parents are victims of bandits attacks.
“This is politics taken too far by the minister. She should be properly educated on the culture and tradition of the north where girls of marriageable age are not allowed to roam the streets.
“But I have decided to distance myself from participating in the activities, and if the parents of the girls allowed the minister to stop the marriage of their children so be it.
“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.