Niger Imams Forum Gives one Week Ultimatum for UJU Ohannaya to Withdraw Comments over Mass Wedding.
It is not yet over the controversy surrounding planned marriage of 100 girls in Niger state as the Council of Imams in Niger State has waded into matter and has given Nigeria’s Minister of Women Affairs, Uju Ohannaya, a one-week ultimatum to withdraw her comments on the Speaker of the State House of Assembly, Rt Hon Abdulmalik Sarkindaji over his intention to sponsor the marriage of 100 girls in his Constituency.
The secretary of the Imam Forum in the state, Dr. Umar Abdullahi, issued the warning while addressing journalists in Minna the state capital on Wednesday, saying that the Minister has overstepped her bounds, and the Forum will not take it lightly as her comments are capable of causing a crisis in the state and the country in general.
Recall that the Speaker of the State House of Assembly had taken the responsibility to sponsor the marriage of about 100 girls from his Constituency in Mariga local government area of the state who has lost their parents to banditry in the area and those whose parents could afford to foot the marriage expenses of children.
However, the Minister dragged the Speaker to court, urging him to halt the planned wedding, alleging that the girls were being married off against their will.
But the Imam forum while addressing journalists warned the minister to stay clear from religion and cultural matter and face her ministerial assignment, insisting that no amount of court action will stop the marriage from taking place as planned for 24th of this month.
The forum threatened that the minister will have the entire Imam forum in the state and the country in general to contend with if she failed to withdraw her comments on the matter and stay clear from the planned marriage which according to them has the blessing of the religious and traditional leaders of the state.
“The planned marriage has the blessing of all the religious and traditional leaders from the area.
The sponsor of the marriage consulted widely before accepting to take the responsibility and we are strongly behind him.
“The girls are not under age and they are not being forced into the marriage as the minister has made the public to believe. This is what the minister failed to investigate”, the forum added.
The forum therefore urged all other well to do individuals in the society to emulate the kind gesture of the speaker and render similar assistance to other intending couple in the area.
Meanwhile individual and political office holders from within and outside the state have continue to identify with the marriage as cash and materials donations have continue to pour in for the success of wedding.
.
