
The recent call for the immediate removal of Minister of Women Affairs, Uju Kennedy Ohanenye, by a group of imams in Niger State has stirred controversy.
The imams' demand follows the minister's actions of petitioning the Inspector General of Police and filing a lawsuit against the Speaker of the Niger State House of Assembly, Abdulmalik Sarkindaji. Sarkindaji had sponsored the wedding of 100 orphan girls, which the minister claimed involved attempts to force underage girls into marriage.
The Islamic clerics accused Minister Ohanenye of threatening the speaker and engaging in blackmail, asserting that her allegations were baseless.
They demanded that she issue an apology within seven days or face legal action themselves. The imams argued that her behavior renders her unfit to serve in her ministerial role.
This incident highlights the ongoing tension between cultural practices and the enforcement of laws against child marriage in Nigeria.
The imams' stance reflects a defense of local customs and practices, while the minister's actions point to concerns about the rights and welfare of young girls.
The situation underscores the complex dynamics at play in addressing issues of child marriage within different Nigerian communities.
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