Lets talk about the Nigeria constitution. Sometime last year all hell went loose on twitter, facebook and all social networks concerning the Nigerian senate voting to make child marriage legal. The senate took a vote on July 16th, 2013 concerning the removal of the clause in section 26 (4)(b) which states that "any woman who is married shall be deemed to be of full age''. This section automatically implies that even a one year old baby, once married shall be considered of age *so insane*.
When a law like this exist that has made some so called politicians take to bed little children, as little as 10years old, who then protects the girl child? Who then defends her? Who does she cry to for help?
Wasila Tasiu is an example of the ills of child marriage. The world got to know about her story when she was arrested as a result of her killing her "Old shrinking idiotic"(in my opinion) husband and his four friends by poisoning them.
Wasilia is 14years old and she was forced into getting married to a man she did not love or didn't want to have anything to do with him. A man who was times 3 older than her. She was in pains, she was traumatized, no one knew her pain. At night when this old shrinking man would climb on her, she would scream and cry for help, but no one came to her rescue. She wanted to run but had no place to go. Her only option was to poison the man. Unfortunately, on the day she poured the poison into his meal, his friends ate with him(longer throats) and they all died.
Painfully, Wasila was arrested and last week, Kano state government moved for her to be sentenced to death. *tears*. Is this fair? If some politicians can steal and kill and still get federal pardon, why can't Wasila get one?
No girl should be robbed of her childhood, her education, health and her aspirations.
Some people would say that it is Islam law that encourages child marriages. In as much as Islam permits it, it is the people who participate in the practice (parents/guardians) and give consent to the signing of the contract that should be looked into. Now i ask...does Islam permits forced marriage?
The issue of Child marriage and even permissive sexual relations to children of such ages without any form of restriction from the government or parents is crude, barbaric and helps not to only endanger the future of such children but also helps to promote crime in the society.
The constitution is expected to be supreme in any land. It is there to guide and also purnish an offender. Marriage does not turn a child into an adult overnight, growth is a process.
Wasila's case is just 1 out of 100 cases. Who will protect the girl child?
Child marriage is evil and it sentences a lot of our girls to premature death.
Should it be made a criminal offense?
Section 29 of the
Nigerian constituition , allows citizens who are of age to renounce
Nigerian citizenship if they wish; and the constitution says,
18-year-old and above shall be considered to be “of age”. Adding that a
woman or girl who is married, shall also be considered to be of age; a
section that could be interpreted to imply that even a day old child,
once married, shall be considered to be “of age”.
Read more at: http://naijalog.com/must-watch-video-dry-the-ills-early-child-marriage/
Read more at: http://naijalog.com/must-watch-video-dry-the-ills-early-child-marriage/
Section 29 of the
Nigerian constituition , allows citizens who are of age to renounce
Nigerian citizenship if they wish; and the constitution says,
18-year-old and above shall be considered to be “of age”. Adding that a
woman or girl who is married, shall also be considered to be of age; a
section that could be interpreted to imply that even a day old child,
once married, shall be considered to be “of age”.
Read more at: http://naijalog.com/must-watch-video-dry-the-ills-early-child-marriage/
Read more at: http://naijalog.com/must-watch-video-dry-the-ills-early-child-marriage/
Section 29 of the
Nigerian constituition , allows citizens who are of age to renounce
Nigerian citizenship if they wish; and the constitution says,
18-year-old and above shall be considered to be “of age”. Adding that a
woman or girl who is married, shall also be considered to be of age; a
section that could be interpreted to imply that even a day old child,
once married, shall be considered to be “of age”.
Read more at: http://naijalog.com/must-watch-video-dry-the-ills-early-child-marriage/
Read more at: http://naijalog.com/must-watch-video-dry-the-ills-early-child-marriage/
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