President of the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN), Pastor Ayo Oritsejafor, has expressed worry over the Senate’s passage of a resolution to amend the provision of Section 29 (4) (b) of the 1999 Constitution which states that, “any woman who is married shall be deemed to be of full age.”
He vowed to mobilise Nigerians against the Senate resolution.
“By the grace of God, I will personally mobilise Nigerians and lead the street protest against this oppressive and dehumanising resolution.
“Why would the Senate after voting recoil simply because a point of order premised on religious basis was raised.”
“We Christians also have Canon Law, which frowns on marriage of girls who are not of age. Christianity abhors such marriages. The protest will be soon.
“Finally, I urge the Yerimas in the Senate to tow the path of the Holy Qur’an in (5:32) which states that one who kills a person unjustly in effect has killed everyone, and one who saves another has saved everyone.
“They should save these girls and Nigerians the agony of having their children married off at ages below 18 by unfavourable legislations”.
He maintained that if the law is amended, a girl of any age can be constitutionally allowed to marry.
Oritsejafor, who spoke in a statement signed by his Special Assistant, Media and Public Affairs, Kenny Ashaka, maintained that child bride should not be encouraged or allowed in Nigeria
“This is why I consider the resolution of the Senate to amend Section 29 (4) (b) selfish, delusive and a contravention of all known international conventions, protocols and ethics on the rights of the child to which Nigeria is a signatory. Child bride should not be encouraged or allowed in Nigeria.
“With over 12,000 women quoted by the National Demographic Health Survey as living with the Vesico Vaginal Fistula (VVF) every year in Nigeria, fine tuning laws that would enable desiring Nigerians to marry primary school pupils is not what our legislators should be involved in.
“Rather, the Senate should strengthen the nation’s constitution by protecting all citizens’ rights, especially those of children from abuse. This would amount to legalisation of sexual abuse of underage girls,” he stated.
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