The media has been accused at every turn of misrepresenting the facts when it comes to issue of child marriage in Nigeria, and of making a villain of Senator Sani Yerima of Zamfara State, who is a firm supporter of underage marriage.
But it is rather hard to misrepresent his recent comments on Channels Television. The former governor of Zamfara State championed underage marriage in his interview saying: “As far as Islamic law is concerned, once you have attained puberty, you are matured.”
The reporter interrupted, asking that he clarify what he means by attaining puberty.
“Puberty is defined by, one, when a girl starts menstruation – a girl can start menstruation at nine, ten, twelve, thirteen – and when the breasts… are fully matured. And so it is not by age, that is what we are saying…” Senator Yerima said.
The interview clip ends there and the full interview will be broadcast on Channels Television.
Let’s clarify. Senator Yerima is clear as day making an argument that a child as young as nine can be considered matured and ready for marriage as long as she is menstruating. This is not the media representing him falsely, it is the Senator in his own words, defending child marriage.
The controversial subject became hot topic after Yerima, during a constitution review meeting at the House of Representatives, demanded that clause 4b of Section 29 of the constitution, which lawmakers had voted be removed be reinstated.
The clause states that a woman who is married is considered full age and can, under Section 29, renounce Nigerian citizenship. It implied that she need not be 18 years of age, as is the case with the male citizens. Zerima argued zealously to have the clause reinstated, arguing that to remove it would be contrary to Islamic law. While the constitution should respect religion, we have to ask, should our laws be based on any one religion? Or is that a slippery slope.
While the section of the constitution that was under review had nothing to do with child marriage, he was seen as defending it… which is exactly what he was doing. It was also what every lawmaker who, in a second vote, agreed to keep that controversial clause in place did.
Lawmakers have denied being a pack of “perverts and pedophiles” as former FCT Minister Femi Fani-Kayode described them. They have denied voting in favor of child marriage and have promised to revisit the clause – a promise they have so far failed to keep.
