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One would have
thought that a two-term executive governor and an elected (?)
representative of the people at the National Assembly would care about
the people he represents. One would have also thought that someone who
is a father to many children of different ages and generations would
care about other people’s children. Moreover, no one would have
imagined that a member of the highest law-making body in the land would
have so much disregard for the laws of the land and by implication, the
people he swore to protect through respect for the Constitution.

It is now becoming
clearer why a man like Yerima would neither mobilise for, nor support
the adoption of the Child Rights Act in some parts of the country. It
is simply to catch the girls young, even if they are still in their
diapers, like all paedophiles do! Never mind the no argument of Yerima
that marrying a thirteen year-old is not against his religion. For me,
the use of religion to support an action like Yerima’s is not a new
excuse, and it is becoming nauseating.

It is not uncommon
to find people resorting selectively to religion and culture when and
where it concerns the rights of girls and women because of their desire
for exploitation and domination. Though I am not a Muslim, in the
course of working to protect women’s rights, I have had the opportunity
to examine women’s lives across the Muslim world and I must say that
Nigeria is almost in a world of its own. I am also blessed with a
spouse who is not only a Muslim, but also a knowledgeable one who does
not get tired of seeking knowledge and sharing with me.

The example of
Ayesha (SAW), the wife of the Prophet (SAW) has been used very often to
support early marriage, as if it was true that the Prophet had any
relationship with her at the age she was betrothed to him. There have
even been research reports that reveal that her age was debatable, as
it could not be ascertained that Ayesha was thirteen! People like
Yerima also conveniently evade mentioning the circumstance of the
betrothal, as if the Prophet (SAW) went out of his way to look for
Ayesha.

It is worth
mentioning that Yerima and his like do not cite the active
participation of Ayesha in decision-making and governance to the extent
of leading the army of the faithful in war, as a good example by the
beloved wife of the Prophet that is worthy of emulation.

What better
illustration of a just religion that provides opportunity for women
take active part in decision-making and politics in order to exercise
their God-given rights to being human. Can Yerima tell us how many
women he elevated to the highest position possible in Zamfara when he
was governor?

Marry older women

The Prophet’s
exemplary life is worth emulating; but should we emulate only those
aspects that are convenient for us? I wonder though why men are not
marrying older women to fulfil their desires of emulating the Prophet.
In any case, is it not also part of the Islamic jurisprudence that
Muslims can also use ijtihad (independent,contextual reasoning), which
has led Egypt and a number of Muslim majority countries to fix the
minimum age of marriage at eighteen? I am sure the Islamic world has
not accused such countries of violating the shari’ah.

With men like Yerima preying on little girls, and other men at the
National Assembly protecting one of their own, it is still a long,
windy road to travel for women and girls!