A former Commissioner of Information and Culture in Niger state, Honourable Jonathan Vatsa, has lambasted the Minister of Women Affairs , Uju Kennedy Ohanenye, over threat to stop the wedding of 100 girls in Mariga state constituency of Niger state.
Vatsa in a statement issued in Minna Wednesday advised the minister to stay clear from the religion and culture of the people.
He said: “The Minister of Women Affairs, Uju Kennedy-Ohanenye, is fighting a lost battle as the parents of these girls will go ahead and marry out their daughters as planned. The parents have the right to do so under Islamic law and Hausa tradition.”
Vatsa who is also a stalwart of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Niger state insisted that the speaker of the Niger state House of Assembly, Honourable Abdulmalik Sarkindaji, who graciously agreed to offset the cost of the wedding of the 100 girls deserved accolade and commendations for such gesture.
“No amount of threats of court action can stop these parents from giving out their daughters in marriage after receiving the necessary supports. Instead of sitting in Abuja to issue threat of court action, the minister should have done her investigation first to know if these girls have attained the age of marriage by law or if they were being forced into the marriage.”
