Yarima’s Marriage to a Minor
May 2nd, 2010 by admin
The Senate member and former Zamfara state Governor, Sanator Admed Yarima who recently married a thirteen year old girl from Egypt says he was not bound by the provisions of the child Rights Act, a state he governed for eight years. He said his home state did not domesticate the law and as such could not be accused of violating its provisions. The Governor claims the marriage was in line with Islam. That the marriage was his private affair, which should not bother others and has continued to deny the deny the age of the girl. The former Governor said “it is true I got married but it is not true that I married a 13 year old girl. When I was Governor I said on several occasions that Allah has made me take life like any other Muslim. All the things Allah said we should do and all the things that Prophet (SAW) said we should do, I have tried to do them. I have not done anything that violates Sharia; so, I am not bothered about anything if anybody accuses me and I don’t think I have committed any offence.’ Asked about the girl’s age during an interview, He said ‘there are laws laid down by Allah (SWT) regarding marriage. In my position as a Muslim, I followed all the procedures for marriage in Islam. If I have violated any provision of the law of Islam, I would have been disturbed; the issue of age does not rise.
Meanwhile women groups in the country have protested against the marriage calling for his resignation. The protest has resulted in the decision by the upper house to probe the incident. The other girl the senator married at fifteen is turning seventeen, he had to divorce her to marry the Egyptian girl. It is widely speculated that marriage to an Arab is a status thing amongst the Muslim in the country.
In any case, lets keep our fingers crossed in the hope that the investigation runs its full course. The Chair of the senate committee on information and Media, Senator Ayogu Eze said those opposed to Yarima’s marriage to an under aged girl should go to court. According to him “it is not the responsibility of the Senate to begin to investigate if he (Yarima) has broken the law. The Senate is not a Law enforcement agency.