Nothing wrong marrying 13-year-old, says APC presidential aspirant Yerima
Former Zamfara governor and presidential aspirant under the All Progressives Congress (APC), Sani Yerima, says he did nothing wrong marrying a 13-year old girl.
Mr Yerima justified marrying a 13-year-old Egyptian girl when he appeared on Channels TV on Tuesday
The 2009 marriage generated much criticisms among child rights activists at the time but Mr Yerima insists he did not contravene any Nigerian law.
“If I had done anything wrong, I would have been tried in court. NAPTIP wanted to try the case and they dropped the matter because I didn’t do anything wrong,” Mr Yerima said.
He added that “there is no law in Nigeria that determines when and how you get married. Muslims have Sharia, the Christians I don’t know what their doctrines say.”
A two term governor of Zamfara State between 1999-2007, Mr Yerima, was the first governor to introduce Sharia Law later enforced in 12 northern states of Nigeria.
Critics argue that introduction of Sharia Law might have reinforced the bedrock of Islamic fundamentalism in the country.
More from Peoples Gazette
Politics
I’m ready to forgo my ambition for APC: Gov. Fayemi
Mr Fayemi said he was ready to submit to the party’s wishes should he not be chosen to fly the flag.
Politics
Party Primaries: Senate adjourns sitting to June 7
The Senate has adjourned sitting till June 7 to enable lawmakers to participate in upcoming political parties primaries.
Lagos
Lagos stops approval for structures above three floors in Ebute-Metta
The Commissioner for Physical Planning and Urban Development, Idris Salako, said this in a statement on Wednesday in Lagos.
States
Taraba Killings: Less than 20 soldiers left to confront 300 bandits; Reps lament
The House the security chiefs to deploy more security men to secure Takum and its environs effectively.
Rights
Civil war veterans protest 44 years unpaid pensions in Ibadan
The group’s leader said they had no fewer than 780 of them yet to be paid, appealing to the federal government to heed their clarion call.
Politics
We’ll suspend online voters’ registration May 30: INEC
The development would allow INEC clean up the registration data and print PVCs ahead of the general elections, INEC chair Mahmoud Yakubu said.
