A Tale Of The Emir Of Katsina And His 14 Year Old Bride

What is the legal age for a lady in northern Nigeria to give her consent to marriage, 14 or 18? Ask the Emir of Kastina, Alhaji Abdul-mumin Usman, who at 64, was accused of allegedly abducting, religion converting and marrying a 14 year old girl, Habiba Isa, of which her family insisted that they were not aware of the marriage of their young daughter and they never approved of it. To make matters worse, the Emirate council deemed the union irreversible.

The Emir of Katsina is a learned scholar with a sociology degree from the Ahmadu Bello University in Zaria, currently the chancellor of the University of Ilorin, and was once the chancellor of the Obafemi Awolowo University. Why his interest in a minor who is not eligible to vote, still a student in high school as a bride baffles me?

Habiba Isa's family accused the palace aide, Jamilu Lawal, of forcefully abducting their daughter on August 16, 2016, converting her to Islam and keeping her in the palace, should parents now be watchful over their young daughters safety? The father have lodged a complaint with Stefanos Foundation, a humanitarian civil rights organisation, which took over the matter.

The Emirate council claims that she voluntarily gave her consent in marrying the Emir. Where were are parents in all of these? Do the rulers allow their own daughters to get married aged 14, without their fatherly approval. This drama was in the news yesterday and one would think the president would wade into such matter, but instead, the First Lady, Aisha Buhari gave an interview that she would not politically campaign for her husband if the country does not improve, while the president retorted with humour that "she belongs to the kitchen, the living room and the other room", what a distraction!

This is not the first time cases like this have caused an uproar in the northern parts of Nigeria, when will the elders sit together and give the actual age of consent, and the worst bit in all of these is that these men would never give their own daughters away to any man either rich nor poor at the age of 14. 

Her Excellency, Aisha Buhari has travelled globally in bid to educate the girl child, has she got a say in elders marrying young girls, because of her culture or gender?

President Buhari, we would kindly love to hear your say on this, we all know that the country's economy is not the change the people voted for, but from your fatherly stance, you can give a decree which would be effective in improving the plight and life of the girl child.