Fresh outrage at Edo senator’s support for underage marriage

A FEW days after the International Federation of Woman Lawyers (Federacion Internacional De Abogadas) (FIDA) and other civil society groups in Edo State staged a major demonstration over Senator Odion Ugbesia's purported opposition to the removal of Section 29 (4)(b), more knocks have continued to trail the senator's position as more organisations have condemned his position, alleging that he had technically voted for child-marriage.


Twenty-nine organisations in United Kingdom, Canada, USA and Italy, which include Association Against Women Export (AAWE), led by Rosalin Okosun, based in Canada and Nigeria; Facilitator, Voices of Edo Women led by Dr. Joan Osa Oviawe in USA; Dr. Esohe Aghatise, Executive Director of Iroko Onlus, in Turin, Italy; Dr. (Mrs.) Lorretta Ogboro-Okor, and Augustina Iyare, religious organisations, professional groups including medical personnel, in a letter to Ugbesia, said his vote for the retention of the controversial clause was support for child abuse, which they said, negates the principles of the Child Rights Act passed by the National Assembly and which has been domesticated by several state Houses of Assembly.

"We expect that as our representative, you will be prepared to take responsibility for your actions in your duties on our behalf. To paraphrase a wise saying, when we cannot stand for our values, they become hobbies. In that spirit, we ask that you make a public and unconditional written retraction of your support against the repeal of Section 29(4b) of the Constitution as soon as possible to align with the wishes and aspirations of members of your constituency on this issue.

"Furthermore, considering the fact that serious socio-cultural issues bordering on the abuse of the girl-child, including girl-child trafficking and prostitution, and inequities in educational opportunities and community/traditional rights, are also burning issues in Edo State.

"We are also using this opportunity to call on you to publicly unveil a progressive and concrete agenda for the empowerment of the girl-child and women in Edo-Central Senatorial District and your support in general for the empowerment of girls and women in the state and Nigeria."

However, Ugbesia told The Guardian when a similar letter was written against him two weeks ago, that he did not vote for under-age marriage as being "mis-presented", adding that there are more serious matters that Nigerians should bother about in the review of the constitution.

"But that clause has been there since 1979; it was retained in the 1999 Constitution and now, it just came up for debate. It is an innocuous part in our constitution; whether it is there or not doesn't make any difference. There are very serious issues that people should talk about.

"But I have never supported child-marriage or any related issue. There is nothing like that in the issue we are debating and if it ever comes, I can never support child-marriage issue.
It was not brought before us and if anything like that comes, trust me, I will definitely oppose it. I will vote against child-marriage any time".