Mass Wedding: Why I Took Decision To Pay ‘Bridewealth’, ‘Dowry’ For 100 Constituents –Niger Speaker

Speaker of  Niger state House of Assembly, Abdulmalik Sarkindaji, responded to criticism on Sunday and explained reasons why he took the decision  to sponsor the wedding of about 100 girls in his constituency.

 The Speaker noted that  his plans to sponsor a mass wedding for his constituents in  Mariga Local Government, Niger state , was as a result of genuine concerns for some parents in his constituency.

Recall that Sarkindaji had  on Friday  declared his readiness to pay  dowries and bride prices on behalf of the beneficiaries adding that he has procured all necessary materials for the mass wedding.

Team@orientactualmags.com learned that the Speaker, who has responded to the criticism that had greeted his decision via  the statement issued by his Senior Special Assistant on Media and communications, Shamsudeen Binaira on Sunday, also dismissed insinuations that some among the girls would be forced into marriage.

He explained that over 50 per cent of the girls already  have suitors but their parents have no resources to meet their wedding expenses as required by their customs and traditions.

‘The other categories are those that have lost their parents to insecurity in the area and have nobody to finance their wedding even though they have their suitors.

Majority of these girls are orphans who have lost their parents, including children of our gallant vigilantes who lost their lives to bandits and there is nobody to finance their wedding despite attaining marriage age with someone ready to marry them.

These girls are not being married out against their will or that their husbands are being forced on them. They have there preferred suitors  but only that the parents and relatives do not have the means to marry them out’  he said.

Binaira also  explained  that ‘according to the Hausa tradition, you cannot marry out a girl without accompanying her with some essential items to make her comfortable in her husband’s house such as room furniture, kitchen utensils, among others’.

‘That is what these girls are lacking, and that is the responsibility the Speaker has agreed to shoulder and relieve the parents of such a burden. Their parents have been postponing the marriage for lack of resources, and the Speaker decided to take it over’ he added

The statement also noted  that this is one of the Speaker’s many gestures of goodwill  to his constituents while adding that before  arriving  at the decision in question, Sarkindaji  had consulted widely with his constituents, including the parents, relations of the orphans, religious leaders, and other critical stakeholders in the area-Team@orientactualmags.com  Do you have any information you wish to share with us? Do you want us to cover your event or programme? Kindly send SMS to 08059100286, 09094171980 or get in touch via orientactualmag@gmail.com.  Thank you