NEWS
Child Rights Act: Marriage Doesn’t Stop Education – Sen Yerima
The 14-year-old Egyptian girl, who got married to Sen Ahmad Yerima in 2010, is in the verge of obtaining a masters degree.
The former governor of Zamfara State made the assertion on Friday night, during a television programme monitored in Lagos by Biztellers.
Sen Yerima rattled the world sometime in 2010, when news of his taking an Egyptian wife the national mosque, broke out.
Surprisingly, when the matter came up, while Sen Yerima was featuring on Channels Television’s Politics Today, he saw no wrong in his actions, asserting that after all their marriage has not stopped her education.
In his words, “She is doing her Master’s Degree now.
“I told you my own daughter who was married at the age of 16, is doing her Ph. D.
“Marriage does not stop people from getting educated.”
He took a swipe at the Child Rights Act (2003) and the Violence Against Persons Prohibition Act (2015), saying whatever act is passed at the National Assembly has to be domesticated by the state assemblies.
“And once they have not done that, it’s no longer a law,” he added.
He alleged that former President Olusegun Obasanjo “tried to smuggle the Child Rights Act”.
According to Sen Yerima, “He (Obasanjo) passed it at the National Assembly through some manipulations but I don’t think any state in the North domesticated it and passed it.”
On whether children deserve the right to education and other freedoms enshrined in the Child Rights Act, Sen Yerima posited that marriage could not stop education.
To drive his point home, Sen Yerima, pointed out that his daughter whom he had given away in marriage at the age of 16 “is doing her Ph.D. in London”
On the claim that he paid $100,000 as dowry for the Egyptian girl’s hand in marriage, the former Zamfara governor noted that “it’s not dowry.”
According to him, “all other things” stipulated as conditions for the marriage were counted to arrive at that figure.
“Provision of the house, provision of dowry, the dresses that she has to wear, everything [in] total,” he said. “At that time, it was just N15 million.”
He maintained that the Sharia Law provides for one can give as much as is requested of them in marriage.
“Whatever you have to do in marriage is clearly stipulated under the Sharia Law. You have to provide for a house for the girl, if you’re marrying her, like, from the condition the Egyptian government’s law provides,” he said.
In response to the recent security alerts, the Osun State Government has approved the establishment of a Joint Security Taskforce to strengthen security response and alert to threats to lives and properties in the state.
According to a government house statement on Thursday, to ensure smooth take off of the JTF, the state government declared its readiness to provide all necessary logistics that will strengthen the protection of lives and property of the people throughout Osun State .
The decision was adopted at the State Security Council (SSC) meeting convened yesterday by Governor Ademola Adeleke and presided over by the Deputy Governor, Prince Kola Adewusi with the new Commissioner of Police personally in attendance alongside other security top brass.
READ ALSO: NCDMB Book Reading Features Nwabuikwu
The Deputy Governor while opening the meeting conveyed the best wishes of the state Governor to the service commanders and lauded their steadfastness during recent security challenges and tasked them not to relent in the face of fresh security threats.
Accompanied by the Attorney General of the state, Hon Wole Jimi-Bada; the Head of Service, Elder Ayanleye Aina; and the Governor’s Special Adviser on Security, Mr Samuel Ojo, the Deputy Governor told the commanders that the governor is committed to further empowering the security agencies to secure the state while calling on the traditional rulers to sustain their local security oversight.
The Council during its deliberations also used the opportunity of the meeting which lasted several hours to further allay the fears of the residents on their security and protection, noting that Osun state remains safe and secured.
The Council further tasks residents to be extra vigilant particularly in churches, mosques and schools, tasking stakeholders to put extra security measures around their premises.
While assuring the public of their safety, the Council further requested timely intelligence sharing to security agencies by members of the public to forestall attacks by suspected terrorists and bandits.
The Nigeria Police in conjunction with other security agencies were also directed to be on a 24 hour red alert to curtail the threats of the said bandits and terrorists.
At the meeting, an agreement was also reached between the Ministry of Justice, the Nigeria Police, and the DSS, to collaborate with a view to ensuring that all the suspects are properly investigated and prosecuted accordingly without delay.
The meeting ended with a commendation of the new Commissioner of Police, Mr Ibrahim Zungura for instituting policing reforms since his assumption of office and for attending the security meeting in person.
Vice President Kashim Shettima has arrived in Yola, Adamawa State, to lead a Federal Government delegation on a condolence visit to the family of the late elder statesman, Alhaji Bamanga Muhammad Tukur.
Shettima’s visit is at the instance of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, following the death of the former Governor of the old Gongola State and former National Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).
The Vice President was received in Yola by Adamawa State Governor, Ahmadu Umaru Fintiri, alongside members of the state executive council.
Tukur, who died on September 12, 2026, was a prominent businessman, politician and elder statesman whose career in public service and business spanned several decades.
SEE MORE: 2027: PDP Drops Fresh Revelation on Wike’s Support for Tinubu
He served as Governor of the defunct Gongola State and later became National Chairman of the PDP. He was also recognised for his contributions to Nigeria’s political development and Africa’s business community.
The presidential delegation accompanying Shettima includes the APC Deputy National Chairman (North), Hon. Ali Bukar Dalori; former Minister of Transportation, Senator Sa’idu Ahmed Alkali; Deputy Chief of Staff to the President (Office of the Vice President), Senator Ibrahim Hassan Hadejia; and Senior Special Assistant to the President on National Assembly Matters (Senate), Senator Abdullahi Abubakar Gumel.
Others on the delegation are Hon. Abdulrazaq Sa’ad Namdas; Sarkin Gabas Adamawa, Dr Mahmood Halilu Ahmed (Modi); and APC National Vice Chairman (North-East), Comrade Mustapha Salihu, among others.
The condolence visit comes as political leaders, government officials and other Nigerians continue to mourn the death of the former governor and PDP national chairman.
Peter Obi has condemned the reported killing of some Nigerians abducted in Borgu, Niger State, saying the country must never normalise the killing of its citizens.
Obi made this known in a statement released via X on Wednesday, where he described the reports emerging from Borgu as increasingly difficult to comprehend and deeply painful.
He recalled that on August 27, he had expressed his anguish over the reported abduction of about 600 Nigerians, including women, children and elderly people, alongside the killing of others.
ALSO SEE: ‘You Should Not Have to Leave Nigeria to Succeed’ – Peter Obi Tells Nigerian Youth
According to him, his anguish has deepened following continuing reports of the gruesome killing of some of those abducted, while many others remain unaccounted for.
Obi also referred to another disturbing incident in which a bandit group reportedly beheaded a Nigerian and sent his severed head to a community leader over a ₦50 million levy.
“If the reported killing was intended to increase pressure on the community and extract more money for those still being held, then we must recognise the terrible reality before us: human life is being deliberately turned into a bargaining instrument,” he said.
The former Anambra State governor said one person being killed to terrorise an entire community while others are kept alive as hostages for more ransom amounts to the systematic devaluation of human life.
“These are not statistics. They are Nigerians. They are mothers, fathers, children, brothers, sisters and elderly people,” Obi said.
He questioned how long the country would continue to accept the kidnapping of hundreds of citizens, killings, criminal levies, displacement and ransom payments as unavoidable features of Nigerian life.
Obi said insecurity also affects families, farms, businesses, education and public confidence in government.
He called for intelligence-led operations, stronger community security, rapid response, better coordination and equipment for security forces, effective border protection and sustained action against criminal networks.
“The primary responsibility of government is the security and welfare of its citizens,” he said.
“While politicians prepare for elections, Nigerians are asking for something more fundamental: the right to live.”
Obi urged the government to match prayers with action, insisting that no criminal group should determine who lives or dies anywhere in Nigeria.
“Every Nigerian life matters. Every victim deserves justice. Every community deserves protection. Nigeria must restore security, justice, and the dignity of human life,” he added
Terror Threats: Osun Establishes Joint Security Task Force
Shettima Arrives Yola to Condole With Bamanga Tukur’s Family
Middle East Crises Pump Fuel Prices Upwards with Attacks on Iran, Saudi Arabia
NCDMB Book Reading Features Nwabuikwu
Gas Industry Must Commercialise Methane – NLNG
2027: South Should Complete 8 Years Before North Takes Over — Shehu Sani
Trump’s Family Unveils New Cryptocurrency Platform
Senate Denies Receiving Petitions Against Tinubu’s Ambassadorial Nominees
Dangote Cement Lights Up Benue Host Communities With CSR Initiatives
Reps Recommend 3-year Jail Term For Aviation minister
Tems Sets New Record On Billboard Hot 100 Chart