Some Muslims are ignorant about their religion. As far as the Quran isconcerned, any married woman is of full age. Senator Ahmed Sani YerimaBakura

In this interview with JOHN ALECHENU, the first Executive Governor of Zamfara State, now Senator Ahmed Sani Yerima- Bakura speaks about the recent alteration of the constitution as well as his many controversies. Excerpts:

Your position on the recommendation by the Senate Committee on the Review of the Constitution that provisions of section 29 (4) (b) be deleted from the 1999 Constitution has generated public outcry. Why did you demand that the matter be revisited?

People do not seem to understand the issues; most of the criticisms about my position are based on ignorance. The issue was not about marriage, it is about renunciation of one’s citizenship. If you read the section carefully, it says a woman who is married shall be deemed to be of full age. The preceding section described “full age” as meaning age of eighteen years and above. Now, removing this section will infringe on Islamic law, because Islam recognises a married woman as having attained full age. Item 61 of the Second Schedule, Part I in the Exclusive Legislative List of the Constitution says the Legislative Powers include: “The

formation, annulment and dissolution of marriagesother than marriages under Islamic law and customary law including matrimonial causes relating thereto.” To delete sub-section (4) (b) will amount to a breach of Item 61 as I mentioned earlier. Our people should understand the provisions of our constitution.

Now to the other part of your question, when we voted on the item the first time, I said nothing and I left to go and pray. When I returned from prayers, I discovered that there were two items which had been voted on but were revisited. I then raised the issue and the President of the Senate, Senator David Mark, being a just leader, a leader who listens, said a vote had been taken and passed. But I insisted and he gave us the opportunity to revisit the issue in the interest of fairness, we took another vote and we won.

People don’t seem to understand that this provision has been in the constitution since 1979, not even 1999, it has been there. Framers of theconstitution recognise the fact that Nigeria is a multi-religious society so they made provisions to guarantee religious freedoms. Theconstitution recognises that there are Christians, Muslims, animists and even those who do not believe in anything.

This is not the first time you are embroiled in a controversy over the issue of marriage. About three years ago, you were said to have married a 13 year- old Egyptian girl. Was she really 13? 

You see, this is another misunderstanding of actions taken in conformity with the tenets of my religion. When I married my Egyptian wife I followed laid down procedures for marriage in Islam. When I informed the Ulama that I wanted to get married as is required by Islam they said they had to witness it because this was required before they could issue a marriage certificate. They were there, it was not done in secret; they witnessed it and issued me a marriage certificate, I still have it. So when NAPTIP (National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons) wrote me a letter on the issue, in my reply, I attached a photocopy of the certificate. Those who have decided to oppose anything that Yarima says or does speak about these things ignorantly. There was nothing Islamically wrong with my marriage.

Women groups are demanding that you show them which part of the Quran or the Haddith you are relying on to hold on to this position?

I will refer such people to the Holy Quran. The Holy Quran says any married woman is of full age. That is why the Holy Quran says any married woman who commits adultery should be stoned to death that is under Islamic law. It is not a matter of a woman who has reached the age of 18 years. Some Muslims are ignorant about their religion. As far as the Quran is concerned, any married woman is of full age. And the Prophet Mohammed (S.A.W) said, for you to be married, there are conditions you must have attained as a woman. One of it is menstruation. Once you start your menstruation, you are of full age, you can marry, that is the Quran and the Haddith (saying and actions of the Prophet) I refer them to.