The International Federation of Women Lawyers, FIDA, has berated the Senate Leader, Ali Ndume, for encouraging the Senate President, Dr. Bukola Saraki and Nigerian men to marry second wives.
FIDA, which is the umbrella body of female legal practitioners in the country, insisted that such call from the lawmaker was “disparaging and meant to demean Nigeria women”.
The association, in a statement it issued in Abuja on Friday, said it was outraged by the fact that Ndume gave the advice on the floor of the hallowed chambers of the Senate, saying such utterance portrayed women as “sex objects”, whose clamour for gender equality could only be realised by being married off by men.
Senate Leader, Ali Ndume
“May we remind the Senator that Nigeria is a signatory to the Convention on the Elimination of Discrimination against Women (CEDAW) and his utterances negate the provisions of Article No 16 that ‘State parties shall take all appropriate measures to eliminate discrimination against women in all matters relating to marriage and family relations’ and the General Recommendation in Article No 21 which states that ‘polygamous marriage contravenes a woman’s right to equality with men, and can have such serious emotional and financial consequences for her and her dependents that such marriage ought to be discouraged and prohibited”, the group stated.
It noted that whereas the Marriage Act defined monogamous marriage, sections 33, 39, 45, 46 and 47 prescribed punishments for polygamy for persons married under the Act.
“The Holy Bible which Senator Ndume referred to does not recognise polygamy as the wording of Mathew 19: 4-6 refers to the union of one man and woman to the exclusion of any other being.
“FIDA Nigeria states that on March 8, 2016, men all around the world adopted policies to accelerate gender equality in support of the theme, ‘planet 50-50 by 2030:Step it up for Gender Equity.
“We urge Senator Ndume and other distinguished Senators to pledge for gender parity and not trivialise the role of women in the society”, read the statement signed by FIDA Country Vice President/National President, Mrs Inime Aguma.
It will be recalled that Ndume, had during a debate at the Senate earlier this week, urged the Senate President, Saraki, to consider taking another wife, even as he also implored Nigerian men to marry more than one wife, a situation he said would enable them to show more care to women.
Ndume made the call while contributing to the debate on a motion to mark International Women’s Day.
The said motion was presented by a Senator from Lagos State and wife of the national leader of the All Progressives Congress, APC, Hon. Oluremi Tinubu.
The said motion was presented by a Senator from Lagos State and wife of the national leader of the All Progressives Congress, APC, Hon. Oluremi Tinubu.
While emphasising his point, Ndume, argued that the “first care” to be given to any woman was marriage. “I urge men to marry more than one wife. The first care of a woman is marriage,” he insisted.
According to him, “Men should take care of women by not just befriending them, but by going further to marry them. I know there is nowhere in the Bible that prohibits marrying more than one wife. Starting with the Senate President, I ask him to consider marrying more than one wife”.
The lawmaker, who is representing Borno South, subsequently made a formal request to the Senate to declare that Nigerian men should marry more than one wife. “
His words: “As a sign of respect for women, let’s urge men to marry more than one wife”.
Remarkably, his prayer was immediately seconded by another Senator from Bauchi State, Hon. Suleiman Nazif.
It was however turned down by a simple majority vote from Senators who all chorused “Nay!” when the question was put forward by the Senate President, Saraki.
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