By Ojimaojo Y. Abubakar, Abuja.
Kogi State Deputy Speaker, Rt.Hon.Ahmed Muhammed, representing Ankpa I and Hon. Rabiu Alfa representing Ankpa II has acclaimed Asiya Iganaya Muhammed as the most talented girl Ankpa ever have.
The two lawmakers made this known during launching of her maiden book titled ‘Plight of a Widow’ at her ancestral home, Ojoku in Ankpa LGA of Kogi State, yesterday.
The book launch was graced by prominent Ankpa indigenes including Hon. Adams and traditional rulers and many members of the political class.
Speaking at the event, Ahmed said “wicked widowhood practices have continued despite laws and customs put in place to mitigate such. Today in Nigeria, widows are still being humiliated, dehumanised and abused via wicked customs, rites and rituals that make one question whether the present government care about women.
“There’s no gain in joining cult groups; cultism does not pay. We need to continue talking to our youths on the need to shun cultism.”
Also speaking, Hon.Rabiu Alfa, who spoke on the culture of early marriages among female, said that the government would promote policies discouraging such practices to secure the future of the girl-child in the state.
“We should think of how to educate our daughters and not to married them off at early age. Today, thousands of widows had depended on their husband to survive, and if the man is not there tomorrow, who will take care of her and the children? All these are borne out of early marriage”.
However, Rabiu promised to sponsor Asiya to any institution of her choice.
On her part, the author and women right activist said, “it is obvious that the state of widows in Nigeria is highly pathetic, many of them are uneducated while others lacks the skills to be self-reliant. Most time, the psychological torture that they experience in their various compounds has led them into emotional trauma.
“The truth of it is that, we all know the kind of kinsmen we have and the caliber of people we deal with. So, it important to note that if your kinsmen are the type that will deny your family from their legal right tomorrow, you have to will everything to your wife and children while you are alive.”
