The Ese Oruru story still ripples in the Nigerian media. God bless the folks at Punch Newspapers for the publicity they gave the matter. For the life of me
, I cannot fathom how you can forcefully abduct a 13 year old girl, take her far from her home and all that she holds dear then marry her in the absence of her father and family and call that “legal”.
According to definitions garnered from several dictionaries, a girl is “a female child, young and immature” abi? So how can or why would you marry somebody that is not yet mature? How can you even think of having sexual relations with a child? How the thing go dey sweet u na? Personally, I think it stems from a deep-seated insecurity and a perverse mindset.
The girl child is special. She is meant to be nurtured and loved; cherished and taught; given the skills she will need to birth a new generation and fortify them for the tasks ahead when she becomes a WOMAN. The fact that that small girl on your street has suddenly developed breasts doesn’t mean she is mature. Being a woman is not an easy process. There is a need for a gradual adjustment, a shift in her perceptions; as her body changes, so does her mind and there should be ample time for that to happen. The girl child should not be relegated to the kitchen or viewed solely as a babymaking factory.
Have we so quickly forgotten the #ChildNotBride campaign? The best graduating student in my faculty back in University was female. There have been lots of outstanding female personalities that have shaped our society for good because they were allowed to grow and have appropriate experiences at every stage of their lives. We have Funke Akindele, Agbani Darego Stephanie Okereke Linus, late Dr. Stella Adadevoh (R.I.P), and a host of other strong women. We have had female teachers at one point or the other; women that have helped shape our intellects and attitudes. If my Literature teacher had been abducted into the wild yonder at a young age and forcefully married, I might never have discovered this side of me.
Vesicovagina Fistula is real. It is an abnormal opening between the bladder and the vagina resulting in continuous involuntary leaking of urine. The consequences are urinary incontinence and related conditions such as dermatitis and erosion of the skin and other tissues in the vulva and vagina from the constant leaking of urine. 80% of VVF cases are due to unrelieved obstructed labour during childbirth which is directly related to the custom of early marriage. Girls who are given out in marriage at very young ages are usually not mature enough for this institution. Whenever they become pregnant and subsequently go into labour, their pelvic bones are often found to be not fully developed as to allow for the passage of the babies’ heads. And once this happens, the poor girl is put aside.
I am quite sure most of these old men that like to degrade young girls in this manner would never allow such befall their daughters. This must stop. Spread the word.
Newsflash: To all the guys out there, don’t come near my daughter till she is 23. If I see your shadow just 5 cm close to her, YOU ARE DEAD!
Off to buy a shotgun.
@NiranNoni
@ostheblog
True words
ReplyDeleteDope
ReplyDeleteThis is a good one
ReplyDelete