Emir Sanusi Don Yarn About Violence Against Women and Child Marriage

My people, gather here make I gist una wetin Emir of Kano, Muhammadu Sanusi II, talk as e don dey vex for how some men dey treat women and how dem dey marry pickin dem early for obodo Naija. This brother no gree keep quiet, he don raise im voice say make we no allow culture justify wetin no make sense.

For one interview wey di Emir do with Channels Television, him talk say, ‘You no fit beat woman because culture say so. Na Nigerian citizen she be, and she deserve protection under di law.’ True talk, my people! Him dey show us say na power wey dey imbalance and wahala from government wey cause most of di abuse wey dey happen. Na wetin we call structural wahala, no be only African culture matter.

Sanusi no just stop there, him also yarn about child marriage for rural areas. Him ask us, ‘Wetindo we go do to help dem girls wey finish primary school at 11 years, but dem no fit get access to secondary school or safe environment?’ Some fathers dey fear say if dem no marry dem off quick, dem go gree born pikin for road – come be like say culture dey force dem hands. This na serious matter, my people!

Di Emir no want make anybody dey blame culture alone; him dey point fingers at government wey no dey provide schools and social services. ‘Na so e be for this obodo,’ him explain, ‘people for city dey flex while dem dey ignore di wahala wey dey rural areas.’ How many cities dem get unsafe roads wey fit carry pikin go school? E no easy at all o!

With dis kind wahala wey dey happen, Sanusi talk say Nigeria gatz draw clear lines for wetin dey right and wetin no dey acceptable. ‘As a nation we need to agree on common values,’ him talk, make we sabi say violence against women and children no get place for our life. ‘No be wetin culture go tell you go fit justify am. Nigerian law no gree allow am,’ him conclude.

Na so e be, my people, plenty acts wey dem dey blame on culture no be culture at all, na wetin we go fit call ‘culture of oppression,’ wey dey thrive on violence and exploitation. If we wan protect our women and children, we gatz change dis kain matter sharp- sharp!