Women Lawyers Tackle Ndume over Call on Saraki, Men to Marry More Wives
International Federation of Women Lawyers (FIDA) Nigeria is outraged by Senate Leader, Ali Ndume's call on Senate President, Bukola Saraki and others to marry second wives describing the call as 'disparaging and meant to demean Nigerian women'.
In a statement issued yesterday by FIDA Country Vice President/ National President, Mrs. Inime Aguma, the lawyers said they were outraged by Ndume's utterances on the floor of the hallowed chambers of the Senate.
According to them, the remarks portrayed women as 'sex objects', whose clamour for gender equality could be realised by being married off by men.
The statement reads: "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.'"
FIDA also stated the Marriage Act which defines monogamous marriage and Sections 33, 39, 45, 46 and 47 which prescribe punishments for polygamy for persons married under the Act.
The women lawyers said: "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."