The people of Mr Akinyelure’s Senatorial District on Monday staged a peaceful protest in Akure, the State Capital against the voting of the lawmaker representing them in the Senate for supporting the child marriage bill.
Summoned by the constituents to a meeting held at the Cultural Centre Auditorium, Akure, which is also the Senatorial headquarters, Mr Akinyelure regretted the act and apologised to the people, explaining that he cast the vote in error.
Akinyelure, who is popularly known as ”Allover” could not control himself as he wept profusely like a baby in the presence of his people after prostrating to them, seeking forgiveness.
The lawmaker, while defending himself on the issue, claimed that he mistakenly pressed “NO” instead of “YES” when the lawmakers embarked on voting since the voting style was electronic.
He said, “Nobody is above human error. What happened has made me to become wiser, because nobody is perfect except God. I will like to make the following clarification on the subject matter to correct the wrong allegations of voting in favour of underage marriage as widely reported in the national dailies.
“Before this issue occurred, what the Senate considered for determination under the review of the Nigerian Constitution was renunciation of citizenship under the Constitution as contained in section 29 (4b) which provides that ‘any woman who married shall be deemed to be a full age.’ it is worthy of note that full age has been defined under section 29 (4a) to mean the age of 18 years and above.”
He emphasised that as a true Yoruba man, he wouldn’t have intentionally voted in support of child marriage.
He said there is still hope in correcting the situation as the bill will still be passed at the House of Representatives and the States Houses of Assembly.
Prominent Nigerians and human right organisations took to the social media to protest what they described as legalisation of sexual abuse of underage girls.
The protests were held in parts of the country on Saturday such as Abuja and Lagos among others. Also, petitions were signed to protest the law.
The protesters might besiege all state Houses of Assembly and the National Assembly on Tuesday to call on the Senate to reverse itself.
Those who protested queried why under age Nigerians could not exercise their franchise at the poll but were being subjected to marriage at tender age.
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