The Senate representing Ondo Central in the Nigerian Senate,
Senator Ayo Akinyelure has
apologized for voting in favour of the ‘Under-age
Marriage’.
Senator Akinyelure made these statements following a
peaceful protest by his constituents in Akure, Ondo State.
Below is an excerpt from Channels TV Online report:
“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.
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.”
Below is the official press release from the office of the
Senator
DISTINGUISHED SENATOR Dr. AYO AKINYELURE, FCA representing
Ondo Central at the upper Chamber of the National Assembly, hereby wish to make
the following clarifications on the above subject- matter to correct the wrong allegations
of VOTING INFAVOUR OF ‘UNDER AGE MARRIAGE’ as widely reported in the PUNCH
NEWSPAPER of July, 20th 2013 on Pages 9-11. Which has now been subjected to
various interpretations.
What the Senate considered for determination under the
review of Nigerian Constitution was RENUNCIATION OF CITIZENSHIP UNDER THE
NIGERIAN CONSTITUTION.
THE QUESTION BEFORE THE SENATE FOR DETERMINATION WAS WHETHER
A CLAUSE WHICH PROVIDES THAT “a married woman is deemed to be of full age to
renounce her CITIZENSHIP OF FEDERAL REPUBLIC OF NIGERIA SHOULD BE RETAINED OR
BE DELETED?
Section 29(1) of the Constitution of Federal Republic of
Nigeria provides that “Any citizen of Nigeria of full age who wishes to
renounce his Citizenship shall make a declaration in the prescribed manner for
the RENUNCIATION”
The question before the SENATE FOR WHICH I VOTED I INFAVOUR
WAS THAT A MARRIED WOMAN IS DEEMED TO BE OF FULL AGE TO RENOUNCE HER NIGERIAN
CITIZENSHIP.
THIS IS QUITE DIFFERENT FROM VOTING IN FAVOUR OF ‘UNDERAGE
MARRIAGE’ as now widely reported in the Media to blackmail Senators of FRN that
believed in peaceful co-existence of Nigeria as a Nation.
I wish to EMPHATICALLY MAINTAINED THAT, I NEVER VOTED
INFAVOUR OF UNDERAGE MARRIAGE AS WRONGLY REPORTED IN THE MEDIA. WHAT I VOTED
FOR WAS THAT, a married woman is deemed to be of full age to renounce her
citizenship of FEDERAL REPUBLIC OF NIGERIA as entrenched in the CONSTITUTION
SINCE 1999.
This implied that RENUNCIATION OF NIGERIAN CITIZENSHIP IS
QUITE DIFFERENT FROM AGE OF MARRIAGE OF
NIGERIAN CITIZENS UNDER THE CONSTITUTION OF FEDERAL REPUBLIC
OF NIGERIA, I SUBMITTED THIS
CLARIFICATIONS TO THE WHOLE NIGERIA AND THE WORLD AT LARGE,
THAT MY PEOPLE IN ONDO CENTRAL AND GOVERNMENT OF ONDO STATE DID NOT SUPPORT
UNDER AGE MARRIAGE IN ALL RAMIFICATIONS.
LONG LIVE ONDO CENTRAL SENATORIAL DISTRICT
LONG LIVE ONDO STATE GOVERNMENT
LONG LIVE SENATE OF FEDERAL REPUBLIC OF NIGERIA
LONG LIVE FEDERAL REPUBLIC OF NIGERIA
Distinguished Senator Ayo Akinyelure, FCA
Chairman, Senate Committee on Ethics,
Privileges & Public Petitions
Ondo Central Senatorial District
God bless you for your repentance Sir.
We, the Nigerian youths, loving mothers and other well meaning Nigerians implore you to use your good office and godly mind to put an end to this ungodly decision against our daughters and sisters.
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