YERIMA SPEAKS STRONGLY AGAINST GENDER EQUALITY BILL EVEN AS SENATE REJECTS BILL

Members of the Nigerian Senate today March 15th, voted against the Gender Equality in Marriage bill which was being sponsored by Senator Biodun Olujimi.

Senator Biodun Olujimi in her bill stated that a widow would automatically become the custodian of children in the event of the death of her husband, and would also inherit his property. 
The bill amongst other things was designed to address women's freedom of movement, female economic activity, girls' access to education, equal rights for women in marriage, divorce, property/land ownership and inheritance, appropriate measures against gender discrimination in political and public life and prohibitions of violence to women.
As the debate for and against the bill went on on the floor of the Senate, most of the Senators voted against the bill when Senate President Bukola Saraki, called for a vote for it to pass for 2nd reading. 
During the debate, Senate leader, Ali Ndume, said there is a conflict between our traditional belief and our religious belief regarding the protection of women rights.
He called for the passage of the bill because it will afford men and women in marriage the same equal rights "“This law that is being amended is very important especially when there is a clear conflict when it comes to dealing with widows, inheritance, divorce, even marriage itself in our society.
There are various traditions. The problem we have is the combination of our traditions and new religious beliefs. You will find an Igbo man who cannot speak Igbo language because he studied abroad. He will do traditional marriage then go to church again to get married in the church.
The church wedding says if you marry, the couple become one while the Igbo tradition says when you marry a wife, she becomes your property. So when issues come up after the marriage, you now wonder which one to take.
As for inheritance and divorce, in Islam, it is very clear how it is being done, but if you combine that with your tradition, you find out that women are being discriminated in a disadvantageous manner. There is a need for women who are involved in this advocacy to also engage in enlightenment. If you will marry, you will marry; either Christian or Muslim.
I think this bill is timely and important and at the public hearing stage, we will look at this bill very well.”he said Senate deputy president, Ike Ekeremadu, also spoke in favor of the bill. . “Only last night, I was going through a document prepared by George Bush of America. Those countries that are doing well are those who give women opportunities.
Where I come from, women don’t eat egg and are restricted from touching the non-essential parts of animal. But now that has changed. What is needed is time and education, not necessarily legislation. We will continue to encourage our women. I support this bill.
Sani Yerima, a senator from Zamfara state, expressed aversion to the bill, arguing that it was in conflict with the Nigerian constitution.
He explained that the bill negates the principles of the Sharia law, which the constitutions regards.
Senate President Bukola Saraki put the bill to a vote, to which the opposing senators shouted a thunderous “nay”, and subsequently had their way.
The bill was being read a second time when it was rejected.
A similar bill was presented at the seventh senate by Chris Anyanwu, a former senator from Imo east, but it was rejected as well.
Yerima, former governor of Zamfara state who is now senator, played a pivotal role in the rejection of Anyanwu’s bill at that time. He was also the frontman of the opposition against the bill on Tuesday.
Other senators who opposed the bill are Adamu Aliero, a senator from Kebbi state, who argued that its provisions are inconsistent with Sharia law, and Emmanuel Bwacha, a senator from Tarara state equally rejected the bill.