Opinion
Yerima: Lawbreaker Or Lawmaker?
Maverick Senator Ahmed Sani Yerima, the crusader of Sharia law in the country, is in the news again. He is in the headlines not for propagating Sharia legal system as the authentic system for the nation. Neither does it have anything to do with his sponsorship of controversial bills in the Senate. He has instead enmeshed himself in a controversy of getting married to an under-aged Egyptian girl.
Senator Yerima was the governor of Zamfara State from 1999 to 2007. While serving as governor, he introduced the implementation of Sharia or Islamic law and thus Zamfara became the first state in the country to do so. His action drew both the ire and commendations of Nigerians. He was praised, derided and debated and has remained a recurring decimal in the discourse of religion and politics in Nigeria.
The distinguished Senator was recently accused of marrying a 13-year-old girl from Egypt. According to reports, he spent over a $100,000 on the marriage. This amount is enough to take care of the budget of an entire state or even a sector in the country. This development has sparked an outrage. Women and human rights groups are protesting why a lawmaker who should obey the law is contravening it. The question is, why did Senator Yerima develop interest in a minor and not on adult female? Why did he do that and plunged himself in paedophilia?
His action is already drawing unrelenting protests across the country. The Minister of Women Affairs, Josephine Aneni, has expressed her determination to bring the Senator to book. Other Nigerians have called for outright criminal prosecution for affairs with a minor. In the midst of all the protests, what is surprising is that the Senate has not really initiated drastic measures against the erring Senator. Ahmed might have least expected the reactions to his marriage. What was perhaps planned as a quiet honey-moon has attracted huge attention and controversy.
The Senator, on the other hand, has risen up to defend himself. He accepts that he has married a new wife but denies she is 13 years of age. He has, however, refused to disclose her and accused those who want to know of invading his privacy. But as a serving Senator, should Yerima know that the dividing line between privacy and public domain is thin.
I think the Senator knows this and that is why he has resorted to religion as defence in order to silence his traducers. He reaffirms his faith in Islam and the fact that as a devout Muslim, he is always guided by the Quran and exemplary life of Prophet Mohammed. He went dangerously far to assert that anyone who attempts to judge him by any other standards and rules “other than those prescribed by Allah and the holy Prophet, then he is wasting his time because those are not my guiding principles”.
His defence, however, flies in the face of objectivity. First, he did not cite the relevant sections of the Quran which permit him to marry minors. Secondly, the issue is about violation of secular laws which deal with the protection of minors. Now by appealing to religious principles, does Yerima seek to escape being subjected to secular laws? As one who previously courted religious controversy, is his attempting to instigate another storm?
Only time will tell how this case will end. But I am glad that the Senator was quizzed by NAPTIP and interrogated for few hours and then released on bail upon self-recognition. In order to instill confidence in the masses and to demonstrate the fact that government can prosecute the high and mighty in keeping with its rule of mantra, Senator Ahmed Yerima should be tried.
The issue of marriage to a 13-year old girl presents several challenges to all spheres of development. Now at 13, how much education does Yerima’s new bride have? How equipped is she for the challenges of 21st century? Secondly, is this marriage not an incentive to the worsening maternal mortality in Nigeria? At 13, what are the chances that this girl will not be exposed to the danger associated with teenage pregnancy if she gets pregnant?
Yerima’s misconduct is unbecoming of him as a senator. His action violates the Child Rights Act which was legislated into law by the National Assembly which he belongs. By this conduct, the distinguished Senator is simply saying one thing: “Do as I say and not as I do”. He is a law breaker not a lawmaker.
Arnold Alalibo
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Restoring Order, Delivering Good Governance
The political atmosphere in Rivers State has been anything but calm in 2025. Yet, a rare moment of unity was witnessed on Saturday, June 28, when Governor Siminalayi Fubara and Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Chief Nyesom Wike, appeared side by side at the funeral of Elder Temple Omezurike Onuoha, Wike’s late uncle. What could have passed for a routine condolence visit evolved into a significant political statement—a symbolic show of reconciliation in a state bruised by deep political strife.
The funeral, attended by dignitaries from across the nation, was more than a moment of shared grief. It became the public reflection of a private peace accord reached earlier at the Presidential Villa in Abuja. There, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu brought together Governor Fubara, Minister Wike, the suspended Speaker of the Rivers State House of Assembly, Martin Amaewhule, and other lawmakers to chart a new path forward.
For Rivers people, that truce is a beacon of hope. But they are not content with photo opportunities and promises. What they demand now is the immediate lifting of the state of emergency declared in March 2025, and the unconditional reinstatement of Governor Fubara, Deputy Governor Dr. Ngozi Odu, and all suspended lawmakers. They insist on the restoration of their democratic mandate.
President Tinubu’s decision to suspend the entire structure of Rivers State’s elected leadership and appoint a sole administrator was a drastic response to a deepening political crisis. While it may have prevented a complete breakdown in governance, it also robbed the people of their voice. That silence must now end.
The administrator, retired naval chief Ibok-Ette Ibas, has managed a caretaker role. But Rivers State cannot thrive under unelected stewardship. Democracy must return—not partially, not symbolically, but fully. President Tinubu has to ensure that the people’s will, expressed through the ballot, is restored in word and deed.
Governor Fubara, who will complete his six-month suspension by September, was elected to serve the people of Rivers, not to be sidelined by political intrigues. His return should not be ceremonial. It should come with the full powers and authority vested in him by the constitution and the mandate of Rivers citizens.
The people’s frustration is understandable. At the heart of the political crisis was a power tussle between loyalists of Fubara and those of Wike. Institutions, particularly the State House of Assembly, became battlegrounds. Attempts were made to impeach Fubara. The situation deteriorated into a full-blown crisis, and governance was nearly brought to its knees.
But the tide must now turn. With the Senate’s approval of a record ?1.485 trillion budget for Rivers State for 2025, a new opportunity has emerged. This budget is not just a fiscal document—it is a blueprint for transformation, allocating ?1.077 trillion for capital projects alone. Yet, without the governor’s reinstatement, its execution remains in doubt.
It is Governor Fubara, and only him, who possesses the people’s mandate to execute this ambitious budget. It is time for him to return to duty with vigor, responsibility, and a renewed sense of urgency. The people expect delivery—on roads, hospitals, schools, and job creation.
Rivers civil servants, recovering from neglect and under appreciation, should also continue to be a top priority. Fubara should continue to ensure timely payment of salaries, address pension issues, and create a more effective, motivated public workforce. This is how governance becomes real in people’s lives.
The “Rivers First” mantra with which Fubara campaigned is now being tested. That slogan should become policy. It must inform every appointment, every contract, every budget decision, and every reform. It must reflect the needs and aspirations of the ordinary Rivers person—not political patrons or vested interests.
Beyond infrastructure and administration, political healing is essential. Governor Fubara and Minister Wike must go beyond temporary peace. They should actively unite their camps and followers to form one strong political family. The future of Rivers cannot be built on division.
Political appointments, both at the Federal and State levels, must reflect a spirit of fairness, tolerance, and inclusivity. The days of political vendettas and exclusive lists must end. Every ethnic group, every gender, and every generation must feel included in the new Rivers project.
Rivers is too diverse to be governed by one faction. Lasting peace can only be built on concessions, maturity, and equity. The people are watching to see if the peace deal will lead to deeper understanding or simply paper over cracks in an already fragile political arrangement.
Wike, now a national figure as Minister of the FCT, has a responsibility to rise above the local fray and support the development of Rivers State. His influence should bring federal attention and investment to the state, not political interference or division.
Likewise, Fubara should lead with restraint, humility, and a focus on service delivery. His return should not be marked by revenge or political purges but by inclusive leadership that welcomes even former adversaries into the process of rebuilding the state.
“The people are no longer interested in power struggles. They want light in their streets, drugs in their hospitals, teachers in their classrooms, and jobs for their children. The politics of ego and entitlement have to give way to governance with purpose.
The appearance of both leaders at the funeral was a glimpse of what unity could look like. That moment should now evolve into a movement-one that prioritizes Rivers State over every personal ambition. Let it be the beginning of true reconciliation and progress.
As September draws near, the Federal government should act decisively to end the state of emergency and reinstate all suspended officials. Rivers State must return to constitutional order and normal democratic processes. This is the minimum requirement of good governance.
The crisis in Rivers has dragged on for too long. The truce is a step forward, but much more is needed. Reinstating Governor Fubara, implementing the ?1.485 trillion budget, and uniting political factions are now the urgent tasks ahead. Rivers people have suffered enough. It is time to restore leadership, rebuild trust, and finally put Rivers first.
By: Amieyeofori Ibim
Amieyeofori Ibim is former Editor of The Tide Newspapers, political analyst and public affairs commentator
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