Posted by By Kazeem Ugbodaga on
Contrary to the view of his northern colleagues, who have adopted the Sharia Penal Code, Niger state governor, Dr. Mu'azu Babangida Aliyu, says sharia is against chopping of hands of violators of Islamic law.
Contrary to the view of his northern colleagues, who have adopted the Sharia Penal Code, Niger state governor, Dr. Mu'azu Babangida Aliyu, says sharia is against chopping of hands of violators of Islamic law.
Several hands were chopped off in some northern states, especially Zamfara, where the sharia system was fully implemented. As a result, one of the victims arm was amputated for stealing a cow. Aliyu stunned the crowd at the 8th National Conference of the Committee of Wives of Lagos State Officials (COWLSO) when he kicked against widespread chopping off of hands when victims were caught, an act that had left some Northerners with one hand.
He said sharia is a way of life and respected the fundamental rights of the citizens, especially women, saying that sharia did not recognise chopping of hands. Aliyu said further that, polygamous marriage was not compulsory in Islam and that a woman had the right, according to sharia, to demand for a husband to be monogamous.
'Sharia allows and emphasises negotiation and agreement in a marriage act contract, whereby the representatives or the actual bridegroom could sign an undertaking to abide by all the terms of agreement that is biding in marriage. 'These negotiations could involve the amount of dowry, the ethical codes of behaviour in the relationship and indeed a demand for a husband to be monogamous.
'If anyone believes that polygamy is compulsory or encouraged in Islam, may be mistaken. In fact, marriage itself is not compulsory but highly recommended,' he stated. Aliyu added that those who went into polygamy did so because of lustful greed, cultural norms and selfishness. The governor also called for a legislation, demanding for medical certificate, probably of mental or other fitness, before marriages were contracted in the country.
'Let nobody say that, there is any religion against such a move. This way, we shall avoid the spread of diseases like HIV/AIDS,' he said. Aliyu stated that, a woman, according to the sharia law, has the right to demand that her husband used condom during sexual intercourse, if she suspected that he had gone after other women.
In his speech, governor Babatunde Fashola lamented the dehumanising treatment being meted out to women, saying that, they needed to be recognised in all facets of life. He said the maternal mortality rate of women during child birth was worrisome, saying that, the state was determined to curb this, which led it to establish five special maternal hospitals in different parts of the state.