Let me begin by saying the “child” marriage debate can only make people famous, it can only be used to stay famous, it can only revive careers of actresses who are smart enough to hurriedly make a youtube video when the heat is on, but it will continue to happen and not even the removal of the controversial supportive clauses or the inclusion of a new prohibiting one will stop it. This is the fact; plain simple, in one paragraph.

I have watched the drama playing out and how Stella Damasus has tried so hard to be the lead actor. From a youtube video with costumes and the rants of a little girl to an Aljazeera performance where she frowns while other guests speak, I have observed the Stella lady and I think she needs the following advice:

Firstly, arrogance, insults and name calling does not make you right. You are right when you are right you are wrong when you are wrong. For example you referred to the Islamic position on marriage age as “deafening, old and archaic”. Earlier in an article of yours you praised the Islamic mood of worship and the simplicity of it as well as narrated a story of how a wealthy Muslim came down from his car to join a gate man in his estate in prayer in your presence….well, the provision of Islam which made this possible is also old and we thank God it is not archaic in the sense of being abandoned for being old. And the same way you hate our provision for marriage at any age, the pagan Arabs hated the prayers you so praised.

Still on mistaking arrogance and bad behaviour for correctness, I also heard you imply that Muslims “poach” and Christians don’t. According to your claim, the Nigerian law recognizes Islam but also recognizes Christianity but Christians don’t “poach” by asking that the position of the Christian religion be part of Nigerian law. Again you are not right because you said it with much emphasis and a frowned face. This is Nigeria in which it’s Government has a public Holiday two times a week because Christians, with all due respect, could not agree on which day is Sabbath; Saturday or Sunday. This is Nigeria in which the whole period around Christmas is public holiday and you don’t “poach”? Of course you don’t, but we do just because we are saying don’t forbid US from marrying OURSELVES when WE want to and because we say the fact that you compromise your rights to follow your Bible to the Nigerian constitution does not mean we must do the same, more so when the constitution does not require that of us. We poach, we are poachers, don’t mind us!

Secondly, I advise that you, Stella, know your facts especially if you intend saying them on international television. The Child Right Act is the result of a Convention which can only be applied if it goes in line with the Constitution, so if the constitution suggested that a woman of 17 can get married and you say the Child Right Act prohibits such, then you are saying the Child Right Act is unconstitutional and should be thrown away. This is a classic case of not knowing what you are talking about and hence speaking against what you intend to speak for. Now you know why Abraham Lincoln said "Better to remain silent and be thought a fool than to speak out and remove all doubt"

Another blunder you committed because you thought exclamations can cover for points is that you claimed to have discovered hospitals where women with VVF die off. Stella, Stella, VVF is not even lethal, it does not kill. This is as ridiculous as saying you have discovered hospitals where people with Eczema are left to die. Studies, which you will not read because you are too busy taking pictures and twitting, have shown that of 100,000 births 0.4% have the challenge of VVF which is mainly a result of prolong child labour and rape. Let me show you what Dr. John Spurlock, MD Medical Director and Founder of the Continence Management Institute of the Lehigh Valley and 9 other specialists wrote about the cause of VVF and I sure this will be the first time you are reading of a disease you always speak about:

“Risk factors that predispose to VVFs include prior pelvic or vaginal surgery, previous PID, ischemia, diabetes, arteriosclerosis, carcinoma, endometriosis, anatomic distortion by uterine myomas, and infection, particularly postoperative cuff abscess”

You see my dear, one does not have to be super intelligent to speak if only he will be intelligent enough to know he has to speak only of what he knows.

My third and final advice for Stella Damasus is that it is important to follow the argument of the other side if you must engage in a debate. No one standing with Yerima is saying Nigeria is an Islamic state, no one is saying there should be sexual exploitation of children rather that which has been said is that Nigeria being a multi religious state as you claim has said it will not disturb your practice of your religion; marriage is part of religion as far as Muslims and Islam is concerned; as a matter of fact the Prophet of Islam says it is HALF of religion for the Muslims, Nigeria has said it won’t disturb, let it not disturb. It has also been said that in Islam and for Muslims when you marry is not necessarily when you have sex so marriage is anytime, sex is during maturity so where is the exploitation? If you are concerned about how we ensure this then take a breathe and ask us we will answer you.

We do hope to see women like Stella who will get all angry and vocal over the fact that women are in the market places in Nigeria selling pepper under the scourging sun with one baby on her back and two others running around at the risk of being run down by a car. We do hope to see women who will address the problem of prostitution which leaves a young girl sleeping with 10 men a night, 60-70 a week, 280 men every month and 3,360 men a year at the risk of STDs, losing her womb, permanent frigidity, HIV, and rape….but then a non-fatal disease which only occurs in less than 0.4% of child delivery and is curable is more of an issue. What an Olympic sport in hypocrisy

Eseoghene Al-Faruq Ohwojeheri
@faruqish
6/09/13

*sighs* Another Pained islamist.

cinammon: *sighs* Another Pained islamist.

Please just carry your frustration and stay by the side first.

So who is Stella Damascus? How many time did she open her legs before given a role to act in a film? How many film directors has she f^cked before becoming 'famous'?

What advice does she have for her sisters of primary and secondary school age who f#ck teachers and their mates in classrooms/toilets in Lagos?

A 13yr old girl who is defiled by her husband and a 13yr old girl who is defiled on a street who is more decent?

Nonsense!

As typical of Nairalanders.. the Real issue is lost on Socia-religious bias and afifliations, Traditional and Cultural irrelevance and most times illiteracy. Stay focused on Real Issues even when it is glossed over with drama.

She is not even a credible person see here https://www.nairaland.com/395887/stella-damasus-cheater

.....you guys believe engaging in some uncilivised acts because it has islamic backing, is right...eg..terrorism.
in the north where we av the majority to be muslim,practise child marriage and yet there are a lot of indecent practise their as well...so wat does child marriage does for you other than exploit helpless infants all in the name of islam...islam is a friendly and unique religion if practised by decent and enlightened people, otherwise..............I know muslim communities are scared that some infidels might marry dia daugthers thereby depopulating islamic followers......KEEP IT UP....

voltron: As typical of Nairalanders.. the Real issue is lost on Socia-religious bias and afifliations, Traditional and Cultural irrelevance and most times illiteracy. Stay focused on Real Issues even when it is glossed over with drama.

How many ladies av u laid wit....oooooh I forgot..in ur own belief, its only a lady dat can't sleep around...in my area, dis alfa guys sleep around without remorse, yet they castigate there ladies wen dey do same.....I cant blame u....according to islam, "a WOMan is inferior to a man"

[quote author=teniyi][/quote]
Tufiakwa, Aru!

tm-tech:

How many ladies av u laid wit....oooooh I forgot..in ur own belief, its only a lady dat can't sleep around...in my area, dis alfa guys sleep around without remorse, yet they castigate there ladies wen dey do same.....I cant blame u....according to islam, "a WOMan is inferior to a man"

According to Islam? What of the Bible and Christianism? Nonsence!

teniyi:
Please just carry your frustration and stay by the side first.

teniyi:
According to Islam? What of the Bible and Christianism? Nonsence!

Lolz,Teniyi please read ur posts and responses again, U r so not far from the definition of 'frustration'..please if u r having interest in marrying any child, just do it nd save us the tantrum. Child-marriage became a national issue when it was constituted so please keep the religious baises away or better still to yourself as what ever u say would do less or no impact other than to start a pointless, baseless religious argument here...
2ndly pls if u hav a message 4 Stella, mail ha or tweet ha directly so u r sure ur loquacious voice is heard..
Stella may not b right, be that as it may, Ur superfluous post is still dimwitted so save 'us' the hassle...THANKS
*closes case*(but anticipates the OP revisiting as he/she is very bored nd 'frustrated)

Deen4me:

That's the only response you have ?

YES, and U?

tm-tech:

How many ladies av u laid wit....oooooh I forgot..in ur own belief, its only a lady dat can't sleep around...in my area, dis alfa guys sleep around without remorse, yet they castigate there ladies wen dey do same.....I cant blame u....according to islam, "a WOMan is inferior to a man"

@teniyi,

I read your post. I can respect your viewpoints although I disagree with them all.

You seem to be a very informed person so I will be much happy if you can answer this question: Let us assume that I am 40 years old ,a devoted Muslim who observes all the tenets of Islam.You have a daughter of say 12 years of age who is still in Primary school or just starting Secondary School.If I come to ask her hand in marriage will you grant my request?

Please be honest and unemotional in your response.Thank you.

Danfo: @teniyi,

I read your post. I can respect your viewpoints although I disagree with them all.

You seem to be a very informed person so I will be much happy if you can answer this question: Let us assume that I am 40 years old ,a devoted Muslim who observes all the tenets of Islam.You have a daughter of say 12 years of age who is still in Primary school or just starting Secondary School.If I come to ask her hand in marriage will you grant my request?

Please be honest and unemotional in your response.Thank you.

*note* if he says yes, there are '4' things involved:
1) he's a broke-ass and hence needs 2 marry the kid off 2 raise finances.
2)he's an illiterate and doesn't knw the value of 'cradle'. (even though illiteracy is not an excuse buh @least wer I com from(d north)it is, along sides religion tho).
3)he's either NOT honest or doesn't knw what it means..
4)he's frustrated!!!

*note* if he say's NO, then this thread is OP (out of point) as the OP (original poster)

Mute.

Deen4me:

I was of the opinion that you would tackle each point made in the article with an intellectual rebuff and not the one liner you dropped.

Considering there's nothing new in d post, I don't see any points there worth any intellectual rebuff(considering all of the afore mentioned are just an expression of recycled bored thinking).that said, the 'one liner'is the perfect rate..Thanks

ALL OF U ARE BUSY THROWING ABUSES ON EACH OTHER BECAUSE OF LITTLE CHILD MARRIAGE THAT IS NOT CONCERN OF URS.STELLA AND THE SENATOR ARE BUSY MAKING MONEY WHILE U ARE HERE FABRICATING WORDS, EXCHANGING WORDS WITH EACH OTHER.I PRAY THAT THIS TOPIC WON;T SEE THE FRONT PAGE

kachimor: ALL OF U ARE BUSY THROWING ABUSES ON EACH OTHER BECAUSE OF LITTLE CHILD MARRIAGE THAT IS NOT CONCERN OF URS.STELLA AND THE SENATOR ARE BUSY MAKING MONEY WHILE U ARE HERE FABRICATING WORDS, EXCHANGING WORDS WITH EACH OTHER.I PRAY THAT THIS TOPIC WON;T SEE THE FRONT PAGE

So because there's no old fool scouting to lay ur younger sister who is just barely 13 years old ( nd daughter, cousin, niece etc incase u dnt hav a little sister) u feel it's no concern of yours..I don't want to believe this came from an adult...
U might wanna read through again with a free mind,@least u'l know that there r no exchange of mere words but ironing out of Lazy points...
Exactly how Stella nd the senator make money (I mean soley from this issue nd not other financial sources) is what I want u to point out...
Yet u say fabrication of words..*sighs* well I guess I just gave u what u wanted,'a reply' because apparently u r not in the know abt what kickin on here...ciao.

Beaf!:
So who is Stella Damascus? How many time did she open her legs before given a role to act in a film? How many film directors has she f^cked before becoming 'famous'?

What advice does she have for her sisters of primary and secondary school age who f#ck teachers and their mates in classrooms/toilets in Lagos?

A 13yr old girl who is defiled by her husband and a 13yr old girl who is defiled on a street who is more decent?

Nonsense!

GBAM!!!!

Especially, a thirteen YIA HOLE that survived the BIAFRAN WAR. . . . . Like herself!!!!!

Mu Che Che Che Che Che

Any religion that lack sense of morality should go to the dog. How someone will justify child marriage is behind me. A confused senator who claim women are inferior to men in islam b4 he was counter by the lawyer made islam appeared as a theatret of joke. Imo, quoran need a total overhaul, so that laws that are anti human such as the fatua, child molestation, terrorism be do away with.

cinammon:

So because there's no old fool scouting to lay ur younger sister who is just barely 13 years old ( nd daughter, cousin, niece etc incase u dnt hav a little sister) u feel it's no concern of yours..I don't want to believe this came from an adult...

Speaking about 13yr olds, if you (and Stella) really care that much why not first take it up with the Vatican where the Christian Church had long set the standards by fixing the age of sexual consent at 13 years.
Note, we are not even talking of marriage but consensual fornication, where indeed Yerima and co could have legitimately had fun with your 13yr old younger sister and without any need to marry her - apparently with the pope's blessing.
Christians should therefore dedicate their efforts towards changing the age of consent from 13 at the Vatican because there are certainly more Christian children at risk of molestation under the church than Muslim children through marriage - after all we all have heard about the insatiable appetite of Catholic priests for small boys.

the media named it child marriage....who is actually a child? how many can beat their chests the that their 15-year old daughter is a virgin? misplaced priorities
!!!!

http:///15KQiAX

Onething i like about xtians is their penchant 4 insults wen they cant debate with more informed people. Hmmm

brosasamy: Onething i like about xtians is their penchant 4 insults wen they cant debate with more informed people. Hmmm

you are lucky it is the web, in reality they will just tell you that the Devil is speaking through you and if you are so unlucky to be in on of those violent churches they might have to do a deliverance on you.

Lol, my thoughts exactly...this was only a christian-muslim e-fight post..i shud have just stuck to my 1st post.so the solution to waywardness in childhood is to give them out in marriage yea? anybody who does that has failed as a parent. If u can't bring them up properly wit all confidence then u shudnt evn father dem in the 1st place. That said, until u have indeed given out ur kid 2 an old man please don't come on here and jus say anythin..i'd rather want to converse with som1 who hav done that, than wit ppl who dnt evn knw wot it is 2 have a kid..
In other news, ur opinion abt Christians doesn't count so pls keep it 2 urself..just like I keep my opinion abt Muslims to my self, no need stating it as it wud jus b a wasteful banter.

Lordlexy: . Imo, quoran need a total overhaul,

Yes, the Muslims need to overhaul their book so that they can be like the Christians with 5,000 variations, and 2Billion confused souls who don't know if Catholics or Anglicans are fellow christians.

^^^Yeah, Christians expect Muslims to let go of their fundamental Godly values and instead embrace modern day man-made values (like them in the name of civilization) in the same manner they are admitting things like homosexuality etc, even though its clearly forbidden in their books (ehem books? which version sef? is it king James or latest edition).

Why are Christians taking panadol for (apparently) Muslim headaches, after all nobody is imposing these values on them, it only affects Muslims and they (Muslims) are not complaining - even the sharia issue and Islamic banking does not affect them; yet they are the ones complaining and ironically calling themselves and their religion tolerant.SMH