8,000 women protesters who need husbands

At least 8,000 widows and divorcees yesterday stormed the headquarters of the Hisba Commission in Gusau, the capital of Zamfara state, to formally request the adoption of the Kano state mass-marriage policy.
Patron of the Zamfara Widows and Divorcees Association, Alhaji Sa’idu Goshe, who spoke on their behalf, said so far the association had registered 5,380 divorcees, 2,200 widows and 1,280 less privileged women who were willing to acquire spouses following their inability to afford three square meals a day.
According to him, some of these women have spent more than 16 years in widowhood searching for partners.
Goshe said the protest was as a result of their long stay at home, and to draw the attention of government.
He said: “Some states in the North have initiated this programme and they have recorded success, and I see nothing wrong should Zamfara, being the first to implement Sharia in Nigeria, adopt mass-marriage for its moral, spiritual and even economic benefits.
“I am confident that Governor Abdulaziz Yari will positively respond.”
The protesting women were led by the chairperson of the association, Hajiya Suwaiba Isa.
In his response, the chairman of the state Hisba Commission, Dr Atiku Balarabe Zawiyya, promised to forward the matter to the governor.