Fatimah Otunsanya
The Emir of Kano, Muhammadu Sanusi II, on Wednesday condemned violence against women and child marriage, declaring that culture cannot justify abuse and that every Nigerian is entitled to protection under the law.
Speaking in an interview with Channels Television, Sanusi said, “You cannot beat a woman because your culture says you can beat her. She’s a Nigerian citizen entitled to protection.”
The former Central Bank governor argued that abuse often blamed on culture is, in reality, a reflection of unequal power relations, poverty, and government failure to provide basic services.
“This violence happens in all societies; it’s not about African culture,” he explained.
When men have power and women are not protected, men will take advantage of that power and oppress them. Women, children, the poor, and persons with disabilities are all victims.”
Sanusi also addressed child marriage, particularly in rural communities, urging Nigerians to see the structural causes behind the practice. He said many girls finish primary school at around 11 with no access to secondary schools, skill centres, or safe environments, leaving families to make difficult choices.
“Between 11 and 18, what arrangements have you made for her?” he asked. “The poor man basically finds that she’s 12 or 13; he’s afraid that she can get pregnant on the road, and the next young man that comes, he marries her off. Sometimes these cultures basically reflect poverty.”
The Emir criticised urban perspectives that ignore rural realities, pointing out that roads are often unsafe, schools are distant or non-existent, and local government services are lacking.
“It’s easy to blame culture. It’s easy to blame a victim. But the government has not provided the schools,” he said.
He further criticised urban perspectives that overlook rural hardship, observing that people living in cities often fail to grasp how difficult it is for girls in remote areas to access education or basic services.
According to him, poor roads, unsafe travel conditions and long distances to local government centres compound the problem.
While acknowledging the complexity of these issues, the Emir maintained that Nigeria must draw clear moral and legal boundaries.
“As a nation, we need to have certain common agreements and values,” he said, stressing that violence against women and children is simply unacceptable.
“It doesn’t matter what you think your culture says. The Nigerian law does not allow you to do it.”
Sanusi concluded that many acts blamed on tradition are not cultural at all but deliberate abuses of authority. He described them as a “culture of oppression” sustained by violence and exploitation, insisting that such practices must change if Nigeria is to protect its most vulnerable citizens.