Nigeria's Sultan Of Sokoto Rejects Gender Equality Bill

NIGERIA'S most senior Muslim cleric has rejected a new gender equality bill, which proposes that women and men inherit an equal share.

The Sultan of Sokoto, Mohamed Sa'ad Abubakar, said Muslims would not accept the violation of Islamic law guaranteeing men a greater share.

Speaking at a Koranic recitation ceremony in northern Zamfara state, the sultan said: "Our religion is our total way of life. Therefore, we will not accept any move to change what Allah permitted us to do."

"Islam is a peaceful religion; we have been living peacefully with Christians and followers of other religions in this country," he added. "Therefore, we should be allowed to perform our religion effectively."

In October, the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) welcomed the bill, saying it did not find anything wrong with the bill because in "Christianity inheritance is shared equally between male and female". Activists have also pushed for the bill to end discrimination against women.

Lawmakers say they will consider public opinion before a decision is taken on which aspects of the bill to approve and which aspects to reject.

The Voice