THE GIRL CHILD RIGHT OF INHERITANCE

I was scribbling down notes on gender inequality, when a niggling thought wiggled its way into my mind and engaged me in an irritating contest. I tried as much as I could to silence
the irksome taunt of the voice in my mind, but it stubbornly refused to go away. It was on the controversial stance of Apostle Paul, who in his effort to preach Christ by every means possible, denigrated and subjected women in his trick (1 Corinth.9;19-23. Acts 21:17-26) to making the Jews accept Christ because of his knowledge of the Jewish law on the female gender.
More also, taken from the fact I felt in my mind that there is nothing substantiating the Girl Child’ right in the scripture as every Igbo man I came across in this course, feels that God himself made it so, and knowing too well that both Christians and the traditionalists drew their inferences from the Holy Book either by instinct or knowledge – through God’ dealings with his chosen race-Israel. Deut. 32:8-9. I was so miffed that I broke my pen.

The next morning, before the break of dawn, I heard a faint voice
saying, “Pick up your Bible”. In my usual brazenness, I replied to the
voice, “I should just pick up the Bible and start reading from Genesis
to Revelation? What would I be looking for? The right of the Girl Child? No, I’ll not do that.” Then I heard something like a giggle. Thinking it was my husband teasing me, I turned towards him in irritation but he was fast asleep. I scolded myself for being so touchy so early in the morning. Then I slept off. When I woke up again by daylight, I reluctantly picked up my Bible and it kind of opened arbitrarily to a chapter and my gaze was directed to a portion where the Girl Child’ right of inheritance to be observed as a legal requirement was illuminated. A smile of thanks coursed through my face and a huge sigh of relief escaped from my lips. I have found the
missing link, I mused. The Girl child’s right which a patriarchal society concealed under a restrictive tradition and religious tyranny has been uncovered. Centuries of repression and deprivation have been severed by the awesome power of the faint voice of truth. The revelation gave me a sudden boost to continue my work on gender inequality, and this is the rationale for my proposition to the Eastern Governors:-

Much has been said and done in the emancipation and empowerment of the Girl Child in the areas of Education, freedom of expression, choice and decision making as partaining to her life, marriage, sexuality and pregnancy/child birth. But there is yet an area that is left behind that will give perpetual support and sustenance to these others.
Given the many obstacles and denigration the female gender is facing in Igbo land, it is imperative a grassroot approach be taken to solving the issue of gender inequality: establishing the Girl Child right of inheritance by a legal act in the Eastern states where tradition is clutching so hard on the female gender.

The Girl Child right of inheritance will serve as a process of facilitating, enrooting and providing the means for Girls to overcome the denigration they face to attaining full access to their rights.
The issue of gender inequality can only be solved by giving the Girl-Child same sense of belonging and equal right to her father’s properties as the Boy-Child in our homes and society, and this will be solving the issue of women denigration from the root and also the problem facing widowhood, mostly, the widows with only Girl-Child/Children.

By this, strength, wisdom, power and positivity will be instilled in the Girl Child to restore her lost confidence due to harmful cultural/traditional practices. This will also serve as a key to transforming her into a powerful woman and a leaders who is able to blossom in the fullness of her potential.

Equality, fairness, justice, freedom and love are the message of Christ Jesus. Gal.3:27, says, “You were baptized into union with Christ, and now you are clothed, so to speak, with the life of Christ himself. So there is no difference between…men and women(Girl Child and Boy Child); you are all one in union with Christ Jesus.” “Freedom is what we have-Christ has set us free! Stand, then, as free people, and do not allow yourselves to become slaves again.” Gal.5:1.
The same right given to the Boy Child should be the same given to the Girl Child, no disparities.

But in a situation where we have only the Girl Child in a home, she should be the one to inherit her father’s property, not her father’s brothers as the Lord commanded In Num.27:8-11, “Tell the people of Israel that whenever a man dies without leaving a son, his daughter is to inherit his property…. The people are to observe this as a legal requirement, just as I, the Lord, have commanded you.”
Observing the right of the Girl Child as a legal requirement is my proposition to the Eastern Governors and passing it as a law will be the right solution to solving the gender inequality in our society from the root.
This will go a long way in giving the Girl Child a solid foundation and strong sense of belonging in her father’s house, make her a strong and respected woman in her husband’s house and someone not to be trifled with, if, in widowhood.

Ada Chinyere Cummings.