Some residents of Mararaba, in Karu Local Government Area of Nasarawa State, have canvassed for intermarriage among various ethnic groups in the country to promote national unity.
The residents, who made the call on Tuesday in separate interviews with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), urged Nigerians to encourage and practice intermarriage to promote a united Nigeria.
According to Mr Sani Haruna, nothing bad or wrong, if someone from the Igbo ethnic group marries a Yoruba or Hausa person, as such would bring harmony and unity.
Haruna said, “Intermarriage sometimes brings frustration due to the fact that the couple come from different ethnic groups, cultures, and other backgrounds but such differences can be handled when they love and understand themselve..
“As long as both parties worship the same God and understand themselves, there will not be any problem.
“Personally, what I will not support is different religions, where a Christian will marry a Muslim. But in a situation where they are both Christians or Muslims they are good to go not minding the tribes.
“If both are patient and hold on to their religion and believe in God that has bought them together, they will have peace in their marriage,” he said.
Also, Mr Godwin Ekewmen, who said intermarriage that could strengthen unity, said he viewed in two ways.
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According to him, difference in cultural background, which happens to be one of the factors, should be a basic foundation that the parties should consider, to have a united martial journey.
“Intermarriage is more expensive when compared with intra-marriage, in terms of finance, choice of food, language barrier, and family rite among others.
“It helps to fully integrate Nigerians as a people, particularly as it helps them to build bridges and blend strength against weakness.
“It also fosters unity, brings religious tolerance, encourage true federalism, promotes spirit of nationalism, it strengthens culture, as well as bring heterogamy among individual,” he said.
Another resident, Mrs Victoria Simeon, said that intermarriage should be encouraged due its benefits.
Simeon added that children produced in such marriages had dual membership of the tribes, and could contest for political positions either in their paternal or maternal states.
“They seek for peace and conflict resolution in either parent’s origin as the case may be.
“They can also speak multiple languages and such can bring growth and development in either way,” she said.
Mrs Ella Amogue said languages had ways of bringing people together, adding that such could be possible through intermarriage, where the two people involved learn and speak their different languages.
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According to her, marriage always has a way of making couples learn each other’s language and stimulating trust.
“Accepting spouses’ culture and replicating can foster love and understanding amongst various ethnic groups,” she said.
Contrarily, another resident, Samson Okafor, said irrespective of the benefits associated with one marrying another tribe, it could lead to misunderstanding, mistrust and hatred, due to cultural religion and language differences.
He said for instance, “if you marry another tribe other than your own, you won’t know when they insult and abuse you or even threaten to kill you due to language differences”.
“So, for me, I prefer marrying from my own tribe for easy understanding and avoidance of any taboo,” he said. (NAN)
