Politics
CSOs, Faith Leaders, Human Rights Advocates Protest FG’s Endorsement Of Samoa Agreement
CSOs, Faith Leaders, Human Rights Advocates Protest FG’s Endorsement Of Samoa Agreement....KINDLY READ THE FULL STORY HERE▶
There has been significant backlash following the federal government’s decision to endorse the contentious Samoa Agreement. The agreement reportedly includes clauses that require underdeveloped and developing nations to support the demands of the LGBTQ community for recognition, in exchange for financial and other forms of support from more advanced societies.
Named after the Pacific Island Samoa, where it was signed on November 15, 2023, the agreement is gaining traction despite opposition from many nations valuing Islamic and Christian principles, as well as cultural sensitivities.
On Monday, July 1, Minister of Budget and Economic Planning, Alhaji Abubakar Atiku Bagudu, confirmed at a reception hosted by the European Union (EU) in Abuja that the government had indeed signed the agreement. However, Bagudu’s media assistant, Bolaji Adebiyi, clarified later that the documents signed were strictly related to Nigeria’s economic development, with no mention whatsoever of LGBTQ issues or same-sex marriage.
Reacting to the development, Lagos-based lawyer and Chairman of the Human and Constitutional Rights Committee of the African Bar Association (AfBA), Sonnie Ekwowusi, expressed deep concern, questioning the wisdom behind Nigeria’s decision to sign the agreement despite prior warnings and memoranda from various quarters.
Ekwowusi stated, “I can confidently say that neither Minister Atiku Bagudu nor the Nigerian officials who signed the Samoa Agreement fully grasp its implications for Nigeria’s sovereignty, let alone its potentially destructive impact.”
A representative from the Nigerian Supreme Council for Islamic Affairs (NSCIA) reaffirmed their unchanged stance against same-sex marriage or LGBTQ rights. Similarly, Alhaji Abdulrazaq Ajani of the Abuja Muslim Forum (AMF) emphasized that African civil society organizations (CSOs), including the AMF, vehemently opposed the agreement during meetings with government officials and lawmakers.
A coalition of African CSOs expressed disappointment over the potential signing of the agreement, warning of its adverse effects on Nigeria’s moral fabric. Barrister Richard Kakeeto from Family Watch International, Africa Region, noted the hope across Africa that Nigeria would abstain from signing the agreement and urged a withdrawal if already signed.
In response to inquiries, Hon. Rabiu Yusuf, Chairman of the House of Representatives Committee on Treaties, Protocols, and Agreements, clarified that the Samoa Agreement had not been presented to the National Assembly for deliberation or approval.
The controversy surrounding Nigeria’s involvement in the Samoa Agreement underscores widespread concerns over its implications on national sovereignty and cultural values, prompting a divided public discourse and calls for further scrutiny from lawmakers and civil society alike.
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