By Pathfinder Reporter
Wednesday July 10, 2024
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The House of Representatives on Tuesday called on the Federal Government to suspend the implementation of the Samoa Agreement until all controversial clauses are clearly defined to make sure they do not violate any law in Nigeria.
The House also mandated the Committees on National Planning and Economic Development, Justice, Treaties, Protocol and Agreements to interface on the matter.
This followed the adoption of a motion by the Deputy Minority Leader, Aliyu Madaki, and 88 others, at Tuesday’s plenary, calling attention to some allegedly offensive clauses in the agreement.
According to Madaki, in his lead debate, the agreement purportedly promotes LGBT rights, which are against extant laws in the country.
He said that the implementation of the agreement is a supremacy Clause, and thus violates Nigeria’s sovereignty.
He said some other articles, especially articles 2 5, 29.5, 36 2, and 88 in the Samoa Agreement that was signed by the Federal Government may be inimical to the interest of Nigeria as a country and the values of the Nigeria people as a whole more so it does not contain a reservation clause.
He also explained that Article 2.5 states that parties shall systematically promote a gender perspective and ensure that gender equality is mainstreamed across all countries.
“The phrase gender equality as reported is a Trojan horse for deceptively bringing in all sort of immorality to our country, as gender no longer means two sexes male and female as traditionally understood, it now includes homosexualism, lesbianism, transgenderism and animalism.
“The signing of such an agreement with the aforementioned clauses, if true violates our sovereignty and is a clear contravention of section 7 of the 1999 constitution as amended. The Federal Government may have signed the agreement without exhaustive consultations and consideration for possible long-term consequences.
Debating on the motion, the leader of the House, Julius Ihonvbere said that the public has been misled about the agreement, insisting that the LGBTQ was not included in the agreement.
“Let me state, there is no portion of the agreement that is on Lesbian Gay Bisexual Transgender Queer. If you have it, bring it here. Three ministers have come out, including the Minister of Information and Budget and Planning, to say that there is nothing like that in the agreement and that it was never mentioned.
“It was never mentioned, and there is nothing like lesbian rights in the agreement. If you have the agreement, bring it out here. There is nothing like that.
Also speaking on the motion, Hon Ikwechegh Alexander (Abia-LP) said that the agreement has certain clauses that are at variance with Nigeria’s values and culture.
“We are Africans, not Westerners. We have our way of life and way of doing things.
On his part, the Minority Leader of the House Kingsley Chinda, called on the House to exercise caution on the motion, adding that it was an investigative matter.
This is an investigative motion, I will caution that we should not be judgmental in our argument. It is clear when the federal government is going into any agreement, by section 12 of the 1999 constitution, the parliament ought to be carried along.
“If the parliament had been carried along, this argument, even for the people would represent, would not have come up because Nigerians would have been better informed.
“The problem is about the lack of information. As parliament, we want to be satisfied that what the government told Nigerians is the truth. That is all we are arguing for.
Recall that the federal government recently signed the Samoa Agreement, which has been trailed by controversy, with several Nigerians kicking against it.
10 quick facts about the controversial Samoa Agreement
The Samoa Agreement has become a subject of controversy in Nigeria amid claims that the agreement signed by the Federal Government contains clauses that mandate Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender, LGBTQ rights.
Recall that the European Union and member states came together to sign partnership agreement, which was referred to as the Samoa Agreement on November 15, 2023.
The member states that signed the agreement, which seeks to address global challenges, are called the Organisation of African, Caribbean and Pacific States, also known as OACPS.
Here are some quick facts about the Samoa Agreement:
1. The Samoa Agreement is a partnership agreement and a vital legal framework for cooperation between the EU and its member states, on the one hand, and members of OACPS on the other.
2. The multilateral agreement is colloquially called the ‘Samoa Agreement’ because its signing took place on the Island of Samoa in Oceania during the 46th session of the ACP-EU Council of Ministers.
3. The agreement, signed by Nigeria and other members of the OACPS, is based on six key priorities to tackle the main challenges in the member countries over the next two decades.
4. The Nigerian Ambassador to the Kingdom of Belgium, Grand Duchy of Luxembourg and the European Union, Obinna Onowu, signed the agreement on behalf of the Nigerian Government at the OACPS Secretariat in Brussels on June 28, 2024.
5. The priorities include human rights, democracy and governance; peace and security; human and social development; inclusive, sustainable economic growth and development; environmental sustainability and climate change; and mobility/migration.
6. An important principle of the agreement is that ‘’the Parties shall make decisions and undertake actions at the most appropriate domestic, regional or multi-country level’’.
7. No Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender and Queer clause in the agreement.
No $150bn loan, LGBTQ deal in Samoa Agreement — FG
Recall that the Federal Government has said there was neither a $150 billion loan deal nor a Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, and Queer protection pledges in the Samoa Agreement.
The government said the Partnership Agreement between the European Union and the African, Caribbean and Pacific States, was for the country’s socio-economic benefits.
The Minister of Information and National Orientation Alhaji Mohammed Idris, and his Budget and National Planning counterpart, Senator Atiku Bagudu, stated the position at an emergency briefing in Abuja.
“None of the articles in the Partnership Agreement mentioned or asked that we support LGBTQ,” Alhaji Idris.
He added that “President Bola Tinubu is sensitive to the value of Nigerians and will not do anything to undermine their sensitivities.”
… accuses media of falsehood on Samoa Agreement
Idris accused some media houses of deliberate falsehood and incitement. He also cited several stories he claimed were meant to whip up sentiments against the Tinubu government.
According to him, after the Chad Coup, a particular paper accused the president of trying to start a war against the neighbouring country.
He added that the paper also accused the government of allowing foreign military bases to be set up in the country, as well as accusing the government of renaming Murtala Mohammed Way afer Prof. Wole Soyinka.
According to the Information Minister, “The Federal Government under President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has maintained an open-arm relationship with the media.
“It is in line with the philosophy of the President as an avowed democrat who spent a lifetime fighting for the entrenchment of democracy and human rights.
“This administration has remained very tolerant of media criticism and guaranteed citizens’ rights to freedom of expression.
“However, it is disheartening that some elements are abusing this free environment guaranteed by the Government.
“We are alarmed by the level of reckless reporting and statements by some media organisations and individuals that border on national security and stability.
“The insidious and inciting publications these past months have come across as nothing but a deliberate effort to brush the government with a tar.
“On many occasions, we have restrained ourselves from believing that this was the case but the consistency of the jejune and mischievous publications leaves us with no option.
“The Federal Government is lodging a formal complaint to the NPAN Ombudsman on this irresponsible reporting.
“In addition, the Federal Government will use every lawful means to seek redress in the court of law.”
$150bn loan…
Again, on the $150 billion alleged loan, Senator Bagudu said there was no such provision in the Samoa agreement.
He added that there was equally a declaration that any of the provisions of the agreement that was contrary to the provisions of the Nigerian Constitution would not be binding on the country.
Furthermore, Senator Bagudu said that the LGBTQ story formed the basis for Friday sermons, which raised tempers in many mosques on Friday
He said that his team signed the deal for its several benefits across sectors including, education, human rights, and economic development
The federal government had been working on the agreement since 2018, (under the Muhammadu Buhari regime, he revealed.
Also, Bagudu added that none of the 103 Foundation Articles and 79 Specifical African Protocols in the Samoa agreement mentioned or asked required parties to support LGBTQ.
“Tinubu is unapologetic in respect for Nigerians and appreciates the sensitivities of Christians and Muslims. And he will not allow anything that will offend the religious sensitivities of Nigerians.
“There is a law against LGBTQ in this country and this government will not do anything that is against that law,” he stressed.
– Vanguard News
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