By Hajia Hadiza Mohammed
It is no longer news that the Tinubu Administration has signed the international agreement ratifying LGBT rights otherwise known as the Samoa Treaty. There is widespread condemnation of the act by concerned Nigerians who see it as a violation of the nation’s cultural values and ethos. It is seen by many as an affront on our culture.
Nigerians are a culture sensitive people that revere their cultural norms. Our traditional values are quite different from that of the West that has no inhibitions. Thus, signing the controversial treaty clearly shows that Tinubu is insensitive to the need of the people.
Tinubu behaves as if he has no regard to the people. Many believe that it was so because he knew the people did not vote for him. He stole the people’s mandate and so he feels he is accountable to no one.
And as expected, many Nigerian citizens, respected leaders, elders, Christian and Muslim clerics, rights activists, and Civil Society Organizations (CSOs) in Nigeria have expressed their displeasure over the decision of the federal government to sign the controversial agreement despite the futile attempt by the Minister of Information and National Orientation, Mohammed Idris to defend the government position.
The Samao treaty is an international accord ostensibly aimed at enhancing cooperation and support between developed and developing nations; the primary objective as contained in the charter being to establish a framework for sustainable development and mutual support. It outlines various mechanisms through which developed countries can provide financial aid, technological assistance, and capacity-building resources to underdeveloped and developing nations.
The agreement emphasizes areas such as healthcare, education, infrastructure development, and environmental sustainability, aiming to bridge the gap between affluent and less affluent countries.
The specific targets include: climate change, human rights and Democracy, economic growth and development, peace and security, migration and mobility.
But, observers and leaders from Africa believe that the Samoa Agreement was designed to lure the developing countries especially Africans into accepting and legalizing the LGBT, something seen as alien to African culture for the agreement has some clauses that compel underdeveloped and developing nations to support the agitations by the Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender (LGBT) community for recognition, as a condition for getting financial and other support from advanced societies.
Without doubt, the signing of the said Agreement is also seen by concerned citizens as a slap on Nigeria’s sovereignty as a nation. It shows that Tinubu has zero regard for our laws and constitution. It is on record that in 2014 the former President Goodluck Jonathan GCFR, signed into law a bill that criminalizes same sex relationships, defying western pressure over gay rights and provoking United States criticism. Under the law, penalties of up to 14 years in prison and bans on gay marriage, same sex ‘amorous relationships’ and membership of gay rights groups are prescribed.
Evidently, since the coming of Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, it is one controversy to another; indicating lack of tact and touch with reality. Tinubu is grappling with the demands of leadership. Indeed, Tinubu has exhibited himself not just as the most controversial but the most inept and incompetent president in the history of the country, Nigeria. He is completely clueless and careless about the needs and the aspiration of the country, his main preoccupation being how to gain legitimacy and maintain his foothold in power beyond 2027.
The Jagaban of Borgu is obviously a sinking man desperately looking for recognition from the West. He signed the Samoa Treaty to patronize the Western powers in the same way he was almost tempted into declaring war on Niger when he was the ECOWAS chairman. And in the absence of any iota of ideas on how to run the Nigerian economy, Tinubu is desperately looking for help from the West for support and for his insatiable appetite for loans. There is no gainsaying that Tinubu’s desperation to seek foreign approval for his government that has legitimacy encumbrances has driven him to a point of recklessness. But trying to pleasing the West will not help him or his government.
The only thing that will save his sinking ship is good governance; doing the will of the people whose mandate he stole.
The Samoa Treaty is much more than just International Treaty.
It is seen by African leaders as a violation of their cultural values and an attempt to foist alien culture on African; another level of Western cultural imperialism aimed at not just bastardizing African culture but debasing humanity and depopulating Africans. Thus, it is not just the dilemma of balancing its commitment to international cooperation and development with the need to respect and uphold its citizens’ cultural values. It is far beyond what some see as the “complex interplay between global standards and local traditions in an increasingly interconnected world”.
The question is what is global standard? Is it the arrogance of the West? Does it mean that Africans have no right to maintain their distinctiveness in the face of global interconnectivity and cooperation? Why is the West desperately pushing for the recognition of the LGBT rights? Of what benefit is for Africans and humanity? Can Africans and developing economies foist their values on the West? These are the questions Tinubu and the promoters of the controversial treaty must answer.
And until then, I join the millions of other concerned Nigerians in saying no to the Samao Agreement.
Hajia Hadiza Mohammed
hajiahadizamohammed@gmail.com
An actress, social activist, politician
London, UK
