Catholic Bishops Conference Of Nigeria, Raises Concerns To Signing Of Samoa Agreement
Princess-Ekwi Ajide
The Catholic Bishops Conference of Nigeria, CBCN, has raised concerns about Nigeria signing the Samoa Agreement, saying it looks innocuous and attractive on the surface but underneath, it is carefully blended with post-modern secularistic ideologies that significantly undermine the moral, cultural, and religious beliefs of Nigerian citizens.
The economic partnership agreement between the EU and African, Caribean and Pacific (ACP) countries which covers six main areas, including democracy and human rights, sustainable economic growth, climate change, human social development, peace and security, migration and mobility, the body says it is worried that the country’s civil authorities may not be fully aware of the implications of the nuanced language in the document, which threaten national sovereignty and values.
A statement jointly signed by the President, Archbishop Lucius Ugorji and Secretary, Donatus Ogun but made available to journalists in Abuja by the National Director of Social Communications, Very Reverend Father Mike Umoh, said, the Catholic Bishops of Nigeria, as watchmen and guides are, deeply committed to the sound moral, religious, and cultural growth of the country, and as such, clearly highlight what the Samoa Document portends for the future of Nigeria and Nigerians and are calling on the government to, as a matter of urgency, propose an amendment of the Agreement or withdraw from it.
The statement gave background to the agreement saying it is the third edition of the Lomé Convention of 1975 which replaced the Cotonou Agreement and was signed off by 44 ACP states out of 79 member countries on 15 November 2023 in Apia, Samoa.
It said Nigeria did not sign it then due to concerns with the language relating to sovereignty and African values but did on 28th June 2024, just days away from the Nigeria – EU business summit held in Abuja on 2 July 2024, despite the language remaining the same.
The Bishops cautioned that the legally, signing of the Agreement by the state parties makes it final and will then defer to the domestic processes of each country.
The statement clarified that in international law, when a state signs a Treaty, it indicates its intention to be bound by it in the future, and it demonstrates its support for the principles and goals of the Treaty and its willingness to consider ratifying it in the future.
According to the Bishops, given the secrecy surrounding Nigeria’s signing of the Samoa Agreement, it is unclear whether the signature was tendered subject to Ratification, Acceptance, or Approval but that ordinarily, signing a Treaty creates an obligation to refrain, in good faith, from acts that would undermine its object and purpose.
The Bishops, highlighted that the Samoa Agreement essentially gives international law status to Sexual Orientation and Gender Identity, Comprehensive Sexuality Education, and Abortion through its prolific reference to Gender approaches and the phrase “Sexual and Reproductive Health and Rights.
They noted the Treaty does not have a glossary of terms or a definitions section to ensure that all parties have the same understanding of terms, which may pose a problem in its implementation and evaluation phases.
It worried that by signing the Agreement, Nigeria has committed to complying with the impugned and contentious provisions of the Samoa Agreement and cannot roll back on contentious provisions without breaching the Agreement.
The Bishops urged Nigeria amend the agreement and should withdraw from it if the EU rejects the proposed Amendment just like South Africa, did when it withdrew from the Cotonou Agreement in 2023.
