By Ukamaka Okafor
The Catholic Bishops Conference of Nigeria, CBCN, has described the Samoa Agreement as a threat to Nigeria’s Sovereignty and Values.
This was contained in a statement co signed by the President of CBCN, Most Reverend Lucius Ugorji and the Secretary, Bishop Donatus Ogun, made available to newsmen in Abuja.
Recalling that Nigeria signed the Samoa Agreement on 28 June 2024, to strengthen economic ties between the EU and African, Caribean as well as Pacific countries covering areas such as democracy and human rights, sustainable economic growth amongst others.
The agreement, according to CBCN 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.
It noted that Nigeria’s civil authorities may not be fully aware of the implications of the nuanced language in the document, which threaten the national sovereignty and values.
Furthermore, the Catholic Bishops of Nigeria, maintained that
as watchmen and guides as seen in the book of Prophet Ezekiel 3: 17, they are deeply committed to the sound moral, religious, and cultural growth of the country.
The Samoa agreement, which follows Cotonou agreement, was initially not signed by Nigeria in November 2023 due to concerns over language affecting sovereignty and African values.
However, Nigeria signed it just days before the Nigeria-EU business summit held in Abuja on 2 July 2024.
The Statement also stressed that the agreement contains language promoting gender equality and sexual and reproductive health rights, which they argue could introduce contentious issues like abortion and comprehensive sexuality education that conflict with Nigerian values.
Dwelling on the legal effect of the agreement, the statement noted that its signing makes Nigeria surrender its position as a persistent objector to the impugned language during negotiations in several international fora, noting that most of Africa has always counted on the leadership of Nigeria to contest anti-life, anti-family, anti-culture amongst other things.
The detailed statement on Samoa Document portends for the future of Nigeria and Nigerians and call on the nation’s government to, as a matter of urgency, propose an amendment of the Agreement or withdraw from it.
CBCN while calling for immediate government’s action to address the agreement’s implications also urged the Nigerian government to seek amendments to the agreement or withdraw from it entirely if the European Union rejects the proposed changes.
Catholic Bishops Conference of Nigeria is the umbrella body of Catholics in the country.
