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Islamic Forum asks Tinubu to withdraw Samoa agreement
Nasiru Yusuf Ibrahim
Islamic Forum of Nigeria has urged President Bola Tinubu, to as a matter of urgency completely withdraw Nigeria from the Samoa agreement for the good of the citizens and the nation.
KANO FOCUS reports that the Forum said the Samoa agreement with Caribbean and Pacific states signed by the Nigerian government without consulting the people is rejected.
Rising from a one-day meeting, the forum with headquarters in Kano, asked the Federal Government to withdraw from the agreement.
Cross section of leadership of Islamic Forum
Professor Usman Shuaibu Zunnurain said though LGBTQ+ is not explicitly written in the Samoa agreement, Gay and homosexual rights were enshrined using other terms.
The law professor said the 2018 agreement which had the protection of the rights of gays, lesbians and transgender was rejected by 30 countries including Nigeria.
Cross Section of Participants
He said though the LGBTQ were removed in the new draft, terms like gender, and reproductive rights were actually meant to protect LGBTQ+ and abortion rights.
He said the framers of the 1999 constitution were sensitive enough to use the term sex instead of gender in section 42 dealing with non-discrimination against a person on account of his sex, ethnicity or religion.
He said the Samoa agreement has, for example, a provision that says ‘the parties reaffirm commitment to achieving gender equality, the full enjoyment of human rights by all’ and that the agreement shall take precedence over national or domestic laws.
Cross Section of Participants
Also speaking at the meeting, Professor Babangida Muhammad said for a long time in Nigeria’s history, Muslims, Christians, North, and South and people from across the political divide were united against the Samoa agreement.
He faulted the Samoa agreement for no concise definition of terms as is usually the case in any law, agreement or academic publication.
Cross section of participants at the event
Professor Aminu Sagagi advised parents to be vigilant and take more than a keen interest in what their children watch on social media saying the + sign in LGBTQ+ could mean something fundamentally contrary to morality, religion, culture and tradition.
The immediate past chairman of the Christians Association of Nigeria CAN, Kano state chapter Reverend Father Adeyemo Samuel said there is nowhere in the Bible that God allows Gay, Lesbian.
Cross Section of Participants at the event
“Any man that sleeps with a man should be stoned to death immediately,” the cleric said.
While calling on the meeting to say no to the agreement, Samuel said Gender equality also stands for lesbianism and homosexuality.
A lecturer with Bayero University Kano Dr Bala Muhammad recalled how Reverend Idowu Fearon as secretary of the Anglican church rejected the ordination of a gay Bishop in London, saying Exit clause in agreement like Samoa may make it difficult for countries leave.
Cross section of participants at the event
The meeting called on the Nigerian government to withdraw from the agreement because it is in conflict with the political, economic, religious and cultural rights of Nigerians
Nasiru Yusuf Ibrahim
Dangote Petroleum Refinery and Petrochemicals Limited has announced that its ex-depot price of Premium Motor Spirit (PMS) remains unchanged, reaffirming its commitment to stability in Nigeria’s domestic energy market.
In a statement issued by Esan Sunday, Head of Media Relations, Branding and Communication, the company said sustaining the current price reflects its efforts to cushion the broader economy against external shocks. It noted that by absorbing prevailing cost pressures, the refinery is helping to moderate inflationary risks, promote energy affordability, and ensure uninterrupted fuel supply amid ongoing global uncertainties.
The company reiterated its dedication to the steady supply of high-quality petroleum products to the Nigerian market, while aligning with national objectives of price stability and energy security.
It also urged the public to rely solely on official communications from the refinery for accurate and up-to-date information regarding its operations and pricing.
Nasiru Yusuf Ibrahim
President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has congratulated Alhaji Murtala Sule Garo on his emergence as the Deputy Governor of Kano State following his swearing-in on Tuesday.
KANO FOCUS reports that Garo was sworn in by Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf after being nominated to fill the vacancy created by the resignation of former deputy governor, Comrade Aminu Abdulsalam.
In a statement issued by his Special Adviser on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, the President described Garo’s appointment as a positive step toward strengthening unity within the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Kano State.
The President noted that the 48-year-old politician has held several public offices, including Chairman of Kabo Local Government Area and Commissioner for Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs during the administration of former governor Abdullahi Umar Ganduje. He also served as the APC governorship running mate in the 2023 general elections.
Tinubu commended Governor Yusuf for the appointment, urging political stakeholders in the state to rally behind the administration to ensure stability and progress.
He also called on the new deputy governor to work closely with the governor in delivering effective leadership and accelerating development in Kano State.
The President wished Garo success in his new role.
Ibrahim Khalil
A dramatic political moment unfolded in Kano on Tuesday as former governor Abdullahi Umar Ganduje publicly acknowledged Muhammad Sanusi II as the Emir of Kano and Chairman of the Kano State Council of Emirs.
KANO FOCUS reports that the unexpected gesture occurred during the swearing-in ceremony of the newly appointed Deputy Governor, Murtala Sule Garo, at Government House, Kano—an event attended by top political leaders and traditional rulers.
While delivering his goodwill message, Ganduje addressed Sanusi by his full royal title, drawing immediate attention from dignitaries at the ceremony. The audience responded with loud applause when he greeted the Emir and recognised his position as head of the Kano Emirate Council.
The development is particularly significant given the long-standing rift between the two figures. Sanusi was removed from the throne during Ganduje’s administration, a decision that sparked widespread political and legal controversy at the time.
However, the political landscape shifted following the emergence of Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf, under whose administration Sanusi was reinstated as Emir of Kano.
Observers say Ganduje’s public acknowledgment signals a possible easing of tensions and may point to broader efforts at reconciliation within Kano’s political and traditional institutions.
The moment has since been described by analysts as a “twist of fate” in Kano politics, where former rivalries appear to be giving way to cautious gestures of respect among key actors.
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