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A lawmaker representing the Takai/ Sumaila federal constituency of Kano at the House of Representatives, Rabiu Takai, has debunked recent reports regarding his stand on the Samoa Agreement.
In a press statement made available to newsmen on Sunday, the member who hails from Kano State described the report as misleading and underscored his dedication to cultural values and religious beliefs, as well as the social activities of his communities particularly in Takai and Sumila areas of Kano.
The Samoa Agreement is a partnership between member countries of the Organisation of Africa, Caribbean, and Pacific States (OACPS) and the European Union (EU), which seeks to establish a comprehensive framework for relations between the African, Caribbean, and Pacific states (ACP) and the EU.
The partnership is a successor to the Cotonou Agreement signed in 2000 and is one of the most historic and all-encompassing platforms for cooperation between the EU and third-world countries.
Disturbed by the report which allegedly criticized his stance on the agreement, Takai urged Nigeria to consider the beneficial aspect of the agreement.
Emphasizing the importance of thoroughly evaluating the agreement’s provisions before concluding, the lawmaker urged Nigerians to disregard the false accusations allegedly levelled at him by a newspaper.
“Any decision regarding the Samoa Agreement will be driven by the best interest of our people while upholding our principles and beliefs.
I categorically deny the claim made by the online newspaper. As a representative of the people of Kano, I am committed to preserving the religious and cultural values that define us,” he said.
The European Union and its member states, it would be recalled, signed a new membership agreement on 15 November 2023 at a ceremony in Apia Samoa Island with the members of the African, Caribbean and Pacific.
The agreement, as gathered by our reporter, is geared towards serving as a general framework for their relationship over the next twenty years.
