My articles for this column on the 1st and 8th July both elicited quite a lot of reactions from readers. Both were also widely shared on social media, and some found their way back to me. The piece on Samoa Agreement last week, attracted quite a bit of attention and reaction through text, WhatsApp, email, and phone calls. I am thankful to respected diplomat with whom we exchanged ideas on this issue through phone call.
I am particularly gratified to report that most of the responses were respectable, even among those who disagreed with the piece (the abusive ones I read and simply ignored). This is as should be. Disagreements about political or public issues need not deteriorate into verbal or physical abuse or violence, as happened, most unfortunately with the attempted assassination of former President Trump in the U.S. I have, therefore, taken the liberty to reproduce a few here, to the extent that space will allow.
Thank you all,
Suleiman
Re: Samoa Agreement: The Daily Trust story got it wrong
Suleiman Suleiman, a staff of Daily Trust and member of its Editorial Board. In his column published today, he disagrees with his paper on some aspects of the Samoa Agreement issue.
This is a commendable example of respect for professional standards by the paper, and courage on the part of Suleiman.
Mr/Ms Anonymous
SAS reply:
Dear Anonymous,
Thank you for your kind comments. Please note, however, that while my heart is still with the Daily Trust, my head and feet are now outside, if you know what I mean
Suleiman
- 6 years after, Abuja-Kaduna road project uncompleted
- Samoa Agreement: Sunny side of the multilateral deal
I read your piece with keen interest, I never miss your column on weekly basis. To tell you the truth, you always got it right but am afraid this time you missed the point.
I remembered when same Daily Trust published a story on naira devaluation, the then FG denied the allegation but what happened today? The naira continued crumbling on the ground.
Based on the quote below, you don’t expect the Samoa Agreement to come out openly and tell the government, yes, we want to promote LGBT.
“In fact, none of the words “gay”, “lesbian”, “bi-sexual” or “transgender” (I have never typed some of these words before in my whole life) appears anywhere in the 187-page document. Article 9.2 on human rights, for example, states only that “The Parties shall commit to the promotion of universal respect for, and observance of, human rights and fundamental freedoms for all, without discrimination based on any ground including sex, ethnic or social origin, religion or belief, political or any other opinion, disability, age, or other status.
“My emphasis is on this “human rights and fundamental freedoms for all, without discrimination based on any ground including sex”
If at all you can protect the above, definitely you have to protect the lesbians and gay without really mentioning them in the agreement. I believe that’s a great trap waiting to enter.
Idris Umar Feta
PR Nigeria, Wuye, Abuja.
SAS reply:
Dear Malam Idris,
Thank you for following my column, and I hope you will continue to do so.
Best regards,
Suleiman
A very simple question which I wish to have it answered by anyone who’s in support of the SAMOA deal is; how many sexes do we have biologically? If you say two, then why do we have it there as “forms of discrimination” that have to be “combatted?”
We all know these tricks, Malam Suleiman, you’ll keep saying that there’s no place where LGBTQ right is mentioned which is true but I can say sexual discrimination which is gender discrimination was mentioned and were asked for it to be combatted. Which is why I said, SAMOA deal is nothing but a rainbow mafia action of radical LGBTQ movement that made women less, elevated all transgenderism and from all of this you can pick and choose who you want.
Mustapha Abubakar E.
ekeree44.
SAS reply:
Thank you for your comments, Malam Mustapha. My article was not necessarily in support of Samoa deal, and I am certainly not in support of same-sex marriage or anything of the sort. I also don’t think the Samoa Agreement is in support of anything like that, which is what the article tried to clarify.
Thank you once again, and best regards
Suleiman
I guess you have seen this…
https://www.vanguardngr.com/2024/07/breaking-reps-ask-fg-to-suspend-implementation-of-samoa-agreement/
0703 366 3222
Re: North in tatters
North in tatters: A good write up. Hope our politicians will properly use your good advice for the betterment of northern region.
Akilu Bindawa.
0803 077 9147
Thank you for your captivating write- ups. The North found itself in shambles after the demise of late Ahmadu Bello, Tafawa Balewa, may their souls rest in peace. You may ask, does the North have a policy framework? No. Northern elite are the major problem of the North. They are deceiving the ordinary northerners; they are selfish, they are only fighting for their self-enrichment.
Continue with the advocacy. May Allah bring peace to the North and Nigeria at large. Amin.
Lawal Usman
Re North in tatters. Congratulations for the topic of your page in Daily Trust of today. The write up is touchy in many ways. Backwardness in all fields. How can we wake up today and the North can’t feed itself? Kidnapping all over the place. Out-of-school children roaming the streets without a future?
How many private higher institutions can we boast of in the North? The Train is moving fast leaving us behind! You guys with the third eye should continue talking because what is happening in Kano, Sokoto and now Katsina with the traditional institution is alarming. May God keep the North safe.
0805 996 5168
Re: The North in tatters
You wondered what ideals and values underpin northern political leadership. The ideals and values that underpin northern political leadership are religious fundamentalism, federal-centrism, anti-modernism, anti-intellectualism, and an obsession about political power without the commensurate capacity to handle power. Thank you.
Dr Atah Pine,
Benue State University, Makurdi
0803 597 4174
Oh! Suleiman, thanks a lot for your today ‘s column as always. What a great vacuum the North has found itself in today. Where are the replacements for our fallen patriots of yesteryears like Sardauna, Tafawa Balewa, JS Tarka, Sa’adu Zungur, Aminu Kano? It’s a very dire situation the North has found itself in. Buhari had the chance but he abused it hands down. Very unfortunate.
Ride on my dear brother. Tell truth to power without minding the consequences. May the Lord Almighty protect you.
M N Baraka, Minna
0803 618 6001
My dear Suleiman, may God bless you. You are an asset to humanity. I am Senator Roland Stephen Owie “ksji”, member House of Representatives, Nigeria 1979-1983 (UPN). A graduate of Geography, A B U, Zaria, June 1971, and pioneer Chief Whip of the 4th Senate of Nigeria and a patron of World Apostolate of “Fatima” Africa. Count me as one of your friends from today. Please send me a soft copy of this write-up: “The North in tatters” to my WhatsApp number. Thanks.
0803 590 6916
Thank you very much for your column (The White Paper) on the back page of today’s Daily Trust. I hope our northern leaders will read it and reflect.
Adamu Abbas
0807 366 6041
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