In a video of his Friday sermon seen by SaharaReporters on Sunday, the cleric accused the Nigerian government under President Bola Tinubu of plotting to allow the practice of LGBTQ (lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and queer) in the country.

A popular Islamic scholar, Dr. Sani Rijiyan Lemu, from Northern Nigeria, expresses concerns and warns of potential risks and consequences following Nigeria''s signing of the Samoa partnership agreement.

In a video of his Friday sermon seen by SaharaReporters on Sunday, the cleric accused the Nigerian government under President Bola Tinubu of plotting to allow the practice of LGBTQ (lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and queer) in the country.

Tinubu is gone in the North, he should just start thinking of a way out for his second term, but not Northern votes, North is completely out of his league.

Sani said the country would be into a mess if LGBTQ is allowed and berated the government for reportedly moving towards that direction despite creating economic hardship for the masses.

He said, Oh people of God, I want us all to believe that the present situation that Nigeria is in must be a great lesson to all of us. We (Nigeria) must strive hard to correct ourselves. God is watching us and our deeds and He will never put those who are doing good into shame.

Allah has promised; we should amend our characters to attain good changes. But the most painful thing is the present condition that Nigerians are in, high cost of living, hikes in food prices and others.

It is a responsibility of everyone to do good and behave in accordance with Allah and God''s teachings to attain greatness. We should endeavour to contribute our quota to the present predicament of our nation to see positive changes.

It is on this present situation of hunger and hardship that Nigeria announced that it has signed LGBTQ+ agreement. We are suffering from many things that our leaders brought to us and they want ahead to sign another agreement that will further push the masses and the country into mess.

There is no doubt LGBTQ+ is a big disaster that is more than another challenge that Nigeria is in presently. The country is battling with banditry, kidnapping for ransom and others already. And it is sad that the elected leaders that use their hands to sign the LGBTQ+ agreement are against the will and teachings of Allah.

This was only done in the era of the late prophet Nuhu and no one has ever tried it again. Anyone who has the privilege to speak against the so-called LGBTQ+ agreement should please stand up and speak because our leaders want to bring to us a very big disaster and they also want to join the fight with our creator that we can''t withstand."

Meanwhile, the Nigerian government earlier dismissed a report claiming that the Samoa partnership agreement signed on June 28 has endorsed the rights of Lesbians, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Queer (LGBTQ) people in Nigeria.

It also rejected the claims that Nigeria would receive $150 billion for entering into the deal.

The Minister of Budget and Planning, Atiku Bagudu, clarified this at a press conference in Abuja on Saturday.

The Same-Sex Marriage (Prohibition) Bill was signed into law in Nigeria on January 7, 2014, by then-President Goodluck Jonathan.

The law criminalises public displays of affection between same-sex couples.

The law imposes a 14-year prison sentence on anyone who [enters] into a same-sex marriage contract or civil union. It also imposes a 10-year sentence on individuals or groups, including religious leaders, who witness, abet, and aid the solemnization of a same-sex marriage or union.

It imposes a 10-year prison sentence on those who directly or indirectly make [a] public show of [a] same-sex amorous relationship and anyone who registers, operates, or participates in gay clubs, societies, and organizations, including supporters of those groups.

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