By Zik Gbemre
Without a doubt, the President of the United States of America, Donald Trump, remains the most controversial, most talked about in the media and even the most hated, especially amongst developing nations. Some of my critics have wondered why I should like this most controversial and hated US President of all time. Well, the answer is simple. The reason I have a soft spot for Trump, is not because his policies and practices as US President have been favorable to the black Africans, but it is because Donald Trump remains the most patriotic and courageous president of a country that we have now around the globe. Right from the moment he took over office as US President, Trump has consistently and persistently stood by his decision and mantra to “make America great again,” regardless of what anyone thinks about that.
Never have I seen a political leader facing so much opposition from all angles, including an impeachment process, yet he is able to go against all odds, against the norm and still able to keep his head up high, regardless of what any person thinks. From having to deal with an anti-Trump US media – led by CNN which does not hide its opposing disposition to everything the US President does – to having to deal with a heated political atmosphere that is divided on racial lines, political views, religious extremism, global economic policies and what have you. Yet, he has been able to achieve tremendous success in global trade deals which have improved the economy of the US, thus, subdued the Asian power bloc like China. Trump has broken global diplomatic lines and protocols that have never been recorded in US history dealings with their perceived rivalries. He has turned existing situations in the US immigration laws to punch a hole on the possibility of the growth of terrorism. In the midst of the barrage of unfounded criticisms from the opposing Democrats and the media, he has taken very significant steps to reconcile differences amongst the different groups and interests in the country.
Trump has done well in addressing the problems of his people, five times better than what some of the most celebrated former presidents of the country did.
Among some of his significant achievements are, the creation of about four million employments with more than 400,000 manufacturing jobs. Economic growth hit 4.2 percent in the last quarter. Women’s unemployment recently reached the lowest rate in 65 years.
The Trump’s administration took a very audacious step to free US citizens of huge taxes by approving the biggest package of tax cuts and reforms in history. After tax cuts, over $300 billion poured back into the U.S. in the first quarter alone. The administration ensured the U.S. wins bid for the 2028 summer Olympics in Los Angeles; helped win U.S.-Mexico-Canada’s united bid for 2026 World Cup; provide more affordable healthcare options for Americans through association health plans and short-term duration plans and reformed the medicare programme to stop hospitals from overcharging low-income senior citizens on their drugs—saving seniors hundreds of millions of dollars this year alone.
Also to the credit of the administration is the signing of the Right-to-Try legislation; increase US coal exports by 60 percent; U.S. oil production recently reached all-time high; making United States to become a net natural gas exporter for the first time since 1957; secured record of $700 billion in military funding; moved U.S. Embassy to Jerusalem; reached a breakthrough agreement with the E.U. to increase U.S. exports; imposed tariffs on foreign steel and aluminum to protect US national security; imposed tariffs on China in response to China’s forced technology transfer, intellectual property theft, and their chronically abusive trade practices among others.
Truth is, whether we like it or not, Trump is an embodiment of a political leader who is serving his country with all of his might and soul, regardless of who or what is involved. He does not care what people think and does not pretend about anything. He does not speak like a typical politician, yet very outspoken, blunt and forthright. Trump, within the short time he has been in office has sanitized his country. In fact, I strongly wish we have someone like Trump as Nigeria’s President. We seriously need Trump as a Nigerian President who is a no-nonsense person who does not care who or what is involved in carrying out his election campaign and promises to the people. Nigeria is in desperate need of someone like Trump, who is not afraid to take certain decisions, as far as those decisions are tailored towards improving the ‘general living standards of the citizenry’ – not some selected few like we see here.
Agreed that Trump’s immigration policies may be tough, harsh and uncommon, but what many fail to realize is that the man is only bent on protecting his country -America, and its citizens from any form of ‘external’ forces. This is the only reason citizens of most developing countries like Nigeria, do not like Trump. And the question is, why don’t Nigeria and its political leaders strive to protect the interest of its citizens – both in terms of the economy and security? What is also our business and headache, as to how the US President wants to protect and project the interests of his country? Shouldn’t we be more focused on improving Nigeria’s economy and the living standard of the masses, as well as the security of lives and property? Is it not absurd and funny how Nigerians and its political leaders want to destroy the country because of insatiable greed and love for power? Yet they are desirous of traveling to America and other developed countries for medical tourism and settling their families abroad – to enjoy the good economy and living standards over there. But you cannot destroy your own home country and then want to go to another man’s country to enjoy what is there.
I remember how in the early 50s and 60s, Nigerians who were opportune to be schooled in the UK and US, returned back home without delay once they are through with their studies. And the reason is because they had more opportunities back home to start life and family with. But now, about 90% of Nigerians who travel over there for the same studies do not return because of the obvious. As it is in Nigeria, so it is in most African countries. This leaves me to agree with the conclusion by former African Union (AU) Ambassador, Dr. Arikana, that Africans are sick and need urgent healing. In her words: “What is needed for Africa to be liberated today, is to remove the shackles of the mind. We are sick and wounded people and we need healing. And I often say that we are not in the doctors office with our illness of the mind. We are not even in the general ward of the hospital. We are in the intensive care. We need healing. We must accept that as black people, we are sick and we need healing. And that healing is in the mind. And until that healing takes place, nothing is going to change.”
“The most dangerous thing for Africa today, is a colonized Africa. And we need to seek the healing that we deserve in other for Africa to move forward. It is okay to fight as a family, internally. But when the ‘outsider comes in’, we should forget our differences and deal with the ‘enemy’ together. Until Africa gets to that point where we stand up, proud and tall as Africans, and understand that our sheer survival begins with our unity, nothing is going to change. The exploitation will continue. So, I say to my fellow Africans, we need healing. Let us decolonize ourselves. Let us eliminate the legacy of slavery. And this is true, of not only Africans in the continent, but Africans around the globe…”
So, to all my critics on this subject matter, who has been all about Trump this and Trump that; they should focus on the question – why can’t we strive to secure our country better and the drastically improve the living standards of the masses? If anything, we all especially Nigeria’s political leaders, should learn from the US President, Donald Trump, on how to become compassionate, committed, devoted, self-motivated and unselfish in striving to change the narrative in Nigeria and make this country great for all and sundry – regardless of tribe, religion, party affiliations, and what have you.
