Trumpism is okay but if it is inconsistent with state policy and established norm of statecraft and international conduct, you become a joke.
Our President was recuperating jejely (pardon the pidgin) in the UK when US President Donald Trump invited him to Washington. Buhari did not beg to be invited. Donald Trump invited him out of his own volition at a time he (Trump) was obviously seeking credible world leaders to line up behind his administration following the controversy surrounding the less-than-credible way he emerged as President of the United States.
Early this year, Buhari honoured the invitation. Trump received him. Both had a press world conference. During the press conference, Trump was effusive, enthusiastic and obviously impressed with Buhari. He even described Buhari as a true world leader.
Here his opening remark during the world press conference “Thank you very much. Thank you. Today, I’m honoured to host President Buhari of Nigeria at the White House, right here in the beautiful Rose Garden. President Buhari, I want to thank you very much for traveling to Washington for these important discussions. It’s a true pleasure to welcome you to our nation’s capital. Nigeria is the largest democracy in Africa……As I conveyed to President Buhari in our discussions, the United States deeply values and appreciates Nigeria’s role as a strong, democratic leader in the region…..”
Shortly after Trump hosted Buhari in the White House, the US President sent his former Secretary of State, Rex Tillerson, to Nigeria as a follow-up to earlier Trump-Buhari meet.
And now I hear the same Trump has made some uncomplimentary remark about not wanting to meet our President whom he allegedly described as “lifeless”.
One thing is clear. Buhari didn't beg to be invited to the US. Donald Trump invited him by his own free will - of all African leaders, he chose to invite Buhari, the "lifeless" one first.
Americans should genuinely be concerned about the insecurities and inconsistencies of their President. It is these twin-attributes that are responsible for why Russia president Putin has boxed him into a corner from where he is unable to extricate himself.
And if you are a Nigerian and you are not outraged at Trump's verbal indiscretion, then I question your patriotism.
When The Economist of London allegedly called our former President, Goodluck Jonathan, an ineffectual buffoon, I condemned it in strong terms in a Facebook post despite not being a great fan of Jonathan. I also urged the Federal Government to demand an apology from The Economist and if not given, to banish the international magazine from Nigeria.
Some things are beyond local politics. Our internal differences notwithstanding, I could not possibly stand anybody calling my president, past or present, an ineffectual buffoon, the same way I cannot stand US President Donald Trump describing our President, Muhammadu Buhari, as lifeless.
It is not about politics; it is about respect for our country and her people. We have leadership challenges, no doubt, but we deserve our respect, even from Donald Trump. The Federal Government should condemn in strong terms Trump's verbal indiscretion.