Trump’s gaffe and Nigeria’s Libyan returnees
Americans are finally waking up to what the rest of the world has known from day one. Donald Trump simply isn’t a fit and proper person to be President of the United States of America (POTUS) and leader of the free world. His election campaign championed the cause of Aryan (white) supremacy. Having won the election, he is faithfully carrying-out their agenda of rolling back all reforms aimed at making America and indeed the world safer, fairer and more equitable for all humanity.
His inherent racism and religious bigotry render him incapable of anything other than utter disdain for people who aren’t White Christians. He unapologetically represents the worst of America. When he echoes himself about “making America great again” he doesn’t tell the world the particular point in American history when he considers them to have been “great”. Surely he can’t be referring to the time when White Aryans first arrived, committed genocide against native Americans and appropriated their lands to themselves? Could it be when Africans suffered unspeakable deprivations in the process of being shipped over in chains as slaves to develop America virtually free of charge? Perhaps it was on the fields of Gettysburg where a generation of American youth slaughtered themselves in support of slavery? Or maybe he is referring to the Vietnam War when another generation of American youths died needlessly overseas after committing war crimes against women and children using napalm bombs and other biological weapons?
In truth the golden era of American greatness never existed, it’s simply a myth. More than likely Trump refers to the time when negroes were lynched, brutalised and assassinated fighting for civil rights. Trump’s America was “great” when a black man was a piece of property which couldn’t vote, let alone consider being President! His real mission is to make America “White Again!” Previous US Presidents represented a moral compass for political leadership throughout the world. Trump’s blatant immorality precludes him from such distinction. The baton has passed to European Leaders who still respect the boundaries of human decency. On more than one occasion Trump has poured scorn on Nigeria, its peoples and its political leaders.
Conveniently ignoring their excellence in practically every field of endeavour in America from sports to commerce, education, medicine, law, and space programs, he refers to Nigerians as crooks who refuse to return to their huts in Africa! Unable to control his racist predisposition and act with the dignity expected of the Office of POTUS, Trump also derides Moslems, Haitians, Arabs, Mexicans and all other non-whites. His latest gaffe was to denigrate African nations. Expressing his revulsion towards the diversity lottery program which enables Africans to become US citizens, Trump in an un-guarded moment, wondered out loud why people from “sh*thole” countries emigrate to America and not those from nations like Norway? Norway is of course predominantly inhabited by the White Aryan race.
The answer is quite simple. It’s because America isn’t the best place to live in the world. In countries like Norway widespread gang violence and drug related problems, rapes, murders, robberies and mass shootings aren’t regular occurrences. Unlike Americans, Norwegians enjoy universal health care, equal pay, free birth control, strict gun control, tuition free universities, and 5-weeks paid annual vacation! POTUS Trump is right in concluding that anyone who voluntarily relocates to America with all its deprivations, prejudices and inhumanity must indeed come from a “sh*t-hole country”.
There is a school of thought that rather than take offence, his insult is a wake-up call for African leaders who have collectively failed to provide their citizens with the most basic amenities. Expectedly 54 African Ambassadors to the United Nations registered their displeasure at Trump’s categorisation of African nations, calling for a retraction and public apology even as their citizens queue up to flee to America. Some hope!
A closer examination of those emigrating from Nigeria and reinforcing Trumps prejudices, reveals a completely different profile from others around the world who tend to be fleeing war zones. The recently repatriated adventurists from Libya referred to as “returnees” mainly comprised Edo and Delta State indigenes rather than those from the war-ravaged North-East or insecure Middle Belt. Their rush to leave Nigeria at all costs isn’t due to insecurity. It’s a combination of frustration, greed, and “over sabi”.
Despite all warnings, graphic gruesome pictures, and news reports, they still queue up to attempt precarious illegal journeys overseas. The irony of the Libyan returnees abandoning their country and condemning government is that when they found themselves at death’s door it was the very same government that rescued them and flew them back at a cost of over $700 per ticket. When offered the undeniably paltry sum of N1,000 each to find their way home, they rejected it as “an insult”. It beggars belief that these people feel the nation owes them something. There are many Nigerians who choose to live in Nigeria even though they have dual nationalities and foreign passports which entitle them to live overseas legally. The returnees on the other hand illegally exited the country, caused the nation embarrassment, and necessitated expenditure of unbudgeted scarce funds for their rescue from an ill-conceived personal adventure. They must now be re-integrated into society and dispersed before they constitute a social menace.
Instead of always believing its own propaganda, government needs to be a little more introspective to appreciate why Nigerians willingly gamble their lives to escape these shores. With restructuring of any sort been postponed until after this administration, the nation will for the foreseeable future continuing spending money solving the problems of returnees. In this they can learn a lesson from racist Trump. He is obsessed with constructing a wall to prevent illegal Mexican immigrants from entering America. Perhaps the Federal Government may wish to consider constructing a wall to prevent Nigerian citizens leaving illegally!