Trump conundrum: auspicious time for Nigerians to stand firmly with Tinubu and his government, by Kola Amzat

In the space of one week, this is the second time this writer is making contribution on the above subject. Of course, it underscores the enormity of the challenge posed by Donald Trump with his recent designation of Nigeria as a “Country of Particular Concern”

Without a shade of a doubt, this is not the best of time in our country as there is palpable fear and apprehension in all the nooks and crannies that the irrational and erratic Trump could strike anytime, more so with his placement of American Department of War on red alert!    

Enquired of him a few days ago by the ever inquisitive American Newsmen if he envisioned his “war squad” on air strikes or on the ground in Nigeria, the cocky Trump responded: “could be. I mean, other things. I envisage quite a lot of things. They’re killing record numbers of Christians in Nigeria—-They’re killing Christians and killing then in very large numbers, we’re not going to allow that to happen”

This is where the likes of uncouth and irreverent Nnamdi Kanu, and International Society for Civil Liberties & Rule of Law, as well as allied Igbo ethnic advocacy groups have led Nigeria, propagating inflated figures, spewing unverified narratives, fabricating falsehood and churning out blatant lies that have reverberated across the globe and religious enclaves that Donald Trump and others are anchoring on, for taking unwholesome decision against Nigeria.

Nnamdi Kanu indeed wrote Trump, portraying himself as “Prisoner of Conscience” presently under detention, as well as a victim of alleged state persecution against Christians.

This is the same uncultured and wayward Kanu running from pillar to post, exploring all known very dirty tricks and intrigues to stall his prosecution before the law, pleading that he has no case to answer in his quest to escape justice, despite the overwhelming evidence against him that he’s a high-scale TERRORIST.       

Nigerians would vividly recollect that prior to his arrest in Kenya in 2020, he was all over media platforms, inciting wide-scale violence in Nigeria, particularly, in the South-east zone, calling for balkanization of the country, advocating for creation of Biafra state, as well as passing very derogatory statements on all the past leaders of the country.

Amongst other misconceptions and misrepresentations against Nigeria, these are perceptions that have significantly shaped the thought of impulsive Donald Trump in designating Nigeria as “Country of Particular Concern” 

But the truth must be told: Nigeria is a veteran of battles and each time, the country had come out unscathed.

Nigeria had experienced more serious challenges that almost rocked her to her foundation—Civil War that lasted 30 months-spanning July 06, 1967 and January 15, 1970, and of course, the combined ruinous and despicable reigns of military regimes of IBB and dark-goggled Sani Abacha that lasted for about 14 years, spanning period of 1985 and 1998!

It’s instructive: Nigeria survived them all. The Donald Trump present challenge would follow the same path, despite the overwhelming cloud of uncertainty that has enveloped Nigeria in this past weeks. 

But, Nigerians in all walks of life MUST ARISE, AND BE STEADFAST, AS WELL AS TAKING THEIR DESTINY IN THEIR HANDS and resist America dangerous resolve at denigrating the country much-cherished sovereignty.

No doubt, the path presently being treaded by Bishop Wilfred Anagbe, the Catholic Bishop of Makurdi Diocese, possibly being prompted by Governor Alia Hyacinth of Benue state, as well as Bishop Wale Oke, President of Pentecostal Fellowship of Nigeria is a dangerous path that would lead Nigeria to destruction and extinction.

Equally, the unpatriotic route being taken by hysteria Pat Utomi of Labour party is a destructive one that would take the country to nowhere, other than ignominy.

Equally, many South and Middle Belt activists and Social Crusaders associating themselves with humiliating U.S. campaigns against their father and motherland are men of little minds, short-sighted and myopic concerning the issue at hand, as they’re digging their graves, and working in concert against their generations yet-unborn.

While these groups have misrepresented the fact and the truth to President Trump concerning the assumed killings of Christians in Nigeria, they’ve failed to alert him and the international community the horrendous killings of Christians that have resulted into higher casualties and human carnage on continual basis by religious terrorists in such dominant Muslim dominated states as Katsina, Yobe, Borno, Zamfara, Niger, Jigawa, and even, Kebbi states.

In the same vein, they refused to inform Donald Trump that the mass killings in South east zone have been largely Igbo-on-Igbo violence as unidentified gunmen often swoop on their defenceless kinsmen to eliminate them for disobeying Mondays’ sit-at-home order in what they often termed as protest against the Nigerian state for absolutely, pedestrian and unjustifiable reasons.

Meanwhile, these unpatriotic Nigerians have never enquired from America: why has Nigeria been singled out for invasion of all the countries designated as “Countries of Particular Concern”?

In the list are–China, Cuba, Iran, Eritrea, North-Korea, Nicaragua, Pakistan, Russia, Saudi-Arabia, Tajikistan.

The onus is on these Nigerians to open their eyes widely, as well as letting all organs of their bodies be alive with a view to discern and decipher that there is more to Nigeria designation than meets the eyes!

This is the Sub-Saharan African’s largest country and economic power house of the continent! This is a country prodigiously endowed with commercially viable solid minerals—Bitumen, Granite, Tin & Colum bite, Iron-ore, Gold, Crystal, Quartz, Copper, Uranium etc. and, not talk of humongous of deposit of crude-oil in all the nooks & crannies, a prize endowment presently constituting about 80-85% of the nation Treasury!

Nigeria is equally home to largest concentration of black race in the entire globe.

More importantly, our country is home to very resourceful, industrious and very educated people, with diverse ethnic, religious and multi-cultural affiliations.

May be, it’s not yet clear to those little-minded Nigerians that their country is indeed, envy of the world! If they’re oblivious of this, it behoves on them to recognise this fact now.    

This is the same country that they are diligently inviting President Donald Trump to invade and destroy, simply because arrangement in the polity is not going in their way.

Where are the Emeka Anyaokus, Bolaji Akinyemis, Sulu Gambaris and other notable and acknowledged Diplomats?

Without being prompted, let them arise and pick up the mantle of defending Nigeria cause and declare to Donald Trump that, as far as this present case is concerned, he’s not been briefed and advised well.   

It’s also instructive to emphasise to few disgruntled Nigerians who have resolved to sell the country for pot of porridge, by sacrificing Nigeria sovereignty on the altar of selfishness, that per-adventure, if Trump’s Department of War strikes, no one could determine the form and scale it would take! No one could also determine where Trump men could commence their illegal occupation! —North, South, East or West!

Suffice to submit that, nobody could predict extent of carnage, as well as which of the ethnic group would mostly suffered. 

The message remains: Let no one have the illusion that he or his family would be spared. .

This is not the time for grandstanding! This is not the time for ethnicity! This is also not the time for DISCORDANT TUNES!

This is the time Nigerians in all walks of life-Northern, Eastern. Western, and Southern Hemisphere, as well as Nigerians in Diaspora must rise in unison to rally round President Bola Tinubu in his quest to affirm to President Donald Trump that, the latter has only ANCHORED his designation of Nigeria as “Country of Particular Concern” on the basis of misconception, misrepresentation, fabrication of lies, and spewing of propaganda by the avowed enemies and detractors of the government, as well as members of the opposition groups, who have particularly  lost in power game ahead of 2027 general elections.

Finally, it’s important to reiterate to ex-president, Olusegun Obasanjo that no Nigerian is interested in his selfish and reckless claim that under his watch, “America couldn’t do anything in Africa without Nigeria Knowledge”

This declaration is borne out of envy, jealousy, strife and absolutely lack of understanding of the issue at hand, and perhaps, challenge of old age. And, this is very unfortunate more so, as former president.

The retired general needs to be properly guided that, it’s a different time, different circumstance and different people entirely.

For the fact that he shared affinity and friendship with late Jimmy Carter who presided over America while Obasanjo ran Nigeria doesn’t suggest that President Tinubu should maintain the same level of friendship with present America president, so that America would always brief Nigeria beforehand, what they intend to do in Africa/Nigeria.

Methinks ex-president Obasanjo should spare Nigerians of this continual grandstanding and arrogance that has never been to the benefit of the country.  

 KOLA AMZAT (FCA, FCIB),

LAGOS BASED FINANCIAL AND MANAGEMENT CONSULTANTS,

09077509348, [email protected]