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On Monday the last day of April 2018, Nigeria’s President Muhammadu Buhari became the first African leader to meet with President Donald Trump at the White House with the US President openly expressing respect for the leader of Africa’s largest democracy.
Speaking at a joint press conference with President Buhari, Trump continuously reverbed how he has so much respect for Buhari, but does the US President actually means it?
“I have great respect for you, Mr. President. Nigeria is a great country, I will be visiting soon,” were President Trump’s words.
To fully grab the rhetoric of Trump’s claim of respect for Buhari, it becomes imperative to analyse and put the US President’s comments into perspective in context.
Before the joint press conference, President Buhari had a bilateral meeting with the US President in the White House, of which what transpired, Trump hinted at the joint press conference.
It is worthy to note that in the bigger scheme of things, the press conference was actually a footnote.
Trump, when quizzed at the joint press conference, revealed that more than anything else he discussed with President Buhari was the need for US agricultural products coming into Nigeria, which he said Nigeria wants.
“But there have been certain barriers that do not allow that to happen; very substantial barriers to the United States trading with Nigeria. We have already started talking with the President about taking down the trade barriers.
“So for the good of our farmers, US farmers and for the good of Nigeria, and all of Africa, it is very important that we are able to sell our great agricultural products into Nigeria. That will happen; and we are going to be working on that right away. So, we think that we are owed that,” said Trump.
Trump laid all these bare after Buhari insisted the US consider Nigeria’s crude oil in the stead of Shell’s.
“The progress made by the United States in technology is certainly frightening for us that are mono-economy. I hope technology will allow them use our crude for its quality, for petrochemicals, being light one, vis-à-vis what they are getting from Shell,” Buhari earlier demanded.
Trump’s claim of respect for Buhari cannot be said to be sincere as he ironically, tactically made a deal to push her agricultural products into Nigeria with the glaring fact that agriculture is the main thrust of Nigeria diversifying its economy from overdependence on crude oil.
Trump’s claim of respect for Buhari is to serve the purpose of massaging the ego of the Nigerian President into cajoling him to have his way to get US agricultural products into Nigeria.
Donald Trump is both rude and cruel; confirming diplomats and politicians alike can actually tell you to go to hell in a way you will look forward to the trip.
Trump said “there is no country more beautiful” than Nigeria; however, people exactly know when people are actually telling the truth.
“Well I would like very much to visit Nigeria. It is an amazing country. In certain ways, I hear from the standpoint of the beauty of a country — there’s no country more beautiful,” were Trump’s words.
Trump has been known to be the most chronic fact twister in recent times; so, it is not unexpected for him to make such supposed factual statement about Nigeria. He hopes he is dealing with an actual ‘maga’.
If Trump is not high on the need to ‘mugu’ Buhari into assenting to allow US agricultural products into Nigeria, he wouldn’t have said what he said as it is obvious Nigeria is not in the list of the top 5 most beautiful countries of Africa, let alone “there is no country more beautiful” than Nigeria.
If Trump’s statements should be taken as they are, he could have meant what he said, but given context, the US President has no regards for Nigeria and the things that matter most for the country. It is obvious the respect Trump has for President Buhari is for him to take advantage of Nigeria.
He continuously prodded Buhari to consider lifting trade barrier to ensure the US gets its way of pushing its agricultural products into the country.
Meanwhile, in his speeches during the working lunch and at the joint press conference, President Buhari highlighted key areas the Nigerian government might be requiring the assistance of the US.
Already Buhari and Trump both acknowledged Nigeria acquisition of 12 Super Tucano war crafts during the press conference. In addition to this Buhari made known that discussion with his American counterpart, bothered on, including security, anti-corruption, trade, human rights and humanitarian aid.
While it is obvious that Buhari did not succumbed to Trump’s whims, there might be grave implications if he doesn’t, which might include the US tightening business relations with, and humanitarian aid for Nigeria.