Renowned Political Science Professor, Bolaji Akinyemi, has urged President Bola Tinubu to tread cautiously in dealings with the newly inaugurated 47th President of the United States, Donald Trump.
Speaking on Channels Television’s Politics Today program, Akinyemi emphasized the need for diplomatic restraint, warning against unnecessary provocations that could escalate tensions.
“If I were President Tinubu, I would avoid antagonizing him. A bully thrives on targeting those who are not equipped to resist, and confrontation could lead to greater challenges,” Akinyemi stated.
Drawing on an African proverb, he added, “Taking on a bully when you’re not strong enough only worsens the situation. My advice to President Tinubu is to avoid direct conflict, even if Trump’s actions may provoke or encroach on Nigeria’s interests. There are alternative, less confrontational ways to address such issues.”
Akinyemi, a former Director-General of the Nigerian Institute of International Affairs (NIIA), described Trump’s inaugural speech as “uninspiring, shocking, and depressing.” He expressed concerns over Trump’s rhetoric, which included threats of aggressive policies such as reclaiming the Panama Canal, renaming the Gulf of Mexico as the Gulf of America, and initiating tariff wars.
“These statements suggest we’re in for a rough ride over the next four years. Policies rooted in jingoism have consequences, and Trump will soon learn this,” Akinyemi remarked.
The former Nigerian Minister of External Affairs further noted that Africa’s most populous nation might remain peripheral to Trump’s agenda. “Nigeria is not a priority for the 78-year-old president, and we should temper our expectations of extraordinary benefits from his administration,” he added.
Trump Returns to Power Amidst Wealth and Power
Donald Trump was sworn in as the 47th US President on Monday, January 20, 2025, at the US Capitol Rotunda in Washington, D.C., succeeding Joe Biden. At 78, Trump returns to power surrounded by prominent figures, including the world’s richest man Elon Musk, Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg, Amazon’s Jeff Bezos, and Google’s Sundar Pichai.
This second inauguration marks a stark contrast to his first in 2017 as a political outsider. Despite his contentious exit from the presidency in 2021, when he refused to attend Joe Biden’s inauguration after unfounded claims of electoral fraud, Biden upheld tradition by attending Trump’s swearing-in.
Former US Presidents Barack Obama, George W. Bush, and Bill Clinton, along with their families, were also present, although Michelle Obama notably abstained from the ceremony.
Trump’s return to the White House, following a turbulent electoral defeat in 2020, is expected to usher in a contentious era in global politics, with many watching closely to see how his policies will unfold.
