Protect Nigeria’s Interests Quietly: Akinyemi’s Bold Advice To Tinubu On Handling Trump

Renowned political science professor, Bolaji Akinyemi, has urged President Bola Tinubu to avoid any form of confrontation with Donald Trump, the newly sworn-in 47th President of the United States.

During an interview on Channels Television’s Politics Today on Monday, Akinyemi emphasized that bullies, like Trump, thrive on engaging with those who are perceived as unable to resist their tactics.

“If I were President Tinubu, I would steer clear of antagonizing him because there is nothing a bully enjoys more than challenging someone who isn’t strong enough to push back,” Akinyemi explained.

Referencing an African proverb, he added, “If you’re not strong enough to confront a bully, doing so will only bring more suffering. My advice to President Tinubu is to avoid confrontations with Trump, even if he takes actions that annoy or infringe on Nigeria’s interests. There are alternative ways to address such issues without direct conflict.”

Akinyemi, a former Director General of the Nigerian Institute of International Affairs (NIIA), also criticized Trump’s inaugural speech, describing it as uninspiring, shocking, and disheartening.

“Instead of promoting global peace, Trump used his platform to issue threats and introduce a series of hostile policies, such as reclaiming the Panama Canal, renaming the Gulf of Mexico as the Gulf of America, and imposing tariff wars,” the octogenarian remarked.