Nigerians have reacted to the victory of Republican candidate in the United States Presidential election, Donald Trump, who beat his Democratic challenger, Hilary Clinton to clinch the White House on Wednesday.
A Professor of International Law and Strategic Studies at the Bingham University, Gani Yorroms, told our correspondent in an interview that Nigerians are skeptical about Trump following his election campaign rhetoric, where he made statements that could be interpreted as a desire to deport Nigerians from the United States. He added that the victory of Trump is very critical because it is going to affect international politics, economic and trade.
The scholar stressed that Trump has no experience in the intrigue of international politics and the variables that define the circumstances of modern times, and as such could be a victim of the vastly experienced leaders like the Russian President Vladimir Putin, who he said could manipulate Trump.
“Unfortunately for the US, I believe that Russia will pocket the US, because Trump does not have experience in governance, he will be dealing with Putin, a former KGB, well grounded in politics and I believe that US will be pocketed, “he said.
Also speaking to correspondents at the election Night Watch organized by the United States Embassy at the Shehu Musa Yar’ Adua Centre, Abuja, a member of the House of Representatives, Hon E.J Agbonayinma, said that Nigerians have excelled in all walks of life in the US and having somebody like Donald Trump as President will be a big problem not just for Nigeria but the whole world.
He said that a “vote for Donald Trump is a vote for destruction.”
The lawmaker, who spent over 20 years in the US and now represents Egor/Ikpoba Orkha Federal Constituency of Edo State, questioned the motive of Trump over his statement, which suggests he will send Nigerians back to Nigeria as he has emerged the US president. “Trump said he is going to send all Nigerians back to Nigeria, is that the kind of person we want to rule America? He questioned.
The lawmaker added that apart from Trumps careless utterances, he is also a racist and cannot be trusted with power. He noted that Democratic candidate Hilary Clinton’s victory could have been the only thing that can bring peace and unity to America and to the world even as he lamented the loss of the Democratic Party candidate.
However, former Nigerian Ambassador to Switzerland, Humphrey Orjiako, told our correspondent on the phone on Wednesday that the victory of Trump should not be a thing of worry to Nigerians and wondered why Nigerians should be perturbed over the matter.
“I would say this is what we do generally in Africa; we think that other people’s laws, policies should have huge impacts on our lives in Africa (Nigeria) inclusive. That is the tragedy of the Black race. We predicate our good will on the others. But let me assure you that whether it was Donald Trump or Clinton that won the US election, only the Nigerians can sustained their own form of development not the US President.
“Nothing is going to change much as long as bilateral cooperation is concerned. So Nigerians should not show anxiety over the matter and instead try to build our country to attract foreign investors. It is time to diminish this fear because in the US it is the private businesses and corporations that drive investment and they can see the potentials of investment especially if the Nigerian economy revives.
On the Nigerians who expressed anxiety over the prospects of deportation, the former envoy noted that many Nigerians who live in the US are US citizens and are subject to the same law that applies to all citizens.
“If the Nigerians living in the US are creative and innovative, I don’t think Trump will do away with them because America actually is in need of those people,” he added.
He said that it is only those who are staying illegally in the US that Trump had vowed to repatriate of which there is actually nothing wrong with because no serious leader condones illegality in his own country.
He added that apart from the fight against terrorism, there is clearly nothing that Nigeria benefited from the Obama administration.
Against all expectations Trump capitalized on the wave of populist resentment to defeat Hillary Clinton in the race to become the 45th president of the United States. The Republican billionaire defeated his Democratic rival, plunging global markets into turmoil and putting the long-standing global political order, which is predicated on Washington’s leadership, into doubt.
Against all expectations Trump capitalized on the wave of populist resentment to defeat Hillary Clinton in the race to become the 45th president of the United States. The Republican billionaire defeated his Democratic rival, plunging global markets into turmoil and putting the long-standing global political order, which is predicated on Washington’s leadership, into doubt.
The run up to the election presented a gale of condemnation and ridicule against real estate tycoon and former reality TV star, but he soldiered on until he proved his critics wrong with Wednesday’s resounding victory.
“It’s a movement comprised of Americans from all races, religions, backgrounds and beliefs, who want and expect our government to serve the people,” he said.
Trump won the decisive Electoral College votes in Pennsylvania, Arizona and Michigan. Other states won by Trump included Republican strongholds of South Carolina, Alabama, Kansas, Nebraska, Wyoming, North Dakota, Idaho, Gerogia, South Dakota, Texas, Arkansas, Louisiana, Momtana, Utah and Missouri.
He also defeated Clinton in Swing states of Florida, Iowa and Ohio to clinch the princely 275 threshold out of the 538 Electoral College votes to cruise to victory.
He also won the popular votes and has since been congratulated by his challenger, Hilary Clinton.
Meanwhile, Senate President Bukola Saraki has congratulated the President-Elect of the United States of America, Donald Trump, on his victory in the U.S presidential election.
Saraki who commended Trump for his perseverance ‘through a very challenging Republican primary election cycle’ praised his main challenger Hillary Clinton for calling the president-elect to concede defeat.
Republican Trump stunned the world by defeating former Secretary of State Clinton in the race for the White House, ending eight years of Democratic rule and will become the 45th President of the United States.
In his congratulatory letter dated November 9, 2016, the Senate President said: “Trump’s years of being a private sector leader can be invaluable to Nigeria as we work to restructure and diversify our economy.
“It is my hope and prayer that the United States can move beyond this election and heal the divisions that divide that great nation. Mr. Trump has an opportunity to be a unifying force and I believe his humble acceptance speech was a great beginning”.
In his congratulatory message, Deputy Senate President Ike Ekweremadu enjoined emerging democracies, including Nigeria, to emulate the democratic and transparent nature of the U.S election, noting that the will of the people and respect for democratic principles must be allowed at all times.
“We have many lessons to learn from the American presidential election. It was highly democratic, transparent, peaceful, and free of intimidation, willful manipulations, contrived security scares; and it was absolutely conclusive, even though the ruling party was losing, and eventually lost” Ekweremadu stated.
Also in a statement on Wednesday, Dayo Adeyeye, National Publicity Secretary, PDP National Caretaker Committee urged President-Elect Trump to move quickly to heal the divides and to reassure all Americans, particularly its minorities, that his administration will pursue policies and programmes that protect and promotes all their constitutional rights and freedoms.
The opposition party also tasked Trump to quickly formulate policies that will ensure a mutually beneficial relationship between the US and Africa in general, and Nigeria in particular.
“At this time, the US and Nigeria must work harder to deepen mutual security and economic interests”, Adeyeye said.
