President Tinubu Advised to Steer Clear of Confrontation with Trump

Nigerian President Bola Tinubu has been urged to avoid any confrontation with former U.S. President Donald Trump, as diplomatic tensions loom.

Bolaji Akinyemi, the former Nigerian Minister of Foreign Affairs, has advised President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to proceed with caution and steer clear of any conflicts with Donald Trump, who has recently been inaugurated as the 47th President of the United States.

During his swearing-in ceremony on Monday in Washington, DC, Trump detailed his immigration plans in his inaugural address, pledging to deport millions of “criminal aliens” who had illegally entered the United States.

Akinyemi highlighted the significance of nurturing a robust diplomatic relationship between Nigeria and the U.S., especially in view of Trump’s stringent approach to immigration policies.

He recommended that Tinubu concentrate on constructive engagement with the U.S. administration to protect the interests of Nigerians living overseas and promote positive bilateral relations.

He stated, “All illegal entries will be stopped immediately, and we will begin the process of sending millions of criminal aliens back to their countries of origin.”

He added, “We will reinstate my ‘Remain in Mexico’ policy,” and vowed to rename the Gulf of Mexico as the Gulf of America.

Trump also stated he would put a stop to the “weaponization” of the justice department, promising that “the scale of justice will be rebalanced.”

In 2018, it was alleged that Trump referred to African countries, Haiti, and El Salvador as “shitholes” from which “undesirable migrants” were entering the U.S.

Since then, Trump has denied using the term “shithole countries” to describe any race and added that he holds Nigerians in high regard.

In December 2024, former President Olusegun Obasanjo asserted that Trump should show appropriate respect and dignity towards Africans as he prepared to take on the role of leader at the White House.

Obasanjo mentioned that it was time to demonstrate to Trump that what he referred to as a “shithole” is not accurate, emphasizing that America has an enlightened interest in Africa.

On Monday’s edition of Politics Today, a Channels Television program, Akinyemi provided Tinubu with advice on how to engage with the U.S. president.

The former minister advised Tinubu to find ways of handling Trump, even if Trump’s actions irritate or conflict with Nigeria’s interests.

Akinyemi remarked, “If I were President Tinubu, I would avoid provoking him, as bullies often revel in challenging those unable to stand up to them.”

There’s an African proverb that suggests if you confront a bully without being strong enough, you’ll end up suffering even more.

Here’s a revised version: “My advice to President Tinubu would be to avoid confrontation with him, even if his actions are frustrating or impact Nigeria’s interests negatively. There are non-confrontational ways to respond and address the issues.”

Akinyemi criticized Trump’s inaugural speech, describing it as “shocking and depressing.” He further remarked that the world should brace itself for a challenging period over the next four years as a result of his policies, including tariffs.