Former Minister of Foreign Affairs, Professor Bolaji Akinyemi, has advised President Bola Tinubu to avoid direct confrontation with Donald Trump, the newly inaugurated 47th President of the United States.
Trump was sworn in on Monday in Washington, D.C. During his inaugural address, he pledged to deport millions of “criminal aliens” who entered the United States illegally.
“All illegal entries will immediately be halted, and we will begin the process of returning millions of criminal aliens back to the places from which they came,” Trump declared.
He also announced plans to reinstate the controversial “Remain in Mexico” policy and provocatively suggested renaming the Gulf of Mexico as the “Gulf of America.”
Furthermore, Trump vowed to end what he termed the “weaponisation” of the justice department, promising to restore balance to the “scale of justice.”
In 2018, Trump was accused of describing African nations, along with Haiti and El Salvador, as “shithole countries” while commenting on immigration. Trump has since denied using such language, stating that he holds Nigerians in high regard.
In December 2024, former Nigerian President Olusegun Obasanjo urged Trump to treat African nations with respect and dignity, stressing that Africa deserved to be valued for its contributions and potential.
Speaking on Politics Today, a Channels Television programme, on Monday, Akinyemi shared his advice for Tinubu regarding how to navigate relations with Trump.
“If I were President Tinubu, I would try to steer clear of antagonising him because there is nothing a bully likes better than taking on people who are not strong enough to resist him,” Akinyemi said.
Citing an African proverb, he added: “If you are not strong enough to take on a bully and you challenge him, you will only suffer more for it. That’s the advice I will give President Tinubu: avoid confrontation, even if it means tolerating actions that annoy or undermine Nigeria’s interests. There are ways to address his behaviour without direct conflict.”
Akinyemi also criticised Trump’s inaugural speech, describing it as “shocking and depressing.” He warned that the world should prepare for a turbulent four years, particularly with Trump’s policies on trade tariffs and other contentious issues.
