The much-publicised American presidential election of Tuesday, November 5, 2024, with its earth-shattering outcome came to a fitting climax on Monday, January 20, 2025 with the inauguration of the irrepressible Donald Trump as the 47th president of the United States of America.
Trump, the man many in America and several parts of the world love to hate is back with a bang to the highly coveted White House. This is despite the opposition spearheaded by the Democrats, as he was able to endure and survive series of lawsuits (or lawfare as it has come to be described) and propagandist media demonisation, including assassination attempts. And typical of the man, he has already hit the ground running, matching defiant words with action, and daring those opposed to his avant-garde style of leadership or governance to stop him if they can. Indeed given his utterances and actions since being sworn in, Trump immediately comes across as a president in a hurry to catch up on lost time.
Recall that Trump was first elected president on November 8, 2016, serving a four-year term marked by melodramatic controversies that bordered on what many termed as the outlandish. The overriding impression at the moment is that Trump is not only back, but appears determined to use this second term opportunity to right old wrongs and complete the unfinished jobs of his first term spell as president. That also means that in doing so, he is prepared, indeed eager, to step on sensitive and non-sensitive toes, including those of his fellow Americans and people elsewhere. His mission: To Make America Great Again, MAGA. So, the significance of his declaration that the “Golden age of America begins now” was not lost on most people.
Even before making a first move in this direction, his resolve in this regard seems to have been eloquently read by Americans as they have quickly come to terms with his return against all odds while waiting patiently for his every move. It is also being felt in distant places, triggering a re-alignment of formerly uncompromising positions, altering the equations of power and politics across the globe, and instilling caution, albeit fear, in countries perceived as enemies of America and its interests.
The world, it would appear, started changing to conform to him even before he was sworn into power. Trump’s election automatically toppled the woke government of Justin Trudeau of neighboring Canada, facilitated the process for Israel and Hamas to begin the immediate release of hostages under a mutually agreed arrangement, and is seriously ruffling feathers in the European Union, China, Panama, and Denmark. It could prove decisive for the outcome of the Russia-Ukraine war, the future of the Islamic regime of Iran, and their Houthi puppet regime of Yemen, and possibly encourage Germany to pull out of the EU in its best national interest. Altogether, not all his programmes will be tolerated.
Donald Trump’s America First agenda is a war cry for the restoration of the values that once made America the greatest country in the world. Those in a position to know believe that Donald Trump’s America First policies will restore the USA’s place of pride.
Nigeria must borrow a leaf. Our future should be removed from the grips of foreign powers and their globalist institutions like the IMF and World Bank. We must look inward because we have everything it takes to actualise Nigeria’s greatness. Let us make Nigeria great first.
