CALLING A PRESIDENT LIFELESS
by Trek Africa Newspaper Editorial
President Buhari Meets Donald Trump
Last week, it was reported by the Financial Times that the President of United States of America, Donald Trump said that during his meeting, earlier in the year, with President Muhammadu Buhari, the Nigerian President was ‘lifeless’. This was said to been part of his private conversation with a certain friend. While Mr. Trump himself have not ascertained or refuted the comment, it is better to assume that it was not true.
Of utmost worry and disappointment, however, is the frenzy on social media which followed the purported statement of the US President. The snide remarks made by Nigerians on their President is unwarranted and puts the nation in a bad light. It is simply a display of insensitivity and low self-esteem by Nigerians. If Nigerians are really angry with her leader on various issues, it is only proper to address each issue and not wait for the comments of the leader of another country to bare their minds.
In spite of the place of influence that United States hold in the comity of nations, it does not make her President or any of her leaders a ‘headmaster’ or ‘bully’ that lashes out at the leaders of other countries. Nigeria, and every other nation for that matter, is a sovereignnation much like United States and not an overseas colony. To all intent, Nigeria is Africa’s largest economy and the most populated Black nation, so she is no pushover in world’s affairs.
It should be placed on record that in the same week of this purported ‘lifeless’ remark of Mr. Trump, two world leaders namely Theresa May, Prime Minister of U. K. and Angela Merkel, Chancellor of Germany paid official visits to the country. The President must be doing something in the right direction to assume this height.
It is important that Nigerians hold her Office of the President in high esteem. The Office is an entity irrespective of the occupant at any material time and deserves to be guided jealously and responsibly. It should be noted that citizens pledge loyalty and allegiance to their own country and not another’s, whether they acquired citizenship by birth, marriage or naturalization. When someone throw tantrums at the President and you go on to applaud it with your comments, there is a problem. Such diminishes our social conscience, it has everything to do with our national psyche.
Nigerian compatriots, ‘soldier go, soldier come; barracks no commot’, the office of the President is sacrosanct, guide it properly!
