That Buhari And Trump Conversed

President Muhammadu Buhari is indeed a great man, one with conscience, humanity, determination and patriotism. History beholds that a prophet has never been loved by his people. Nothing is hidden under the sun. The best testimony is that from an adversary. The world is becoming more intelligently captivated than captured by mere speculations, hallucinations and frivolous agitations. And for Donald Trump to call Muhammadu Buhari, it is enough evidence that Nigeria is a big mirror in the White House. Nigeria is a big mirror everywhere in the world. The world leaders are seeing what is happening in Nigeria: sincerity of purpose of the leadership and the distractions by some disgruntled elements in the big and growing nation. This kind of mirror is what Nigerians require to see themselves daily so as to change and change their environments.

On Monday 13^thFebruary, 2017 at about 3.45 pm, the two world leaders freely and friendly conversed. There were speculations that it would not be possible due to earlier mischievous media propaganda that the Nigerian leader was either hospitalized or dead. So those who wish President Buhari anything other than life for Nigeria’s progress have been put to shame. Except if they think President Trump spoke to the dead and invited the dead to the United States, the truth is clear that Mr. President is alive, hail, hearty, focused, diligent, committed, determined and will succeed in pulling Nigeria from a failed state to a progressive nation. That is what he must insist on achieving and he must request the American President to assist him in this onerous task.

Presidential media aide, Femi Adesina, confirmed the conversation in his tweets on the official twitter handle of the Nigerian presidency @NGRPresidency where he said that the two leaders discussed ways to improve cooperation in the fight against terrorism through provision of necessary equipment. White House has confirmed that the telephone conversation held. White House Press Secretary, Sean Michael Spicer while briefing Journalists on activities of his boss said that President Trump received Canada PM, Justin Trudeau and as well spoke with President Buhari of Nigeria and Jacob Zuma of South Africa.

“Mr. Trump assured the Nigerian leader of US readiness to cut a new deal in helping Nigeria in terms of military weapons to combat terrorism. He commended Mr. Buhari for the efforts he made in rescuing 24 of the Chibok girls and the strides being taken by the Nigerian Army in combating Boko Haram. Mr. Trump also invited the Nigerian President to Washington at a mutually convenient date”, Adesina averred. However, it is quite naïve that former special assistant to President Goodluck Jonathan on New Media, Reno Omokri would think otherwise that Trump abhors Mr. President. This is baffling. It is this kind of insinuations that tense up the polity. He tweeted: I salutePresidents@realDonaldTrump and @MBuhari for their call which expressed a willingness to boost US/Nigeria relations. Don’t allow hatred for @MBuhari affect your love for Nigeria.”

I congratulate Mr. President for this great recognition by Mr. Trump. It is the first time the two leaders are talking since Mr. Trump’s inauguration as the 45^th President of the United States on 20^th January, 2017. It is gladdening that the Nigerian president is the first African leader whom Mr. Trump officially spoke to, an indication that Nigeria remains the giant of Africa. Nigerians of like minds must sincerely appreciate the effort of the incumbent government and stop all the distractions that hinder progress. It is normal to have opposition to government policies that are presumed to be harsh to the commoners. But it is quite inhuman and unpatriotic to oppose for no just cause. The world is wiser than ever before. In short, the world knows that Nigeria was a corrupt nation. The world knows its past and present leaders.

Interestingly I feel to advise that Mr. President should come back to Nigeria first to prepare for the trip to the United States. Though widely known, the discussion between him and President Trump must focus on the milder ways to free Nigeria of terrorism, militancy and kidnapping. The Niger Delta problems, the agitation by the IPOB amongst others and how to overcome them should form part of the agenda. There is always need to request the US to help in curtailing arms deal and smuggling into Nigeria.

The Nigerian economy must be thoroughly discussed. It is, undoubtedly, the key instigator to almost the civil crises bedeviling Nigeria. Once the economy is good and infrastructures are provided by the government, the tension will douse and productivity will increase. There should be less emphasis on procurement of heavy ammunitions to fight Nigerians. The Nigerian military are of world-class trained personnel who, with minimal force, have brought the Boko Haram terrorists to kneel. The same method should be applied, if needs arise, to conquer other terrorist groups parading themselves under whatever guise in the country.

Howbeit, Mr. President should also be careful. I do not entertain any fear of his ability to handle the trip. The two countries have some things in common. He knows it all and feels the pains of his people. History has shown that the United States and other developed countries of the world underwent similar hardship, strives and crises. Nigeria is undergoing cleansing and the United States should guide us sincerely. Yes, they have interests but they must realize that the growth of Nigeria will enhance those interests. They must not plan otherwise to destabilize Nigeria by supporting or using Nigerians who are bent to destroy the country. Some of these people take cover in the western countries.

When dining with a great man or an influential or a perceived foe, it is advisable to use a long spoon. Trust is very difficult to build and once it is done, it is hard to severe. Both President Trump and President Buhari must develop the trust for true partnership and friendship. I do not think there should be superiority complex in this matter. The US needs Nigeria as much as Nigeria needs the US to survive. It has been proved that Nigerians who stole the commonwealth of the country have found the western world a safe haven. The immediate past President of the USA, Barack Obama was in support of the incumbent Nigerian President because he understood the insincerity and corrupt-ridden habit of the past leaders. He made promises to repatriate the monies starched in the US’ banks and financial institutions by the Nigerian treasury looters. This should also be a key point for discussion when Mr. President meets President Trump in the White House.

Mr. Trump should also explore the possibility of pressuring the western countries to “bring back Nigeria’s monies”. Yes, “bring back our girl and our monies” should be the new slogan. I am dumbfounded that until recent, no group had come up to permanently pursue with the anti-grant agencies the exposure of the looters and recovery of the stolen monies. But from the onset, the “Bring Back Our Girls (BBOG)” group emerged. And the group is still strong today over two years after the kidnapping of the Chibok girls. Charley Boy and the whistle blowers have just begun work. Heavy amounts of monies are recovered on daily basis in Nigeria from the looters. The US can help Nigeria too on how to treat these national criminals by collaborating on the judicial machinery which has been found to be the solid wall against the fight on corruption. Does it take too long in the United States to convict those who loot the treasury of America?

Nigeria is in recession because of these few people who stole nearly all the monies belonging to Nigeria and hid the monies not in the banks alone but surprisingly in bedrooms, uncompleted but guarded buildings, in farms, in the toilets, in shoes, in empty water storages, in bunkers, in huts and in anything that they imagine to be safe. This is apart from the ones in the financial institutions of western countries. How can these monies come back to Nigerians? This is a question for Mr. Trump.

However, few days after the phone conversation, a US initiative ‘Power Africa’ has expressed interest to invest about one billion dollars on the power sector in Nigeria as credited to the programme’s Coordinator, Andrew Herscowitz who said the programme was launched by the past US President, Barack Obama in 2013. According to him, since Power Africa was launched, U.S. Trade Development Agency has committed approximately 6.5 million dollars in funding for 10 activities supporting Nigeria’s energy sector, which could leverage up to 2.7 billion dollars in investment. “It has advanced 50 million dollars in financing from the Oversea Private Investment Corporation (OPIC) to Lumos, a Nigeria-based solar energy company, to scale up it’s off grid solar power service to about 200,000 Nigerian homes and businesses.”

With all these evidences, what else must be done to prove to the detractors that the government is sincere and committed. What would have been the fate of Nigeria if all these monies being discovered and recovered were utilized for the interest of the nation and its people? Let there be peace in Nigeria! We congratulate the two leaders and wish them very fruitful deliberations and decisions that will favour both countries. Congratulations to Mr. Trump for his victory and we thank him for recognizing the efforts of President Buhari in fighting corruption and making Nigerians believe in themselves as well as be productive. Nigerians are not lazy people; many Nigerians in the US and around the world are productive and progressive.

Muhammad Ajah is an advocate of humanity, peace and good governance in Abuja. E-mail [email protected].