Why Africans should ignore Trump’s comments on ‘Sh## Hole countries’

Our leaders should rather be using the spotlight that is on Africa to ensure that they don’t even mention Trump’s name but cite all the ways AFRICA IS GREAT! without even referencing his negative points.

Strategy is why they are ahead, shall we move forward then and be even more strategic than they are?

Trump’s recent comment on Africa is racist! However we cannot ignore the fact that on a fundamental level, Trump is a very basic man. Anytime attention is focused on him negatively he uses what is otherwise known as a ‘bait and switch’ technique or a smokescreen. In the present case because worldwide attention was drawn to the fact that Trump won’t honor his trip to the U.K because he fears a backlash from Brits when he arrives, he uses a smokescreen. By unnecessarily bringing up Africa in a negative light, the whole world becomes distracted focusing on his negative statements about Africa and not the glaring fact that he isn’t going to the U.K because of his growing unpopularity worldwide.

What we as a people focus on, we bring about. If everyone keeps on repeating Trump’s words in a strange way it gives the words legitimacy.

Let us therefore not be used by Trump, restrain from repeating his crap and just focus on building Africa and branding Africa in a way that is true to where we say Africa is heading socially, politically and economically.

Let us not be strategically used by Trump who wants to take attention away from the fact that his popularity is wavering.

Trump built an empire by implementing basic strategic power moves that includes smokescreens, distract, bait and switch, never reveal true motives behind your intentions and conquer by never letting people know the strategy behind the plan.

As Africans we need to build ourselves strategically where we don’t even waste time repeating highly offensive words but treating the words with the contempt it deserves.

Our leaders should rather be using the spotlight that is on Africa to ensure that they don’t even mention Trump’s name but cite all the ways AFRICA IS GREAT! without even referencing his negative points.

Strategy is why they ahead, shall we move forward then and be even more strategic than they are?

By Ms. Amanda Akuokor Clinton. African Politics Specialist (SOAS) and Lawyer (Clinton Consultancy).