Advice for Donald Trump

BY some twist of fate, Mr Barack Hussein Obama, the first African-American President who at inception was abhorred for his skin colour in that exalted position, stunned bookmakers and many others alike further with his level-headedness, humility and good communication skills in policy formulation, with which he steered the ship of his administration ‘into the hearts’ of many Americans even as the ship berthed historically on 20th January, 2017. Obama, a shining example for the Democrats, officially handed over to the 45th President of the United States, Mr Donald J. Trump, a Republican with an emerging character who made many look aghast, recently with some of his unguarded verbal faux pas, laced in derogatory racial, religious, female gender intonations amongst others. These verbal ‘missiles’ coming from one would later occupy the office of ‘President of the United States’, beat the imagination of not a few.

In a manner, the strength of such thoughts and arguments, are damning strong and powerful, for these statements credited to Mr Trump leave sour taste in one’s mouth! “Ariana Huffington is unattractive both inside and out. I fully understand why her former husband left her for a man —he made a good decision..”

‘’You are disgusting.” A statement made to an opposing lawyer during a court case which she asked for a medical break to pump breast milk for her three – month-old daughter. These are, to say the least, very distasteful and insensitive comments. They show Mr. Trump in bad light especially that the issues raised border on persons rather than issues. It is presumed that most American presidents naturally are gifted with unequalled cranium and oratory prowess which are evident in their statements and writings. For example, the preamble of the United States constitution written in style by the 3rd US President Mr. Thomas Jefferson, reverberates uncommon wisdom of a well-articulated document of all time.

Also, a never-to-be-forgotten statement of President Bush in the wake of the unforgettable 2001 September 11th attack describes the known character and qualities of a typical American president even when provoked. While speaking to an audience at Washington’s National Cathedral he said: “Americans do not yet have the distance of history, but our responsibility to history is already clear; This nation is peaceful, but fierce when stirred to anger. This conflict was begun on the timing and terms of others; it will end in a way and at an hour of our choosing.’’

Perhaps, it cannot be over-emphasised that President Obama’s effective tool of administration are his good communication skills with which he wormed himself into the hearts of many. It is hoped that Mr Trump will from his ‘high pedestal’ learn from this. He should not play into the hands of his ardent critics who believe that he has more to learn politically even with his very impressive business exposures. It is also hoped that the sanctity of the office of the American Presidency or its figurative appellation as the “Policeman of the world,” will not be sacrificed on the altar of such careless statements that will lower its prestige from such dizzying heights to ground zero.

Every  nonsense is indeed imbued with that unseen strand of real sense. What Mr Trump has said, particularly on ‘illegal immigrants, should send a powerful message to those affected in all foreign lands. It’s time for all African illegal immigrants to start thinking of coming to their homelands as Mr Trump’s message is a signal that all illegal immigrants have now overstayed their welcome.

As I wish Mr Trump a successful tenure, an African proverb says: “He that picks a fight with the vulture, as well as the cock families, will contend alone the challenge of waking up early without any assistance.” Then, Mr Trump and his like will contend with all the odd jobs that Mexicans, Nigerians and Muslims have all ‘stolen’ and are still stealing till now. After all, if we say a tree doesn’t make a forest, Mr Trump says and rightly so, that a ghost is enough to make a ghost town!

• Awoyemi writes in from Ota, Ogun State