Renowned political scientist and former Minister of External Affairs, Professor Bolaji Akinyemi, has urged Nigerian President Bola Tinubu to approach relations with U.S. President Donald Trump with caution. In an appearance on Channels Television’s Politics Today on Monday, Akinyemi warned against provoking the newly inaugurated 47th president of the United States, describing Trump as a “bully.”
“If I were President Tinubu, I would try to steer clear of antagonising him because there is nothing a bully likes better than taking on people who are not strong enough to resist him,” Akinyemi remarked. He referenced an African proverb to emphasize his point, stating: “If you are not strong enough to take on a bully and you take him on, you are just going to suffer more for it.”
The former Director-General of the Nigerian Institute of International Affairs (NIIA) advised President Tinubu to avoid direct confrontation with Trump, even if it meant tolerating actions that might negatively affect Nigeria’s interests. According to Akinyemi, there are diplomatic ways to address such issues without escalating tensions.
Additionally, Akinyemi criticised Trump’s inaugural speech, calling it “shocking and depressing,” further underscoring his concerns about the new president’s approach to international relations.
