Ex-minister, activist, others react to Trump’s emergence as president

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Ibadan, Nov. 9, 2016 (NAN) Nigerians on Wednesday reacted to the emergence of business mogul, Donald Trump, as the 45th president of the United States, with respondents expressing diverse opinion on the direction of the country’s foreign policy.

Prof. Taoheed Adedoja, a former Sports Minister, told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Ibadan that Trump’s rhetoric were mere campaign propaganda.

“I want you to know that decision making in the United States is  usually subject of legislative procedure.

“Therefore, any campaign promise made by any presidential candidate is equally subject to the party’s manifesto and the law .

“So, it is better for us to wait till Trump starts acting before crucifying him,” Adedoja said.

But Mr Femi Aborisade, an Ibadan-based legal practitioner and human rights  activist, disagrees with Adedoja.

Aborisade contended that the emergence of Trump as the new president was a calamity to the global community.

”Trump’s campaign statements over time did not represent progress for humanity.

“It is however, noteworthy to state that that the emergence of Trump represents the wishes of the conservatives in America,” Aborisaden said.

In his own view, Mr Adebayo Ojo, a former Commissioner for Justice in Oyo State, argued that Trump’s campaign statements were mere political propaganda.

Corroborating Adedoja’s view, Ojo posited that the decision of any elected president of America was subjected to  congressional decision and rule of law.

In his contribution, Dr Ibrahim Uthman, a lecturer in the Department of Arabic and Islamic Studies, University of Ibadan, said Trump’s victory had critical implications for the Muslim world.

Uthman said that Trump would probably ban many foreigners, especially Muslims, from entering the United States.

“One thing I understand is that it is one thing to campaign in order to win an election, it is another thing to actually carry out the campaign promises,’’ he said.

A women and girl-child rights activist, Dr Adepeju Oti, said inspite of her loss, Hillary Clinton had been an inspiration to girls around the world and blazed the trail for others behind her.

Oti, who is the Executive Director, Global Youth Leadership and Girl-Child Foundation, said that Clinton  persevered to the end.

“Trump or no Trump, as a female,  I am inspired.

“Millions of girls out there who are being valued for how they look, tone of their voice, length of their hair and their physique are holding their thumbs up for Hillary.

“Her bravery, resilience and doggedness are inspiring. Any day,  win or lose, I am a Democrat and I’m still for Hillary.

“‎Hillary has fought the dirtiest of battles no presidential candidate anywhere in the world has ever fought.

“ The 2016 American election was intriguing, dirty, violent and full of desperation.

“ Americans have developed a new disease, Election Stress Disorder,” she said.

According to her, Clinton did not lose the elction because she was a woman but she lost to intrigues, blackmail, timing, lies and confusion of the American people.

“However, girls know now that they can be involved in the politics of their schools, contest for elections, campaign and be voted for. This is democracy in action,” she said.(NAN)
SEM/SYS/BA/OJO
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(Edited by Mufutau Ojo)