willieojo@yahoo.com
“In terms of corruption, Nigeria has a reputation, as you understand very well, for very massive corruption. I also know that the President has been able to cut that down very substantially. We talked about it, and he is working on it; and they have made a lot of progress and they will continue to make progress. We have a lot of people that invest in Nigeria, so cutting down on corruption is very important to us”
– Donald Trump
Over the last 30 years, I have worked with a slew of Americans across a few career fields. I have also had the opportunity to develop deep friendships with many; Black and White. I know what Americans are open to embracing, and what they’ll shun and refrain from in a jiffy. I can easily interpret their body languages even when they are not verbal. I know how Americans think. Apart from the boundless love for delicious and delectable food on the dinner table, Americans love information, and they are savvy storing the same. Except what does not sparkle their interests, very few things are hidden from American intelligence-gathering and investigative apparatuses. While crooks and criminals tarry in their foolishness believing nobody is hearing what they whisper in their bedrooms, and none is stalking their movements when they feign standing still, a hulky dossier of their stealthy activities is being compiled.
Americans are not God, but if you are on their watchlist, they know your beginning and they may have an idea how you will end. As their information storehouse is being ratchetted up minute-by-minute, they will keep mum until the appointed time to unzip.
President Muhammadu Buhari’s trip to the White House in Washington DC earlier in the week revealed a significant pivot concerning how Americans think about Nigerians; and especially about a Nigerian President. All around the globe, Nigerians have been called terrible names. A retired US General, Colin Powell, had called them “crooks”. Famous Washington Post Foreign Service Correspondent, Keith Richburg, said Nigeria is “…the world capitol of the business scam. Shake hands, but be sure to count your fingers”. TV Queen and billionaire, Oprah Winfrey, once said Nigeria is the “world’s most corrupt…All Nigerians – regardless of their level of education – are corrupt”. A US Senator, Ted Crux, of Texas called all Nigerians “e-mail scammers”. A former British Prime Minister, David Cameron, described Nigeria as “fantastically corrupt”.
Former President Olusegun Obasanjo had publicly accused the present crops of members of the National Assembly as “corrupt”. Members of the House of Representatives in turn accused the former President of creating an environment for corruption with a spate of briberies that had not been seen in Nigeria’s political history. Ex-military dictator, Ibrahim Babangida, once declared that the height of corruption experienced under Goodluck Jonathan was more of a behemoth than under his rulership. President Buhari, a few years ago, also publicly said that many Nigerians were not to be trusted.
It doesn’t matter where you stand with Buhari and his administration. It doesn’t matter how you slant your political hat at this time; but it is now lucidly unambiguous that Americans believe Buhari’s fight against corruption is a good fight. If you have ever been confused about where they stand regarding the President, be confused no more. Trump declared that Buhari is a “strong democratic leader” who has cut down “substantially” on the wave of corruption. “I have great respect for President Buhari”, Trump effusively admitted.
When Barack Obama was President, he tossed off any form of public association with Nigeria. In eight years, he “walked” past the country to neighbouring Ghana and refused to visit the Giant of Africa. He shied away from making lofty and glowing public statements about the country. Nothing about Nigeria and Nigerians impressed Obama. That is not the case with Trump. Whatever Obama thought about Nigeria, Trump thinks the radical opposite. The US president calls Nigeria “beautiful” and promised to visit. What has suddenly changed?
Americans know about stolen funds stashed away in banks all around the world. They know the Nigerian thieves, gyps, and their bloodsucking accomplices paddling the nation’s ship. They know the human-siphoning tools who serve and steal. They know our politicians’ scams and buncos and how many real estates they have acquired abroad with stolen funds. They know Nigerian politicians who have hauled their morals to the dogs and are having a field’s day plundering our lean treasury. Americans know the perniciously putrid band of invaders who are unable to purify a putrefying country. And more than that, they know Buhari. What do they know about him? We are not sure. But whatever they know, it seems they admire. Without a doubt, they have not traced a dime to his name in banks around the world. Buhari may have turned you off as President. His clannishness is many people’s sole grouse. Buhari has failed in some areas, especially regarding the herdsmen’s rampage scorching every territory in Nigeria, and his unbending insistence not to restructure Nigeria. Buhari truly lacks the quickness of mind and charismatic pizazz of a man beloved by all. But no one has landed a personal blow yet on him on corruption. We are still looking for a library built in his name. A hilltop mansion built by Julius Berger in his name. A real estate grab in America or Dubai. A bank account somewhere in Berne or Geneva. Fingerprints have not shown up in fine prints in any bank. My guts tell me Buhari is not driven by lust after money. I will be shocked if one dollar in diverted public funds is traced to him after his tenure. That my President is not labelled a thief is big for many.
Seventeen years ago, I moved to a small town in the suburb of the state of Wisconsin. We were, and still the only Nigerian family in the community. Later, I went to a bank to open an account. And there, I saw a public notice warning: ‘Beware of Nigerians’. I froze. I am Nigerian. Imagine you and your family members are the only Nigerians in town and you are slammed with this kind of message. Two of my boys were born in the city. They grew up there. They have friends there. They go to school there. And all three play sports there. I felt as if the bank’s warning message was addressed to me and my family. There are about seven banks in town, but only this particular one beamed the message. I didn’t ask them why. I shut down my account. The odds were already stacked against me. I couldn’t apply for any financial benefit that others enjoyed because I was sure I would be turned down. They knew I pastor a church out of town; and that I worked in the biggest medical facility in town in my secular assignment. But I am Nigerian. So, it becomes personally painful and hurtful when countries label Nigerians ‘thieves’. That is why I am elated that Trump does not believe Buhari is one of the thieves in Nigeria who use their political positions to pillage and plunder. That is why I am delighted that Trump believes Buhari is making progress in the fight against corruption. Americans have some information that we may not have. But thank God they believe now that NOT ALL NIGERIANS ARE THIEVES!
In spite of his political failings, Buhari is still globally adjudged a man of unquestionable integrity who loathes corruption and stealing. For many people who live and do business outside the shores of Nigeria, this is huge. For those of us who reside in America, it was a big sooth and relief that my President is not labelled a thief. Nigerians are not all thieves.
@folaojotweet
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