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Opinion!!! Trump Out, Biden In: What’s In For Africa, Nigeria?
By Yusufu Aminu Idegu
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With the 46th Presidential inauguration of President Joe Biden and Senator Kamala Harris, a new era has been opened in America just as era of Donald trump came to an end pari-passu. By this singular event, America has commenced a new democratic journey as the world stand by to watch the beacon of the liberal democracy renew itself.
The inauguration came a few days after the invasion of the Capitol Hill by an aggrieved section of the population that didn’t accept the verdict of the electoral process that brought about the victory of Joe Biden. The development at Capitol Hill necessitated deployment of America security architecture is in full swing before and during the inauguration to prevent any outburst of the simmering anger in ways that could disrupt the inauguration of Biden as its 46th president.
Joe Biden arrives
Donald Trump had on January 6, 2021 invaded the hallowed chambers of the Senate in a bid to truncate its session to ratify the Electoral College’s votes confirming Joe Biden as the new president. Despite a clear majority of 81, 283, 485 American votes (representing 51.4 per cent of total votes cast) polled by Biden, against Trump’s 74, 223, 485 or 45.9 per cent, Trump had insisted that his opponent stole his mandate. Trump was not convinced even when the Electoral College gave Biden an overwhelming 306 votes to Trump’s 232. He had consequently made several inciting comments, which encouraged his supporters to breach security of the seat of power and invaded the sacred hall that hosts the best democracy in the world.
No doubt, the invasion of the capitol Hill was a clear indication that America far from united as their name imply. It was the first of its kind in the political history of America for protesters to invade the seat of power the manner it happened on January 6th, a situation that went viral to discredit America as democracy world best. President Biden knows the consequences of such on the battered American image by using his inaugural speech to make appeals: “From now, on this hallowed ground, where just a few days ago, violence sought to shake the Capitol’s very foundation, we come together as one nation, under God, indivisible to carry out the peaceful transfer of power, as we have for more than two centuries. As we look ahead in our uniquely American way: restless, bold, optimistic, and set our sights on the nation we can be and we must be.
“I’ve just taken the sacred oath. Each of those patriots have taken. The oath, first sworn by George Washington. But the American story depends not on any one of us, not on some of us, but on all of us, on we the people who seek a more perfect union. This is a great nation. We are good people. And over the centuries, through storm and strife, in peace and in war, we’ve come so far. But we still have far to go. We’ll press forward with speed and urgency, for we have much to do in this winter of peril and significant possibilities, much to repair, much to restore, much to heal, much to build, and much to gain”.
It is undisputable President Biden’s inauguration has implication for the democratic community across the world. Internally, Biden would need to heal what observers have called the toxic political climate and unite all Americans. And he never disappointed the world in his inaugural speech when he said, “My whole soul was in it today. On this January day, my whole soul is in this: Bringing America together, uniting our people, uniting our nation. And I ask every American to join me in this cause. Uniting to fight the foes we face: anger, resentment, hatred, extremism, lawlessness, violence, disease, joblessness and hopelessness. With unity, we can do great things, important things. We can right wrongs. We can put people to work in good jobs. We can teach our children in safe schools. We can overcome the deadly virus. We can reward, reward work and rebuild the middle class and make health care secure for all. We can deliver racial justice and we can make America once again the leading force for good in the world.
Internationally, many countries have always looked up to the U.S. to lead the liberal democratic pack through its liberal internationalism policy, by expanding the liberal zone of peace, and checkmating authoritarianism and extremism in whatever forms. That community of democrats wants to see the promotion of democracy and U.S. role in the maintenance of global peace and security.
At home front, Nigerians look up to the U.S. to reinforce its democratic institutions and lend a hand in ending the expanding circle of undemocratic tendencies and extremism in our country. The 46th President of America is seen by many Africans as a redemption of the fraught relationship the continent had with President Donald Trump, Already, President Muhammadu Buhari has expressed confidence that Biden will restore faith in the country in his congratulatory message to the new President. He said, “President Biden’s remarkable track record gives us hope that he will add value to the presidency and world affairs. We look forward to greater cooperation between Nigeria and the United States, especially at economic, diplomatic, political and security levels, I urge Mr Biden to deploy his vast experience in tackling the negative consequences of nationalist politics on world affairs—which have created divisions and uncertainties—and to introduce greater engagement with Africa on the basis of reciprocal respect and shared interests.”.
Already, even before his inauguration, President Biden has chosen to work with Nigerian community in US by appointing few of them into key positions. For instance, Adewale Adeyemi who as the Deputy Secretary of the US Treasury, Osaremen Okolo, as COVID-19 Policy Advisor and Funmi Olorunnipa-Badejo as a White House Counsel.
Funmi Olorunnipa-Badejo
Adeyemi, fondly called Wally was appointed on November 30, 2020, becoming the first African-American to occupy the position. He will work with Janet Yellen who is appointed Secretary of the Treasury. The Osun state born Nigerian was appointed by John Kerry’s presidential campaign at 23 to inspire African-American voters in California. He also participated in the presidential campaigns of John Edwards and Barack Obama. In 2015, he was appointed advisor to the presidency on international economic issues. In 2019, Wally was appointed President of the Obama Foundation that supports charitable work in Africa and elsewhere.
Adewale Adeyemo
Twenty-six-year-old Okolo was named among the 100 people that will work in the White House. She will be part of the new president’s COVID-19 Response Team that will work to quickly implement a comprehensive, whole-of-government COVID-19 response strategy to contain the pandemic, restore public trust, and protect all Americans. The Edo State indigene worked on the Biden-Harris Transition team before her latest appointment. The effort to reverse the blows dealt on America and the world by the pandemic is a major area that the Biden campaign and by which his performance in office will be judged.
Osaremen Okolo
Within the next few days in office, many are expecting President Joe Biden to reverse a number of Trump’s policies, such as reuniting migrant children with their caregivers and bills on the minimum wage and violence against women. Together with Kamala Harris, Biden will have to urgently restore functional democracy in the US, while also mending global relationships. In many ways, Trump’s “America First” agenda has put the country on the backburner as the US withdrew from many international treaties, agreements and organisations.
The assurance is already contained in Biden’s speech, “Look, folks, all my colleagues I served with in the House of the Senate up there, we all understand the world is watching, watching all of us today. So here’s my message to those beyond our borders. America has been tested and we’ve come out stronger for it. We will repair our alliances and engage with the world once again. Not to meet yesterday’s challenges, but today’s and tomorrow’s challenges. And we’ll lead, not merely by the example of our power, but by the power of our example”
As President Biden settles down for the task ahead, Ekohotblog joins his well-wishers over the world especially fans of America, to congratulate President Joe Biden over his electoral victory and successful inauguration.
This blog is wishing him a successful tenure and equally enjoins him to stand by his inaugural speech by acting as the President for all Americans irrespective of race and colour.
It is our hope that he will be a father to Nigerians in the diaspora, African Americans and wipe out all forms of racial discrimination against the black race, especially African and Nigerians inside and outside of the United States of America.
It is equally our hope that the 46th American President will work closely with the Nigerian government as a key driver of African renaissance and African economic prosperity in the 21st century. President Biden must not only make the difference but must also break the jinx of poor America-Africa international relations
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