Bolaji Akinyemi, former Nigerian Foreign Minister, has cautioned President Bola Tinubu to avoid direct conflict with Donald Trump, the newly inaugurated US president.
Trump, who took office on January 20, 2025, made controversial promises, including deporting millions of illegal immigrants and reinstating the “Remain in Mexico” policy.
Akinyemi, speaking on a television programme, suggested that Tinubu should refrain from challenging Trump, even if his actions negatively affect Nigeria’s interests, The Cable reports.
He advised that a more strategic approach should be taken to deal with Trump without provoking confrontation.
“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 said.
“You know there is that African proverb that if you are not strong enough to take on a bully and you take him on, you are just even going to suffer more for it.
“That’s the advice I will give President Tinubu: try and avoid having a confrontation with him even if that means that he does things that annoy or does things that step on the interests of Nigeria. There are ways in which you could address his reaction without confrontation.”
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