Nigeria’s former Minister of Foreign Affairs, Bolaji Akinyemi, has strongly criticized Donald Trump’s victory in the US presidential election, calling it a “victory of crudity over refinement.”
Akinyemi expressed disappointment in Americans for voting Trump, who he claimed was convicted of 34 crimes.
This, he believes, undermines the US’s ability to show leadership to the global south.
Akinyemi’s comments came during an interview, where he analyzed the US election results.
He emphasized that Trump’s win was unexpected and contradicts the values the US should represent.
“What has just happened in the United States is a victory of crudity over refinement,” Akinyemi stated.
The former minister also criticized Trump’s past actions, including nearly overturning an election.
He questioned how Americans could vote for someone with such a questionable record.
“How can you vote for somebody who’s been convicted of 34 crimes?” Akinyemi asked.
Akinyemi reflected on his own experiences in the US, first visiting in 1962.
He lamented that the America he knew then is not the same as the one that voted for Trump.
“You must stand for rationality,” he urged.
Akinyemi’s comments highlight concerns about the implications of Trump’s victory for global democracy, particularly in Nigeria and the global south.
His words emphasize the need for leadership that promotes decency, honesty, and democracy.
