Nigerians have taken to the social media to bare their minds regarding President Muhammadu Buhari’s ongoing four-day working visit to Washington DC, following an invitation from President Donald Trump of the United States.
Buhari’s presidential aircraft touched ground on Sunday at about 4.20pm Nigerian time, and he is scheduled to meet Trump at the White House on Monday. He is the first leader from sub-Saharan Africa to be so invited, the only other African leader being Abdel Fattah el-Sisi of Egypt, who was hosted in April 2017.
According to Femi Adesina, the president’s Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, “the meeting will further deepen the US-Nigeria relationship as the United States considers Nigeria’s economic growth, security and leadership in Africa to be critical aspects of their strategic partnership.”
Many Nigerians are, however, not very upbeat about the visit. Taking into account past records of overseas gaffes, they have suggested that more than just talks on strategic partnership and bilateral relations is likely to take place. They also used the social media to appeal to the United States president to prevail upon Buhari on matters such as insecurity and unemployment.
Here are some of the comments:
This one that President Buhari is going to meet President Trump tomorrow, they should write a speech for him so that he won't go and say Nigerian youths are lazy again.
— Peter Ayodele Fayose (@GovAyoFayose) April 29, 2018
President Buhari is meeting President Trump tomorrow. Who do you think President Buhari will insult this time around?
a. Youths
b. The elderlyRetweet for youths. Like for the elderly. Comment with your reason.
— Reno Omokri (@renoomokri) April 29, 2018
https://twitter.com/Rouvafe/status/990681758629756929
I hope there wont be a Joint Press Conference by Trump and Buhari on Monday as is the custom after a foreign Leader visits an American President. Buhari in front of the Washington Press Corp??? Disaster waiting to happen
— The Unlooker (@oddy4real) April 29, 2018
I can't wait for this Hilarious moment between their President @MBuhari and the US President @realDonaldTrump. What to expect is beyond rhetorics.
I trust Trump. He will not let us down.
I Trust Buhari. He will definitely let us down. 😑 pic.twitter.com/Px2sw3cmj9— Mr Izrael 👑 (@Mr_Izrael) April 30, 2018
Dear President @realDonaldTrump, please help us ask why the #CluelessNigerianPresident Buhari jailed an American lady for 95 years in 1983 without any evidence. He has embarked on same thing, sending dissenting voices to prison without evidence. Dasuki, Elzakzaky and e.t.c.
— The Nigerian Wailers (@NGRWailers) April 30, 2018
Dear @realDonaldTrump over 10,000 youths lost there jobs in Buhari's government. Pls tell him the truth.#CluelessNigerianPresident
— Olóyè T.D Esq⚖️‼️ (@BolanleCole) April 30, 2018
https://twitter.com/JohnOdedeji/status/990711111203917824
Tomorrow Buhari will give Nigerians something to talk about again.
Can’t wait for the Washington gaffe
— Comrade Deji Adeyanju (@adeyanjudeji) April 29, 2018
Most of the questions will be directed to Trump – focusing on;
1. Iran
2. EU Tariff wars
3. China Tariff wars
4. Mueller investigation
5. North KoreaI doubt many questions will be directed to Buhari, and that is good, because I fear for Nigeria when he opens his mouth abroad. https://t.co/RlfOs7ld1r
— Onye Nkuzi (@cchukudebelu) April 30, 2018
Muhammadu Buhari to meet Donald Trump
He will go waste public funds in the U.S
He will go and tell the world how he is very lucky to meet POTUS in flesh and blood
He will go and denigrate Nigerians before the world
— nafeeu 🇺🇦 (@nafeezi) April 27, 2018
'Kunle works with The ICIR as an investigative reporter and fact-checker. You can shoot him an email via [email protected] or, if you're feeling particularly generous, follow him on Twitter @KunleBajo.