By Abiola Olawale
A former Nigerian Minister of Foreign Affairs, Professor Bolaji Akinyemi, on Thursday said the speech delivered by U.S President Joe Biden at his inauguration ceremony, Wednesday gave Americans confidence that the country will overcome its problems.
The elder-statesman who reacted to Biden’s inaugural speech in an interview on ‘thruMY eyes’, a programme that runs commentary on various international events, monitored by The New Diplomat, said the speech gave an assurance of a brighter day.
He said Biden’s speech showed confidence and demonstrated that he has solutions to the challenges facing the United States. He also stated that Biden’s speech revealed that he is ready to work to ensure that America overcomes the problems caused by Trump’s administration.
Akinyemi said, “It is good for leaders to come before their people and reassure them that all will be well. It means that the leader is demonstrating confidence. Biden’s speech at the inauguration showed that he has confidence and that he has the solutions to the country’s problem. Biden, yesterday gave Americans confidence that they will overcome. I find that inspiring and know alot of American will as well. The expectation of a new reawakening was met.”
The elder-statesman also reacted to the farewell speech of former U.S President Donald Trump, stating that his farewell speech lacked class and decency.
According to the eminent Professor of International Relations, there was nothing Trump could have said to redeem himself from the damage he has done. Akinyemi described Trump as a nightmare, following the havoc he reportedly occasioned in his four years as the president of the United States.
Akinyemi said, “I wouldn’t have liked him to speak at all. I would have been happy if he left quietly without saying a word. The speech lacked class and decency. It showed that he has no confidence in himself. Trump is a nightmare for USA and the world at large. There is nothing he could have said that will redeem himself from the damage he had done.”
Akinyemi, a one time Director-General of the Nigeria Institute of International Affairs(NIIA) further praised Mike Pence, former Vice President of United States, for standing up to save the democracy of America.
He said Pence stood up for America against all odds. He also commended the former Vice President for attending the inauguration following the decision of Trump not to come.
He said, “In the past two weeks, Pence role as the Vice President counted. He stood for the democracy of the United States. He stood like a rock against all the threat from Trump, his boss. His attendance at the inauguration also showed a sign of class. When you contrast him with Trump, you will see that Trump has no class, while he showed class. Trump has no humanity in him, while Pence showed he has humanity in him.”
It would be recalled that Akinyemi, 79, is a former Nigerian Minister of foreign affairs and a notable professor of International Relations.
Akinyemi was also a Director-General of the Nigerian Institute of International Affairs (NIIA) from 1975 until 1983.
He was also the deputy chairman of the 2014-2015 National Conference set up by the administration of former president Goodluck Jonathan.
Prior to that, he was also chieftain of NADECO which helped fight for the restoration of democracy and was involve in the campaign for the voided revalidation of June 12, 1993 presidential election evidently won by late Businessman, Chief MKO Abiola.
