When the news filtered in early this morning that Donald Trump of the Republican Party won over Hillary Clinton of Democratic Party, I was not surprised.
Rather, I was happy while many others felt disappointed. I was happy because not a single person in my household or any of my friends gave him a chance. The Nigerian media and many Nigerians, including Nobel Laureate, Prof. Wole Soyinka, who threatened to tear his green card if Trump won, did not give him a chance.
The 18-month campaign this time around was very much unlike any other in the history of elections in America. What had just happened in the United States of America could be likened to the Referendum in the United Kingdom last year where the British had to decide whether they wanted to remain in the European Union (EU) or not.
In spite of the fact that David Cameron, the British Prime Minister and his Government wanted Britain to remain in EU, the fire of nationalism and patriotism burning in the generality of Britons made them to vote against continued stay in the EU.
The thrust of Donald Trump’s campaign was: To make America great again That he disagrees with the Nuclear Treaty signed by United Nations (UN) on Syria That he will change America’s immigration policy to ensure that only those who have genuine business in America are allowed into America, which angered most non-whites.
That he would address the situation whereby America funds the UN so heavily and yet has become a toothless bull dog, a voiceless entity because some people enjoy the power of Veto.
That he would raise the living standard of workers.
Today, the descendants of the white Americans who migrated to America in the 18th Century are still in the majority in all the Regions except Hawaii while African Americans amount to 13.2%. With this demographic spread, Trump was certainly appealing to the descendants of the Founders of the present day America who fought the American war of Independence in 1775-1783.
In all, the unexpected victory is as a result of Trump’s appeal to nationalism and patriotism and I congratulate him for his courage, doggedness and audacity to take on the drug barons, illegal immigrants and minorities even when some of his Party Leaders developed cold feet and vowed not to campaign for him.
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