PUBLIC OPINION ON KEY ISSUES IN NIGERIA

Dr. Richard Wike, Director, Global Attitudes Research, Pew Research Centre, Washington DC presented his findings on 'Public opinion on key issues in Nigeria, South Africa & Kenya'. The presentation was hosted by Centre for Democracy & Development (CDD), in Abuja. I am particularly interested in the findings on Nigeria. The research was conducted in 2015...

The following are the key findings:

*Negative economic ratings surge in Nigeria.
*Nigerians are optimistic about the next 12 months.
*Africans in Nigeria/Kenya/South Africa are optimistic about their long term economic future.
*Africans support involvement in the global economic system.
*Most Nigerians say young people should remain in their home country.
*In Nigeria, poverty is the top domestic concern.
*Nigerians see food supply as top priority for the country.
*Lack of 'connections' seen as major obstacle to employment.
*Nigerian government seen as making progress against BH.
*Nigerians optimistic about making progress on key issues - healthcare/education/poverty/equal rights for men & women/terrorism/corruption in government.
*Nigerians say America & China are the examples of model economies in the world.
*Most Nigerians believe ordinary citizens can influence government.
*Nigerians say government is run for the benefit of a few.
*Political participation in Nigeria relatively high - voting/attendance at political rallies.
*There's a high level of political engagement among African publics.
*In Nigeria, more men report that they are politically active.

Critique of the findings:

The euphoria of the result of the 2015 general elections might have led to the 'artificial optimism' about the future of the country. People have now realised that 'fighting corruption' is not equivalent to engendering a bouyant economy. An incumbent President was defeated by the candidate of the opposition Party and the former conceded. This is unprecedented in Nigeria's history...hence the optimism of Nigerians at the time the research was conducted. If the same research is embarked upon now, the scenario may change, because reality has set in.

*Most young people would rather leave Nigeria now if they had the opportunity because of the state of the economy and the very high level of unemployment.
*Support for involvement in the global economy by Nigerians is no longer as total. Nigerians are still interrogating involvement in the EPA and similar Agreements. Nigerians are more weary than ever before about whatever they perceive as 'unequal partnership'.
*In addition to poverty, terrorism and unemployment should be part of the top domestic concerns.
*Nigerians may no longer be that optimistic about making progress on issues - healthcare/education/poverty etc. The budgetary allocation for many of these critical sectors, especially healthcare and education etc, has been on the downward trend with dire consequences for the poor.
*I am not sure most Nigerians believe they can influence government. Maybe through front line NGOs, but as individuals?...
*Is political participation in Nigeria relatively high? Maybe towards and during the 2015 elections when citizens were fed up with the incumbent regime. The level of political participation in Nigeria is generally low. Citizens are apathetic about politics because they are hungry and believe their votes may not count.
*In the follow-up research by the Pew Research Centre, it may be worthwhile to embark on gender dis-aggregation as regards political participation. This would enable the researchers further interrogate the assertion that 'Nigerian men are more likely to report being politically active'.
*The use of technology in Nigeria - in particular, the introduction of the use of the 'card reader' for the first time in the 2015 elections & the use of 'traditional' and 'new' media need to be interrogated in follow-up research. To be sure, the use of the card reader was innovative. Many feel it helps to forestall rigging in elections, but public opinion on the issue has not been ascertained. Similarly, the introduction of the GSM in 2000 seems to have shaped public opinion. What about the influence of Facebook, LinkedIn, Instagram, Snap-chat, blogging, etc. How have all these influenced public opinion? 

I hope Dr. Richard Wike & the Pew Research Centre would find the foregoing critique useful in their future research. The website of Pew Research Centre is www.pewresearch.org

Photo below L-R: Dr. Richard Wike, Director, Global Attitudes Research, Pew Research Centre, Washington DC & Dr. Dayo Oluyemi-Kusa
    

THE IMPLICATIONS OF DONALD TRUMP'S VICTORY FOR AFRICA

On 9th November 2016, at 4am in Nigeria, I was watching the American Presidential election on the big screen, courtesy of the American Embassy at the Yar'Adua centre in Abuja. The mood at the Centre was beginning to change drastically with the 'swing states' voting without apology for the Republican candidate, Donald Trump. We were mostly Nigerians at the viewing centre with some American embassy officials and a few other non-Nigerians.

We all had expected Hillary Clinton, the Democratic candidate to win. All the odds were against Donald Trump. But when it was announced that Trump had won Ohio, we all knew the deed was done! Trump was coasting home to become the 45th President of America.

How on earth could anyone imagine that a presidential nominee whose views are less than complimentary on women, migration and migrants, Muslims and even taxes, could become the President of the US? How, in 2016 could an individual who says its okay to grope women, build a wall to keep migrants out, ban Muslims and seek to expel especially Nigerians and Mexicans become President of America?

But I am not an American citizen. Americans have made their choice. Donald Trump is it! What lessons can we learn from this electoral upset?

*Never under-rate any candidate in a democratic election. Trump was a 'most unlikely' candidate, but he beat 16 contenders within the Republican Party to clinch the ticket at the Primaries! He had no political experience of note. Compared with Clinton, he was a political novice.

*Lack of experience may not matter. Trump has no experience in politics, compared with his opponent, an accomplished lawyer, former Senator, former First Lady and former Secretary of State in the US. Trump is an Estate Developer, Reality show anchor and astute billionaire businessman.

*Don't build your life on public opinion. Trump lost the Presidential debate twice, yet he won the election. He lost the public opinion to Hillary by double digit margins, yet he won the election. All living former Presidents opposed him, yet he won the election.

*'It is not over till it's over'. This is a cliche in football which played out in the election. Until the very last hours, the Clinton camp was still hopeful. however, at about 4am on the 9th of November, 2016, the tables had turned with the clinching of Ohio and the swing states!

*Charisma matters. Trump is a flamboyant man, who re-enacted his reality show, 'The Apprentice' during the campaign. The voters could have found him more fascinating than the very articulate Hillary, an establishment person!

*Many analysts believe there were some 'secret voters' who would rather not associate with Trump in public, but would do so through their votes. Could the Evangelical voters be some of these? Donald Trump elected President, thanks to 81% Evangelical vote    www.naycrumors.com/articles/breaking-trump-elected-president/

*The statistical predictions very near election day saw the gap between the two candidates closing alarmingly...But it might have been too late for the Democrats to weigh in to halt the closing of the gap and eventual win for Trump.

*In spite of the fact that Hillary was more articulate during the three Presidential debates, Trump's bravado and consistency stood him out. Even if you did not like what Trump was saying, he was in your face! Trump's style must have appealed to 'core' Americans

*For the first time in many decades, many traditional blue states became red states overnight!

*Trump was bold enough to say he evaded taxes because he could. He was clever/brilliant enough to exploit the loopholes in the tax law.

*Trump, at 70 years old, is the oldest President ever elected for the first time in America. He is also probably the first President to be elected without any political experience! He is seemingly in good health, so could spend the maximum of 8 years in the White House.

What then are the implications of Trump's Presidency for America?

*Whither peace-building all over the world? Will America now be in conflict with some African countries, including Nigeria?

*What would be the fate of AGOA? Trump doesn't like trade deals which he thinks are weighed against the US. Under the auspices of AGOA, non-oil exports have reached $4.1b. That's huge!

*African countries, notably Nigeria, have become the theatre of war against insurgency. America has significantly supported Nigeria in the fight against Boko Haram. Will this help continue with Trump as President?

*What would be the fate of thousands of African immigrants in the US? Trump has promised to expel especially Nigerian immigrants. Where does this leave this set of Nigerians, in view of the economic situation in their home country. Remember: $1=N470.

*Are we to expect a 'closed-in' US? Will we see a new era of isolationism in America? At this stage in American history, would isolationism be progress or retrogression? Lest we forget, America was built on the principle of freedom for ALL races, a melting pot for nationalities from the world over.

*I wonder what the stock exchange would look like in America in the next few weeks. To be sure, there is already panic on Wall Street. Wall Street panics over Trump Presidency: Peso plunges, gold surges    money.cnn.com/2016/11/09/investing/premarket-stocks-trading

There so many other puzzles to be un-earthed when the Trump Presidency eventually takes off in January, 2017. On a cautionary note, it is better for America, the leader of the free world, to live in harmony with the rest of humanity.

TRUMP PRESIDENCY & NIGERIA

The 17th of January, 2017, three days to the inauguration of President Donald Trump of the US was dedicated by Centre for Democracy & Development (CDD) to the rather exhaustive discussion of the 'Implications of the Trump Presidency for Nigeria'. CDD partnered with:

*Open Society Initiative for West Africa (OSIWA)
*Amplified Radio (AR)
*De Paul University, USA
*American University, Washington, USA
*Trust Africa

The following persons deliberated on various dimensions of the issues:

*Dr. Kole Shettima, Chair CDD-IGC & Africa Director McArthur Foundation
*Ms. Idayat Hassan, Director, CDD
*Prof. Clement Adibe, De Paul University, USA
*Dr. Dayo Oluyemi-Kusa, Senior Fellow, CDD & Chairperson, Board of Directors, National Peace Summit Group (NPSG)
*Dr. Abdu Husseini, Country Director, PLAN International
*Jude Ilo, Country Officer, OSIWA
*Ms. Ayisha Osori, Development Consultant, Nigeria
*Prof Hassan Saliu, University of Ilorin, Nigeria
*Jideofor Adibe, Associate Prof, Nassarawa State University, Nigeria
*Prof. Samuel Egwu, University of Jos, Nigeria
*Dr. Irene Pogoson, University of Ibadan, Nigeria
*Prof Ebere Onwudiwe, Distinguished Fellow, CDD
*Dr. Paul Luberk, Distinguished Fellow, CDD & Emeritus Prof, SIAS, Johns Hopkins University, USA
*Prof. Abubakar Momoh, DG, The Electoral Institute (TEI), Abuja, Nigeria
*Innocent Chukwuma, West Africa Representative, Ford Foundation
*Mrs. Maria Segun, Senior Researcher, Human Rights Watch

There were 4 major themes:

*Re-thinking  democracy
*US-Nigeria relations in perspective
*Economic, ideological & political changes behind the rise of Trump
*The global war on terror: Paradigm shift?

The following are the major highlights of the discussion:

*Democracy is the worst form of government, except for all those tried from time to time.
*Politicians campaign in poetry and rule in prose
*Donald Trump's personality
-provokes deliberately.
-undiplomatic
-shows us our real selves in the mirror
-Trump's here to stay
-gives us the opportunity to confront the underbelly of democracy.
*Trump's strengths:
-manipulation of fear
-puts America first always
-emphasises the fact that the middle class is being un-done by neo-liberalism
-accepts that the system is rigged for people like him. He knows the loopholes in the system, and is ready to plug them
-ready to spend $1trn on infrastructure. This implies that architects, engineers and artisans have jobs.
-immigration - he's ready to close the borders
*Security:
Trump loves Russia
He doesn't believe in NATO
He wants more Brexit(s)

Lessons from Trump:

*We should always put Nigeria first
*If we don't like Trump's way of talking, let's look inwards. Are we any better in Nigeria?
*Democracy has difficulties anywhere in the world. We should keep on striving to make it better.
*We should stop medical tourism. Our leaders should be treated locally, in Nigeria. We should spend our money locally, and stop squandering scarce foreign exchange.
*Never take the electorate for granted
*Grow Nigeria's economy, create more jobs.
*Nigerians should not be scared of Trump. The USA is a huge democratic/political system.
*Trumpism gives us a lot of opportunity to look inwards to find solution  to our problems.
*Trumpism is a trend, we should see it as such e.g. Brexit, Buhari. Every system gets consumed by its own contradictions. Inequality in neo-liberalism is not sustainable
*Trumpism is a product of a period of recession followed by growth.
*We need to study the relationship between 'Trumpism' & 'Nigerianism' more closely.
*Election is not equal to democracy
*Democracy without governance is undesirable
*Trumpism points to the fact that democracy is in crisis. Citizens are expressing their dis-satisfaction with democracy through their votes.
*The whole idea of democracy being a galvanisation of ideas is now obsolete. Independent candidacy could now fly.
*Democracy must transform from a form of government to that system that puts food on the table of citizens.
*Consequential elections like Trump's engender global commentary.
*Trump is a product of the American system, not necessarily the American people.
*The national interest of any country is what the leaders say it is,

How is Trumpism expressed?

*Extreme nationalism
*Authoritarianism
*Right wing populism
*Social media - a single tweet from Trump could make waves all over the world and change the status quo

  
  Related Links

*Trump in the White House: What next for peace-building?    http://www.insightonconflict.org/blog/2016/11/trump-white-house-where-next...

*Looking back to looking forward: Lessons learnt from the Trump administration & prospects for peace-building in Africa    https://kujenga-amani-ssrc.org/.../looking-back-to-looking-forward.../
*Trump: No salary for me as President    nevo.news/index.php/2016/08/25/trump-no-salary-for-me-as-president
*Donald Trump wins 2016 Presidential in shocking upset over Hillary    rickeysmileymorningshow.com/.../donald-trump-wins-2016-presidential-election-in-shocking-upset
*Donald Trump elected President, thanks to 81% Evangelical vote    www.naycrumors.com/articles/breaking-trump-elected-president/
*Wall Street panics over Trump presidency: Preso plunges, gold surges    money.cnn.com/2016/11/09/investing/premarket-stocks-trading/...
*An American tragedy - The New Yorker    http://www.neyorker.com/news/.../an-american-tragedy...
*Donald Trump's revolt - New York Times    https://t.co/5ZHMyfsolc
*US election 2016 result: He's not my President    https://t.co/Jd3SBUk9Lb    https://t.co/WQEzbxMnhx
*The two Facebook feeds of a divided America    edition.cnn.com/2016/11/09/politics/two-americas-social-media-trnd/
*Full text of Donald Trump's victory speech    http://www.cnn.com/2016/11/09/politics/donald-trump-victory-speech/...
*2016 US election: Media need to take a cold, hard look at themselves    video.foxnews.com/v/.../
*5 surprising lessons from Trump's win    cnn.it/2fCaZOs    edition.cnn.com/2016/11/09/politics/donald-trump-wins-biggest-surprises
*Donald Trump is moving to the White House, and liberals put him there    www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2016/nov/09/donald-trump-white-house-hillary-clinton-liberals...
*How Clinton lost    cnn.it/2feRKLF
*Obama congratulates Trump on victory    edition.cnn.com/2016/11/09/politics/obama-congratulates-trump...
*Petition calling on Electoral College to make Hillary Clinton President surpasses 2.2 million signatures    buff.ly/2flqxJx
*Trump: 10 ways to resist right wing populism    https://t.co/32g45tGRhP
*The Trump effect: Psychologists warn that the children are watching    http://www.yahoo.com/news/the-trump-effect...
*How the US Electoral College works     http://cnn.it/2flOtvY
*Viral video: Why Trump won    https://www.facebook.com/JonathanPieReporter/    https://www.facebook.com/viralthread
*9 times Donald Trump has already betrayed the US voters who put their faith in him    www.independent.co.uk/news/world/americas/us-elections/donald-trump-nine-times...
*Hillary Clinton delivers concession speech: This loss hurts, but make sure your voices are heard, going forward    www.usatoday.com/story/news/politics/elections/2016/11/09    http://cnn.it/2fCZ82f
*Wall Street traders boo Hillary Clinton, chant 'lock her up'    money.cnn.com/2016/11/09/investing/wall-street-traders-boo-hillary
*Trump broke all the rules    cnn.it/2ffrGjI
*'It's hard to be a parent tonight for a lot of us. You tell your kids: 'don't be a bully or bigot, then Trump wins - Van James    http://cnn.it/2fSaL8J
*White women sold out the sisterhood & the world by voting for Trump    http://www.slate.com/blogs/xx_factor/2016/11/09/white-women...
*It's time to tell the truth: Republicans aren't Christians    http://www.forwardprogressives.com/its-time-to-tell-the-truth...
*12 things that already happened within hours of Trump's victory    www.independent.co.uk/news/world/americas/us-election/donald-trump-wins-first-12-h
*Donald Trump's plan to ban Muslims from the US just disappeared from his website    www.independent.co.uk/news/world/americas/donald-trump-president-election-muslim-ban...
*Trump picks top climate skeptic to lead EPA transition    https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/trump-picks-top-climate-skeptic...
*Here's what Trump wants to do in his first 100 days    www.npr.org/2016/11/09/.../here-is-what-donald-trump-wants-to-do-in-his-first-100-days
*List of 16 celebrities who'll be leaving the US today    www.hannity.com/article/hanpr-election.../heres-the-list-of-16-celebrities...
*Obama to Republicans: Your bigotry towards me did    http://occupydemocrats.com/2016/03/10/obama-to-republicans...
*Hate Map: Guide to white terrorism in the US    https://www.splcenter.org/hate-map...
*This is America & we aren't going to throw out 11 million people who are un-documented. We're not going to turn against Muslims    https://t.co/jhpixSNbBw
*US: The Constitutional Convention, the Electoral College, Slavery & the Civil War    https://storiesfromipswich.org/2016/11/11/...
*It's official: The guy in charge of Trump's climate policy doesn't think climate change is real    https://t.co/R4qJ4DKUr4    https://t.co/xZxCOl9d8Y
*Trump's priorities could shift US-Africa policy    htps://t.co/OKQay2DHLj
*A reflection on Obama's presidency    http://www.economist.com/news/christmas-specials/
*What the Trump era will feel like: Clues from populist regimes around the world    http://www.forbes.com/sites/melikkaylan/2017/01/10/...
*Barack Obama isn't done yet because Trump happened    http://www.gq.com/story/barack-obama-preparing-for...
*Donald the unready    https://www.nytimes.com/2017/01/20/opinion/donald...
*President Obama wasn't perfect, but he was extraordinary    http://www.latimes.com/opinion/-la...
*The internal invasion: America can unite by containing Trump    https://www.nytimes.com/2017/01
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*Trump strikes nationalistic tone in inaugural speech    www.wsj.com/.../donald-trump-strikes-nationalistic-tone...
*Trump's first 24 hours bring global protests, a dark speech & uncertainty    https://t.co/D4NXFck4mJ
*Trump: An American tragedy    nyer.cm/hxo7
*It's your fault: Donald Trump is the President we deserve    http://www.huffingtonpost.com/entry/its-our-fault-donald-trump...
*We thank Hillary Clinton for giving us a voice    vote.us.org/photo/603/we-thank-her/ref=fbsd
*People in California are calling for a 'Calexit' from the US in the wake of Trump's win    http://www.businessinsider.com/california-secession-calexit...
*Unless the Democrats run Sanders, a Trump nomination means a Trump presidency    http://static.currentaffairs.org/2016/02/unless-the-democrats...
*The Simpsons correctly predicted a Donald Trump presidency 16 years ago    https://www.thesun.co.uk/news/2146815/the-simpsons-correctly-predicted-a-donald-trump...
*Trumptastic Voyage/Season 25/The Simpsons    http://www.youtube.com/watch?...
*Trump victory: Wole Soyinka vows to tear green card on January 20, 2017    www.dailytrust.com.ng/news/general/trump-wole-soyinka-vows-to-tear-green-card-on-january-20...
*Anti-Trump protests spread across the US    goo.gl/news/HH9Uc
*German Finance Minister warns of 'demagogic populism' sweeping Europe after Trump's victory    http://www.btimes.co.uk/german-finance-minister-warns...
*White nation in South Africa sends congratulatory message to Trump    atlantablackstar.com/2016/11/11/white-nation-in-south-africa-sends-congratulatory-message...
*Trump makes shocking revelations against blacks      duisaf.com/2016/11/09/president-trump-makes-shocking-revelations-blacks-emerges-us-president
*Trump's potential Homeland Security chief says anti-Trump protests 'must be quelled'    https://thinkprogress.org/david-clarke-trump...
*Ku Klux Klan to hold North Carolina rally celebrating Trump victory    http://www.ibtimes.co.uk/ku-klux-klan-hold-north-carolina...
*New York Times calls on Trump to denounce hate    cnn.it/2fl1Cwb
*Buddhist teachers respond to Trump's Presidential win    http://www.lionsroar.com/buddhist-teachers-respond-to-news...
*US: The media blew the election, now they are blowing the transition to Trump    https;//t.co/m1ypLuD8rA
*After Trump win, New Yorkers volunteer to aid fearful commuters    cnn.it/2fpaQPq
*How US meritocracy & racism helped Trump    cnn.it/2foLlON
*Red card, Green card - Notes towards the management of hysteria by Wole Soyinka    saharareporters.com/2016/11/12/red-card-green-card-notes...
*African leaders say 'Give Trump the benefit of the doubt    https://www.viva.naija.com/african-leaders-say-give-donald-trump-benefit-doubt/
*Hillary Clinton's gut-wrenching day    cnn.it/2j4FdMs
*Pope Francis sends best wishes to President Trump    cnn.it/2j4FBla
*America, meet your new first lady    edition.cnn.com/2016/11/09/politics/america-new-first-lady/
*Angela Merkel gives Trump the biggest not-so-subtle warning after his win    www.huffingtonpost.co.uk/entry/angela-merkel-germany-donald-trump-us-election-warning...
*Statement by the PM of Canada on the result of the US Presidential election    pm.gc.ca/eng/news/2016/11/09/statement-prime-minister-canada-result-us-presidential-election...
*US election: Black women did the work white women refused to do     verysmartbrothes.com/once-again-black-women-did-the-work-white-women-refused-to/
*Populism: Trump hears the primal scream    https://www.issafrica.org/iss-today/trump-hears...
*How Donald Trump triumphed: Victory in 7 charts    edition.cnn.com/2016/111/09/politics/trump-victory-how-he-did-it-visual-guide/
*Trump's victory: Michael Moore's 5-point plan for what lies ahead    https://t.co/yvSS7rN5tE    http://t.co/dZJDn5L3hv
*Trump's victory injects uncertainty into a chaotic Middle East
*What would a Trump presidency mean for Africa?    https://issafrica.org/iss-today/what-would-a-trump...
*Trump campaign keeping list of enemies - Omarosa    cnn.it/2ffFhro

*What Keith Richards can teach us about Donald Trump addiction   https://www.politico.com/news/magazine/2020/11/17/keith-richards-donald-trump-addiction-436860/
*9 things Donald Trump promised he would do immediately    thesummary.com.ng/index.php/news-categories/world/item/...
*How do you talk to your kids about the 2016 US election?    cnn.it/2ffTAw2en    https://apnews.com/article/joe-biden-donald-trump-iran-moscow-elections

*US: Putin approved operationsto help Trump aginst Bid
*Millennials did not elect Trump    cnn.it/2fHwhKa
*When it happened in Africa, they called it 'post election violence', when it happened in America, they called it 'anti-Trump protests'     https://www.facebook.com/shehu-sanni...
*US: Call to crisis, suicide prevention hotlines surge post election    cnn.it/2fKHCZK
*Expert analyses body language at the Barack Obama/Donald Trump meeting    http://cnn.it/2flm1RM
*If you voted for Trump because you think he's anti-establishment, you got conned - Washington Post    https://t.co/Bsypq9HRm7
*Anti-Trump protest turns violent in Oregon    goo.gl/news/news/CgnJ4
*2016 US elections: The year when money won nobody nothing    cnn.it/2fmhje7
*Donald Trump is TIME's Person of the Year    cnn.it/2gSZ6FF
*Wole Soyinka's destruction of his US green card: When an African academic's Trump protest went too far    https://www.google.com/amp/thehill.com/blogs/pundits-blog/...
*Women's anti-Trump march: Biggest protest in US history as an estimated 2.9 march    http://www.politicususa.com/2017/01/21/womens-march...
*All 6 of America's 2016 Nobel Prize winners were immigrants!    https://theintellectualist.co/six-americas-2016-nobel
*Trump flirts with theocracy    https://www.nytimes.com/2017/01/30/opinion/trump
*The CIA, Trump & his war on terrorism    http://www.globalresearch.ca/the-cia-trump-and-his-war...
*20 things you didn't know about the Obama girls    www.lifedaily.com/story/20-things-you-didnt-know-about-the-obama-girls/12/
*Melania Trump opens up about her hidden photos    www.lifedaily.com/story/17-most-stunning-melania-trump-photos-on-the-web/
*Obama to Trump: You can't run America like you run your family    http://gatewoodng.com/breaking-you-cant-run-america-like...
*Mexico reacts to Donald Trump's victory    edition.cnn.com/2016/11/09/politics/mexico-reaction-donald-trump
*One President, two Americas    http://www.cnn.com/2016/11/10/politics/donald-trump...
*People googling 'how to impeach a President' just surged by 5,000%    www.independent.co.uk/news/world/americas/us-elections/how-to-impeach-a-president
*Electoral College Electors: Electoral College could make Clinton President in December    https://www.change.org/p/electoral-college-electors-in...
*University of Utah finds legal case to impeach Donald Trump    kutv.com/news/local/university-of-utah-finds-legal-case...
*The one scenario that could still get Hillary into the White House    http://nypost.com/2016/11/09/the-one-scenario-that-could-get-hillary-into-the-white-house/
*Intelligence community is already feeling a sense of dread about Trump    https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/national...
*Shock in New York: Trump's victory sends the city that doesn't sleep to bed    http://www.france24.com/en/...
*How Hillary spent the day after her concession    edition.cnn.com/2016/11/10/politics/hillary-clinton-hiking-photo...
*Barron Trump: First White House son since JFK Jr.    edition.cnn.com/2016/11/10/politics/barron-trump-first-son-in-white-house-since-jfk-jr/
*Trump will have to say goodbye to Trump Force One    edition.cnn.com/2016/11/10/politics/donald-trump-air-force-one/...
*Racist graffitti, hate crimes after Donald Trump's election     edition.cnn.com/2016/11/10/us/post-election-hate-crimes...
*The US election outcome has spurred a wave of fear among LGBTQ kids    www.upworthy.com/lgbtq-youth-suicide-hotline-calls-are-up-due-to-the-elections
*Anti-LGBTQ extremists tapped for roles on Trump's transition team    www.hrc.org/blog/reports-of-anti-lgbtq-extremists-tapped-for-major-roles-on-president-elect/
*US: National Organisation for Marriage releases plan to end LGBT advances, same sex marriage under Trump    http://gaysaltlake.com/news/2016/11/09/natl-org-marriage...
*Who's to blame for Hillary's loss?    cnn.it/2fkBGIE
*Jane Fonda on US election: 'I feel like I was just hit by a truck'    cnn.it/2fiEfuy
*What would the Military do if Trump gave illegal orders?    cnn.it/2fiJ1It
*What Trump victory would mean for LGBT Americans    cnn.it/2fkcykW
*US: Democrats try to pick up the pieces    cnn.it/2fKpAqM
*USA: Racism is on the rise. Call it its real name    https://t.co/xHPmrChKy4
*Mormon Tabernacle choir member quits, refuses to sing for Trump    cnn.it/2hCSigR
*FBI analysis fingers Russian spy agencies for US election hacks    http://www.reuters.com/.../us-usa-russia-cyber...                   
*How did Trump win? Here are 24 theories    edition.cnn.com/2016/11/10/politics/why-donald-trump-won/
*Swede offers marriage to Americans fleeing Trump    edition.cnn.com/2016/11/10/europe/swede-auctions-himself-on-ebay-trnd/...
*Donald Trump's victory isn't the most terrifying news today    www.independent.co.uk/news/science/climate-change...
*How Gary Johnson & Jill Stein helped elect Donald Trump    edition.cnn.com/2016/11/10/politics/gary-johnson-jell-stein...
*'The polls clearly got it wrong': The autopsy will take months    money.cnn.com/2016/11/10/media/election-day-polls/...
*New Yorkers are leaving notes of kindness for fellow Americans dismayed by Donald Trump's win    edition.cnn.com/2016/11/10/us/acts-of-kindness-election-trnd/
*Michael Moore releases plan to immediately impeach Donald Trump    http://bipartisanreport.com/2016/11/10/just-in-michael-moore...
*Farewell, America!    http://billmoyers.com/story/farewell-america/
*Trump tweets protests against him are 'very unfair'    edition.cnn.com/2016/11/10/politics/kellyanne-conway-protesters-donald-trump-2016-election...
*This is no time to be diplomatic: We should not wish Donald Trump well    https://www.theguardian.com/world/2016/nov/11
*From a discredited political class to the most discredited politician    https:t.co/GTuUKlYY5M
*Almost half of America didn't even vote. See the statistics    http://www.scarymoney.com/almost-half-country-didnt-vote
*Voting turnout statistics: Static brain    www.staticbrain.com/voting-statistics
*You can be anti-Trump without slut-shaming Melanie: Liberal or conservative, misogyny is misogyny *Africans react to Trump victory    http://www.voanews.com/a/africans-react-totrump.../3589252.html
*Homeless in the USA: America's feeling of having lost their community may explain Trump's victory    http://www.nytimes.com/2016/11/09/opinion/were-near-the...
*Kennedy family writes anti-Trump Op-Ed in Washington Post    http://bipartisanreport.com/2016/11/17/kennedy-family...
*What if the Electoral College votes for Hillary?    www.americanlawyer.com/id=.../what-if-the-electoral-college-votes
* The 25-point explanation of why Donald Trump won    http:?/www.huffingtonpost.com/entry/a-minority...
*Trump appoints Nigerian (Adebayo Ogunlesi) as part of economic team    guardian.ng/news/trump-appoints-nigerian-member-economic-advisory-team/
*The death of Clintonism    https://t.co/zNoHpkJoR
*Why did white Americans choose Trump?    http://atlantablackstar.com/2016/11/23/why-did-white-americans...
*Trump & China    https://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/trump...
*Why rural America voted for Trump    https://www.nytimes.com/2017/01/05/opinion/why-rural...
*She is 54, white, rural & lifelong Republican. Why is she protesting Donald Trump?
*President Obama sheds tears in front of thousands as he talks about his wife     http://best.movicextra.com/...
*Trumpism: Corporate autocracy with a populist facade    https://web.facebook.com/mbaeresq...
*Trump's temperament tantrum: Narcissistic personality disorder (NPD)/anti-social features/paranoia traits/egosyntonic aggression    http://www.usnews.com/.../thereport    https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/malignant_narcissism
*Americans are outsourcing a Trump survival guide     cnn.it/2fRgBnN
*Donald Trump's election leaves Angela Merkel as the Liberal West's last defender    http://www.nytimes.com/2016/11/13/world/europe/germany...
*Theresa May says Donald Trump's victory shows why Britain needs to control immigration    https://t.co/cMGwwyYNEU
*The election of Trump & the revival of new public management    https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/election-mr-trump-revival-new-public-management...
*Jihadists say Trump victory a rallying call for new recruitment    http://www.reuters.com/article/us-usa-trump-jihadists-idU...
*Trump, Putin speak about future of US-Russia ties    cnn.it/2frUpBV
*Donald Trump wants his kids to have top security clearance    nypost.com/2016/11/14/trump-wants-kids-to-have-top-security-clearance...
*'Ape in heels': West Virginia Mayor resigns amid controversy over racist comments about Michelle Obama    https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/post-nation/wp/2016/11/14/ape-in-heels-w-va-officials-under-fire...
*Trumps using office to promote products    http://www.msnbc.com/rachel-maddow/watch/trump...
*Trump's victory: 5 things you should know    cht.hm/2fXvBT9
*Why we need empathy in the age of Trump    http://greatergood.berkley.edu/article/item/why...
*Trump's America: A hostile place for huddled masses    www.npr.org/sections/codeswitch/2016/11/15/.../trumps-america-a-holistic-place
*How to pull the ground from under right wing populism    buff.ly/2f37ca9
*The Electoral College was created to stop demagogues like Trump    http://time.com/4575119/electoral-college-demagogues...
*What a Trump Presidency could mean for Africa    https://www.brookings.edu/blog/africa-in-focus/2016/11/10/donald-trump-and-africa...
*Boston Mayor says Trump's victory is in part backlash to African-American progress    huff.to/2hbmPxk
*What the immigration battle would look like under Trump    cnn.it/2hL9PPU
*Sanctions against Russia for meddling in USA's 2016 elections    edition.cnn.com/2016/12/29/politics/russia-sanctions...
*Why a Donald Trump presidency might not be as awful as we fear    buff.ly/2fSYcdu
*Trump: The President who buried humility    https://mobile.nytimes.com/2017/01/21/opinion
*The Dalai Lama confident about America's future    cnn.it/2j9G4LR
*'Ape on heels': West Virginia Mayor resigns amid controversy over racist comments about Michelle Obama    https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/post-nation/wp/2016/11/14/ape-in-heels...
*Trump's using office to promote products    http://www.msnb.com/rachel-maddow/watch/trump...
*Donald Trump's National Security Adviser (NSA), Mike Flynn, has called Islam 'a cancer'     abcn.ws/2fDMh19
*Trump makes transition to power a family affair    dlvr.it/MhrKpt
*What's different about Trump's phone call with world leaders?    edition.cnn.com/2016/11/18/politics/donald-trump-world-leaders-calls/...
*Donald Trump's reactionary agenda by Bernie Sanders    https://t.co/guV2bcmHZv
*Amal Clooney: Trump's ideas would break international human rights laws    cnn.it/2g7eqMW
*Wole Soyinka leaving the US because of 'trumpocalypse'    https://goo.gl/siHos7
*Trump's America: Mourning for whiteness    https://web.facebook.com/michael.benn.900...
*Trump: Making America white again    www.mytimes.com/2016/11/21/opinion/trump-making-america-whiite-again.html
*The painfully obvious reason why Christians voted for Trump (that liberals don't want to understand)    https://t.co/avCiTjPWlk
*All around the world, nationalists are gaining ground    econ.st/2gnOWiN
*Enough hysterics: DT's Facebook isn't reckless or radical    https://foreignpolicy.com/2016/11/17/enough-hysterics
*The End of the End of history: Donald Trump has restored America's politics to its default setting    buff.ly/2fpnhbi
*Trump's grandfather 'kicked out of Germany for avioding military service'     cnn.it/2g14Qdu
*Poll: Trump's popularity soars after election    www.politico.com/story/11/donald-trump-popular-poll-231694
*US: A letter to my children trying to explain the elections    https://goodmenproject.com/featured-contents/a-letter-to-my-children-trying-to-explain-the-election-lbkr
*Bill Clinton: Trump knows 'how to get angry, white men to vote for him'    yhoo.it/2i7a2No
*How predatory value extraction ruined the American middle class    ippreview.com/index.php/home/single/id/312.html
*A short history of 'America first'    https://www.theatlantic.com/politics/.../2017/01...
*Washington Metro counted more trips for Women's March than for Trump's Inauguration    http://www.newsweek.com/trump-inauguration-numbers...
*Bipartisan Bill would forbid Trump from killing Russia sanctions on his own    hill.cm/IKvjGUs
*The peculiar populism of Donald Trump    https://www.nytimes.com/2017/02/02/opinion
*What's the difference between right wing & left wing optimism?    https://twitter.com/JohnBJudis
*More than 100,000 visas revoked amid Trump travel ban    reut.rs/2kBRKbF   
*Riddance of the Electoral College?    https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/riddance-electoral-college
*Journalism faces an 'existential crisis' in Trump era    http://cnn.com/2016/11/23/opinion/christiana...
*Fidel Castro dies: What now for US-Cuba relations?    cnn.it/2gfOo9g
*China protests at Trump's Taiwan call    http://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-china...
*Trump's breezy calls to world leaders leaves Diplomats aghast    http://www.nytimes.com/2016/12101/us/politics
*Why TIME's Trump cover is a subversive work of political art    forward.com/culture/356537/why-times-trump-cover-is-a-subversive-work-of-political-art/...
*Here's how Donald Trump can deal with migrants & extremists    https://issafrica.org/iss-today/haves-how-donald-trump-can-deal-with-migrants-and-extremists
*Millennials don't think a Trump presidency will affect their wallets. But they should    cnn.it/2htJoOf
*How Trump's win becomes another 'lost cause'    www.cnn.com/2016/12/28/us/lost-cause-trump/index.html
*Island life suits Obama, Trump, but at a different pace    cnn.it/2hRdlsc
*Trump & trade    cnn.it/2hSjN2k
*Women's Marches occurring across 7 continents, include a focus on the environment    http://grist.org/.../womens-march-occuring-across...
*Trump's attack on the Press shows why protests are necessary    http://www.newyorker.com/...
*Conservative hypocrisy: Pat Robertson's comments on Michelle Obama & Melania Trump    hootsuite.com
*Trump's twitter fingers    https://viva-naija.com/trump-twitter-fingers...

*The Technology 2021: Trump to launch his own social media network     washingtonpost.com
*Angela Davies' Women's March speech    https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2017
*Dear Team Trump: 'Alternative Facts' are lies    cnn.it/2jeqj6q
*Philosopher Richard Rorty Chillingly predicted the results of the US 2016 elections back in 1998    http://www.openculture.com/2016/11/philosopher-richard...
*Tracking Trump's web of conflicts    https://www.bloomberg.com/graphics/tracking-trump...
*List of countries Trump has banned from entering the US    www.theinfong.com/2017/01/countries-donald-trump-banned-entering-usa...
*Nigerian secessionists greet Trump as help against Muslim north    https://t.co/hY65Vhnv8h
*Donald Trump: The new nationalism    https://t.co/N1WjdXdGdR
*Mack Zuckerberg criticises Trump on immigration    cnn.it/2kbOnaU
*Attorneys warn even legal immigrants not to travel out of the US because an executive order by Trump may prevent them from coming back    http://www.huffingtonpost.com/.../trump-order-immigrants...
*US-Mexico border: Tensions & tunnels in an ever-changing border    cnn.it/2jGV15Z
*'Gaslighting & 'Alternative Facts'    http://www.oregonlive.com/trending/2017/01/someone...
*20 Nobel laureates, thousands of academics sign protest of Trump's immigration order    https://t.co/COPCKtyGzZ
*Merkel says fight against terrorism no excuse for US entry ban    reut.rs/2kH8SJN
*Iran says it'll ban all US citizens from entering the country in response to Trump's executive order    cnn.it/2iB9dzL
*How Trump could change America's skilled worker visa rules    https://t.co/AzOaTw99b
*Trump's Muslim ban is not the first time immigrants have been blocked from the US. Here are 6 other times    aje.io/32s3
*Trump's Africa policy: Unclear & uncertain    allafrica.com/stories/201702...
*Trump has the highest disapproval rating of any newly elected President    cnn.it/2jHMDqS
*Trump is trying to blame Arnold for the inevitable death of the 'Apprentice'    https://t.co/kVYpYtWpOR
*Could Trump's travel ban affect Nigerians?    http://www.travelstart.com-ng/blog/could-trumps-travel-ban
*'Illegal acts are ok for a President' - Richard Nixon    https://www.youtube.com/attributing_link?
*Eminem unleashes on Donald Trump    cnn.it/2jJ8cYe
*Meet James Robart, the Judge who halted Trump's immigration ban    http://www.usatoday.com/story/news/2017/02/04/...
*America: A return to national greatness    https://mobile.nytimes.com/2017/02/03/opinion/a-return-to-national-greatness.html
*Trump just got checked & balanced    cnn,it/2jMh5QR
*Bruce Springsteen is 'embarassed' to be an American    www.foxnews.com/entertainment/2017/02/03/bruce-springsteen...
*Department of Homeland Security suspends Trump's 'Muslim ban'    http://www.independent.co.uk/news/world-americas
*The Trump resistance playback    http://www.thestranger.com/features/2017/02/01/...
*Conservatism after Trump   www.theamericanconservative.com/articles/conservatism-after-trump/...
*How to culture jam a populist in 4 steps     https://www.carcaschronicles.com/2017/01/20/culturejam
*Immigrant doctors provide better care & they make up one quarter of physicians in the US    https://hbr.org/2017/02/immigrant-doctors...
*Nancy Pelosi: The woman who stood up to Donald Trump   ow.ly/NNAd30q4pf7
*Donald Trump moves to protect prayer in public schools and provide federal funds for religious institutions   https://www.washingtonpost.com/education/2020/01/16/trump-administration-moves-to-protect-prayer-in-public-schools.../

*How Trump fused his business empire into the Presidency   https://www.politico.com/news/2020/01/20/trump-business-empire-tied-presidency-100496

*How to judge Trumponomics    economist.com

*Africa, Trump & the stakes of the November 3, 2020 election - CDD    cddwestafrica.org 

*US election 2020: Biden event in Texas cancelled as 'armed' Trump supporters threaten campaign bus   https://news.yahoo.com/us-election-biden-event-texas-cancelled/

*US 2020 election: Why Trump can;t afford to lose   newyorker.com   https://t.co/T8IzSJvKUw?amp=1

*Donald Trump's re-election campaign is 'total camp'   theatlantic.com/culture/archive/2020/10/how-donald-trump-hijacked-camp/616902/?utm_medium.../

*What is the Electoral College & how does it work?   https://on.wsj.com/...

*Trump's attacks on vote counts seem to follow an authoritarian playbook   washingtonpost.com

*Major networks cut away from Trump's baseless election fraud claims   nytimes.com

*Why political opposites in the US despise each other: 'We've built the most toxic marriage ever'  time.com 

*Stephen Colbert breaks down in speech about  Trump's  attempt to undermine the 2020 election   edition.cnn.com/2020/11/06/us/stephen-colbert-trump-reaction-trnd/

*Republican Senator Mitt Romney says Trump's rhetoric about a stolen election 'damages the cause of freedom in the US and around the world   cnn.it/355Sblb

*Trump's power on Twitter & Facebook will outlive his Presidency   washingtonpost.com

*By casting doubt on the vote, President Trump is helping Russia achieve its goalof undermining public faith in the US democratic system   time.com

*Standing by: Right Wing Militia Groups & the US election   acleddata.com

*The US 2020 election results   economist.com

*What happened? The week the world watched America   economist.com

*Joe Biden: We may be opponents, but we are not enemies - It's time to heal as a nation   bbc.in/3n1uOiG

*What's a 'Provisional Ballot'?   cnn.com

*A Georgia election worker has gone into hiding because of false online video showing that he tossed ballots   thedailybeast.com

*US: 2 elderly women, 102 & 107 years old, born before women could vote, can't wait to see Kamala Harris's inauguration as VP   nytimes.com

*US election 2020: A look at some of the closest races in history   moneycontrol.com

*Democrats bicker over election disappointments   time.com

*The troubling reason the Electoral College exists   time.com

*Why US vote count takes so long   ft.com

*US election 2020: Bannon Twitter account banned amid clampdown   https://www.bbc.com/news/technology-54838977.../

*Why Kamala Harris's white suit speaks volumes   edition.cnn.com/style/article/kamala-harris-white-suit/

*Remembering the Native American who was the first person of colour to serve as US VP   cnn.com

*How can Biden heal America when Trump doesn't want it?   theguardian.com/commentisfree/2020/nov/08/joe-biden-donald-trump-election-healing-robert-reich/

*Voting Trump out is not enough: The need in the US dwarfs the best of what Joe Biden can offer   newyorker.com

*What happened in 2020: Decoding America's election results   economist.com

*It's time to abolish the Electoral College   brookings.edu

*What will a Biden US win mean for Africa?   aje.io/x9g8g

*Trump vows to keep fighting: Will use 'every aspect of the law' in ballot-counting battle   foxnews.com 

*One of Kamala Harris's biggest supporters is her husband's ex-wife   https://www.distractify.com/p/kamala-harris-husband-ex-wife/

*A messy Trump-Biden transition will derail desperately needed stimulus   https://cnn.it

*Meet Doug Emhoff: America's 1st 'Second Gentleman'   npr.org/sections/live-updates-2020-election-results/2020/11/08/932821182/meet-doug-emhoff-americas-1st-2nd-gentleman/

*Analysis: What the State Department says about peaceful transfer of power: A review   washingtonpost.com

*Conspiracy theories in the Spiritual Community - Spirituality & health   https://spiritualityhealth.com/articles/2020/10/19/conspiracy-theories-spiritual-community/

*Between Evangelicals & Trump: Redemption through sin - Political Theology Network    https://politicaltheology.com/between-evangelicals-trump/

*The long history of Conspiracy Theories: On Conspiracy Theories, Social Media & The Spread of false information - Witney Phillips     thesunmagazine.org/issues/539/dark-corners.../

*No modern Presidential candidate refused to concede: Here's why that matters   nationalgeographic.com/history/2020/11/no-modern-presidential-candidate-refused-to-concede/

*Joe Biden: The most misunderstood man in Washington     https://www.gq.com/story/joe-biden-presidential-campaign-2016-2013

*How the Wellness World embraced QAnon    jezebel.com/eat-pray-conspiracy-how-wellness-world-embraced-qanon

*Donald Trump's refusal toconcedeis no joke - It's a dangerousprecedent    theguardian.com/commntisfree/2020/nov/16/donald-trump-concede-joke-precedent-us-institutions-democratic/

*A New-Model Trump...4 years later    https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/new-model-trump-4-years-later-lucy-marcus

*US: How Covid-19 will change aging & retirement    wsj.com/articles/how-covid-19-will-change-aging-retirement/

*FBI report in the US: Bias-motivated killings atrecord high amid nationwide rise in hate crime    npr.org

*Trump secretly mocks his Christian supporters    https://www.theatlantic.com/politics/archive/2020/09/trump-mocks.../

*The return of dogs to the White House feels magnificently American    cnn.com

*GOP who donated millions of Dollars for voter fraud probe wants his money back    cnn.com

*Pelosi announces plans for 9/11-type Commission to investigate Capitol attack    cnn.com 

*The US 2020 election & its effect on Nigeria's defense & security policy    https://peccaviconsulting.wordpress.com/2020/11/19/the-us-2020-election-effect-on-nigeria.../

*The foreign policy legacy of the 'America 1st' President     https://www.foreignaffairs.com/anthologies/2020-11-27/trumps-world/

*5 factors that helped US democracy - Decentralisation, turnout, transparency, courts & media    theguardian.com/us-news/2020/nov/30/how-us-bemocracy-survived-trump-election-lies-misinformation

*Donald trump & his Nigerian disciples by Dele Momodu    thisdaylive.com

*Donald Trump stays  silent as US sees record 2,804 CoV deaths in a day    https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2020/dec/03/donald-trump-stays-silent-hike-in-cov-cases/

*Sheeple, Plandemic & the Blue Lobby: The lingo of conspiracy theorists    econ.st/3gb0wq4

*Joe Biden and Kamala Harris are TIME's 2020 Person of theYear    ti.me/2W6Zkfy

*What Grover Cleveland can teach Donald Trump: How to come and go, and then come back again - with a little class    washingtonpost.com

*Yes, women with Doctorates should be called 'Doctor'    linkedin.com/pulse/yes-women-doctorates-should-called-dr-adam-grant/

*Donald Trump's execution spree    alexneve.ca/blog/donald-trump-execution-spree/

*Critical lessons from the Biden triumph    opinion.premiumtimesng.com/2020/12/18/...

*The real reason Donald Trump is failing to overturn the 2020 elections    edition.cnn.com/2020/12/22/opinions/real-reasons-trump-election-results-failure-frye/index.html?utm...

*Trump heard on tape urging Georgia Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger to 'find votes' for him    channelstv.com/2021/01/64/trump-heard-on-tape-asking-for-geogia-votes/

*'Veterans for Responsible Leadership' (VRL) vs Trumpism    newyorker.com

*Homes of Pelosi (House Speaker) & McConnel (Senate Majority Leader) vandalised amid tussle over stimulus package    thenationonlineng.net

*Zuckerberg says Trump will be blocked from Facebook  & Instagram    politico.com

*When we take democracy for granted    https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/when-we-take-democracy-for-granted-arne-sorenson/

*Prosecuting Trump is possible: Here's how    edition.cnn.com/2021/01/08/opinions/donald-trump-prosecution-capitol-mob.../

*13 days of peril: Managing the chaotic end of the Trump Presidency    crisisgroup.org/united-states/13-days-peril.../

*The US Presidential election: Managing the risks of violence    https://www.crisisgroup.org/united-states/004-us-presidential-election.../

*Repairing the damage to US diplomacy in the UNSC    https://www.crisisgroup.org/global/repairing-damage-us-diplomacy-unsc/

*Arnold Schwarzenegger compares Capitol Hill mob violence with Kristallnacht (Austria)    washingtonpost.com    https://t.co/MH8l48cjIH?amp=1

*The day America realised how dangerous their President is    edition.cnn.com/2021/01/09/politics-donald-trump-dangerous-capitol-riot/

*Collin Powell says he's no lnger a Republican    thegrio.com/2021/10/10/collin-powell-republican/

*The American abyss    nytimes.com

*Analysis of events leading to January 6, 2021: Lessons for dictators    https://lnkd.in/dsW9ggS

*US Capitol siege is a 'wake up call' for democracies    https://www.reuters.com/article/us/usa-election-eu/us-capitol.../

*GoFundMe is banning the use of its platform is banning fund raising for travel expenses used for potentially violent political events after pro-Trumpprotesters stormed CapitolHill    cnn.com    https://t.co/OsNesps8Fc?amp=1

*As technological giants recoil from Trump & Parler, is free speech at risk?    csmonitor.com    https://t.co/4SacpBQHnF?amp=1

*Republicans facing growing corporate backlash after Capitol assault    reut.rs/3qbVVcb

*US executes Lisa Montgomery for 2004 murder - The first since 1953    nytimes.com

*FBI says 170 individuals identified in relation to Capitol riots, 70 charged so far and number will rise to hundreds (Oct. 12, 2021)   bbc.in/3i5yEWS

*Impeachment alone won't rid the Republican Party of Trumpism    time.com

*Impeaching Trump is not enough by Elie Honig    cnn.com

*After Capitol assault, public opinion shifts towards Trump's removal    csmonitor.com

*Defiant Trump says impeachment move 'very dangerous' for the US    aljazeera.com

*Is violence a part of civilisation?    economist.com

*Fact check: Impeachment alone will not ban Trump from a 2024 run    cnn.com

*5 lessons aboutDonald Trump in the last five years    edition.cnn.com/2021/01/19/politics/trump-lessons-allizza

*Soldiers flow intoCapitol Hill pre-Biden/Harris inauguration in a scene reminiscent of the civil war    triblive.com/news/world/soldiers-flow-into-capitol-inauguration/

*Full text of Amanda Gorman's inaugural poem: 'The Hill We Climb'    cnbc.com/2021/01/20/amanda-gormans-inaugural-poem/

*Biden: Trump left me a very generous letter' before leaving the White House    edition.cnn.com/2021/01/20/politics/trump-letter-to-biden/

*Presidential inauguration 2021: Bernie Sanders, Lady Gaga's out & other meme-able moments    cnn.com

*Inside Joe Biden's newly decorated Oval Office    edition.cnn.com/2021/01/20/politics/inside-joe-biden-oval-office/

*Trump's lonely exit    cnn.com

*Letters outgoing Presidents left for their successors in the Oval Office    cnn.com

*'Welcome back, America': Newspapers around the world react to Biden's inauguration    cnn.com

*Trump was absent as living Presidents came together for a Covid-19 vaccination campaign    trib.al/zo46JQj

 

 

    
 

 

  

   

  
   

CDD TRAINS 80 CLERICS ON DE-RADICALISATION

It is indeed heartwarming that between the 5th and 6th of November, 2016, the Centre for Democracy & Development (CDD), trained more than 80 clerics from Borno, Yobe and Adamawa states in the art of de-radicalisation. I am a non-resident Senior Fellow of CDD. To be sure, the manner in which Islamic clerics propagate the message of Islam has been a source of worry vis-a-vis the BH insurgency. Many are of the opinion that some types of preaching could be regarded as inciting. It is not enough to note the pattern followed by such preachers. CDD decided to 'do something' to help the situation.

There has been no formal training by a regionally acknowledged organisation like CDD targeted at clerics on the subject of de-radicalisation of their followers. UNDP Nigeria and the Government of Japan sponsored the workshop.  The photo of the source, 'Countering Violent Extremism Training Manual', from which the themes in this post are derived is shown below. Disclaimer: The views expressed in the themes of the training manual are not necessarily mine.

Some relevant links that informed this post are:

*In Borno, CDD trains 80 clerics on de-radicalisation    http://www.newsflash.com.ng/.../in-borno-cdd-trains-80-clerics...
*200 religious clerics sensitised to neutralise BH    https://www.channelstv.com/2016/11/05/200-religious-clerics...
*Discourse of Violent Extremism (VE)    https://t.co/piE4qUF8Hj    http://t.co/RFw48yEs8p
*Deradicalisation, counter-terrorism & migration in northern Nigeria: Residential training of clerics in the use of counter-radical training material    http://t.co/VU4i2Xf7PX

Five major themes (Modules) were identified in the two-day training/workshop as enunciated in the CDD 'Countering Violent Extremism Training Manual'. The Manual was developed for CDD. Some of the highlights in the Manual are enunciated below:

1) Al-Takfir (Ex-communication)
2) Jihad (Holy War)
3) Acceptance of non-Islamic political authority
4) Peaceful co-existence with non-Muslims
5) Women's status in Islam

*Takfir is derived from the Arabic word, Kufur, which literally means infidelity/unbelief/irreligion/rebuff/rejection/ingratitude...Accusing a Muslim of committing an act of kufur is called takfir. Let there be no compulsion in religion (Quar'an 2:256).

Extremists' understanding of takfir is quite broad, covering so many issues and practices that mainstream Muslims do not associate with kufur at all. In fact most Muslims will not accuse any person of kufur, except in the case of a person who expressly renounces his/her Islamic faith. Even in such a case, there are elaborate procedures to follow before the imposition of any sanctions.

*Jihad: Allah does not forbid you to deal justly and kindly with those who do not fight against you on account of religion and do not send you out of their homes. Verily, Allah loves those who deal with equity (Quar'an 60:8)

*Acceptance of non-Islamic political authority: Islam is understood as a complex way of life, covering not only religious beliefs & practices, but also regulating political affairs, social relations, economic activities, cultural identity and norms. Adherents of Islam are considered as a single global community, called the umma, which should be governed by its political institutions and in accordance with the Sharia.

*The status of women in Islam: In general, Islam affirms the humanity of both men and womencreated by the same God for the same purpose. Islam enjoins both men and women on equal footing. The two sexes have the same freedoms and rights before Allah (Quar'an 49:3)

*Peaceful relations with non-Muslims: Islam is understood as a complete way of life, covering not only religious beliefs and practices, but also regulating political affairs, social relations, economic activities, cultural identity and norms. Muslims are considered a single global community, called the umma. The umma should be governed by its political institutions and in accordance with the Sharia.

The training was much more elaborate than I have presented above. There are more details in the CDD Training Manual that informed this post. At the end of the workshop, most of the trainees said they had learnt so much, and would put their newly acquired knowledge to use anytime they preach. It was suggested that the training should be continuous with the aim of ensuring the use of  'moderate' language by preachers, which could eventually translate into the de-radicalisation of their followers.

P.S.

I suggest the reader digests this blog post pari passu an earlier one: 'Towards an effective strategy on counter insurgency in Nigeria'    http://www.dayokusa.blogspot.com.ng/2014/03/towards-effective-strategy-on-counter.html

Related Links

*What will drive the next generation of Salafi-Jihadis?   https://bit.ly/2MZfbdD   https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/what-terrorism-its-solution-actual-fact-ayay-singh/

*Countering BH ideology   nextierspd.com/countering-boko-haram-ideology

*The ideology to uproot the basis for terrorism, that's creating the world-wide basis for war    https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/moral-evolution-through-uniting-science-faith-literature-ajay-singh-1c/?

  

15 YEARS OF SHARIA IMPLEMENTATION IN NORTHERN NIGERIA

On the 31st of October, 2016 at Sheraton Hotel, Abuja, I was part of the public dissemination of the research on 15 years of Sharia implementation in northern Nigeria. The research was conducted for the Nigeria Stability & Reconciliation Programme (NSRP) by the Development Research & Projects Centre (dRPC), Kano and Nigeria Research Network (NRN).

5 Policy briefs were x-rayed at the meeting:

*The Sharia Courts
*The case of Hisbah
*Zakat & Waqf institutions
*Impact on women
*The role of Ulama

Some of the participants at the meeting are:

*Barr (Mrs) Maryam Uwais, Special Assistant to the President on Social Protection
*Dr. Ukoha Ukiwo, Programme Manager, NSRP
*Dr. Dayo Oluyemi-Kusa, Conflict Transformation Expert & Chairperson, Board of Directors, National Peace Summit Group (NPSG)
*Dr. Yahaya Hashim, DRPC
*Prof. Abdul Raufu Mustapha
*Dr. Garba Ahmed
*Dr. Usman Bugaje
*Prof. Mohammed Tabiu

The following are some of the issues around which the discussion was centred:

-It is important to protect non-Muslims in Sharia states.
-Sharia courts should be 'aligned' with Customary courts.
-Islamic personal law vs Sharia law
-Should Islamic criminal law be re-introduced?
-Lawyers should be accommodated in Sharia courts
-Women constitute at least 70% of complainants in Sharia courts
-Sharia courts are viewed as user friendly institutions because they facilitate speedy disposal of cases
-More women should be employed in Sharia courts
-Women should be empowered to bear the cost of litigation
-Judges & staff of Sharia courts need more training in Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR)
-The activities of 'Diladelai'-fake court facilitators, should be curbed
-'Silhu', Mediation services should be strengthened in Sharia courts
-Women should be more involved in the distribution of Zakat
-Sharia courts should be better funded
-In each of the Sharia states, no Hisbah organisation is the same as the other. Each one is unique
-Hisbah is to protect and provide social services for the poor
-Most people want Hisbah retained
-The purpose of Zakat is that for everything that belongs to the rich, a portion belongs to the poor. Zakat is a method of re-distributing wealth. There should be transparency in the distribution of Zakat.

On the whole, the following issues were outstanding. There should be further training in ADR for lawyers and judges in Sharia courts. Women should be more involved in the administration of Sharia courts and the distribution of Zakat. At the meeting, I suggested that every five years, a similar research, followed by a dissemination workshop should be held in order to determine how far the recommendations have been implemented...

Related Links

*Over 1m children out of school in Kano   https://guardian.ng/news/over-1M-children-out-of-school-in-kano-unicef/