WHERE WE CANNOT BE BANNED

Despite his lifting it, American President Donald Trump’s travel ban remains a critical cause for debates all over the world. Why should Libya, Iran, Iraq, Sudan, Syria, Somalia and Yemen be the only countries in the world listed for ban? Is it American enough to do so? Will you punish the innocent citizens of these countries that are simple easy-going Muslims travelling in and out of the United States for the wrongs of a few? Why was Nigeria not on the list when it also had a Farouk Abdulmutallab who also attempted bombing a plane in the US? Now to the greedy me- if Nigeria was on that list, does that mean that no Nigerian will fly into the US in those 90 days? Are there really implications? What are the lessons?

I have read Professor Wole Soyinka’s posts on his refusal to fly to countries like Australia, South Africa etc at a time and also, how at the victory of Trump, he gave up the hopes of residing again in the US. For the Nobel Laureate, Trump won over a larger group of Americans with words that shows racism, promoting white supremacy and black inferiority. Before this travel ban, Professor Wole Soyinka had decided to peg his visits to the United States insisting that Trump rode to victory on the wings of racism. The poet left to create a final home for himself where he cannot be banned.

I find it very difficult to say that Trump was wrong in banning the entries of these foreign citizens. I have 4 reasons for this. First, the war against terrorism is a global war not an American war yet, America has being paying the highest price for it. Terrorists bomb everyone and anyone including moderate muslims without remorse and America appears like lead targets for terrorists in the last 16 years. Third, no country in the world has spent and is spending as much on terrorism like the United States, hence the most threatened must be the most reactive. Fourth, America will not protect the interests of others at the detriment of herself as long as it can involve attacks and the loss of lives of Americans too.

Yet the unanswered questions for Trump is “Will America continue to own the top 4 companies in the world like Apple, Microsoft, Google etc with this kind of ban? Why also should Libyan Christians and other moderate muslims from these nations suffer this ban? Are we saying Americans cannot be radicalized to commit acts of terrorism too? Is Trump sure that this will not lead to the economic fall of the American nation and the emergence of Putin or China? Won’t this grow anti-Americanism in climes where this never existed?

Comparing the 2 arguments, I could just see clearly that one is talking of safety of lives of American residents while the other is emphasizing economic gains and protection of non-Americans. With that, the position of the passionate American president and realist is clear. I hate to accept Trump’s scientific “stop the growth, find and kill the cancer” approach- but the truth is “you don’t speak English to cancer”. You attack it. Terrorism is cancer! Some good non-carcinogenic human cells around the cancer cells may have to lose their lives for the whole human body to survive. The loss of a breast is better than the loss of a life!

Today, Trump must have complied with the court order but he has made his point knowing fully well that China and Putin won’t wait for 16 years for full cleansing if 9/11 happened to them. From now, we won’t hold America’s security network responsible alone anymore. America will hold the judiciary also. There may be more intensified efforts also to think and curb racism, terrorism and anti-Americanism in the Middle East as this will trigger caution. Attempts to attack American embassies in Libya, Iraq etc might not generate positive executive decisions within the United States in favor of those countries. Right within ISIL right now, there will be serious caution and realignments too.

Ban lifted or not, the question we must ask ourselves as Nigerians is straight forward. America banned some countries and the whole world is protesting. What has America done to herself that makes her the choice of nations? Will an American ever live her country to come stay with Tutsis or Fulani except on business or marital grounds? An American president revoked a valid travel ban because of the order of a judge when in Africa less than 3 months ago, a president decided to ignore the electoral wishes of 1.8 million people and never stopped until he saw warships! In my country Nigeria, the judge could even be ignored. When will Nigeria create an atmosphere where we cannot be banned? The learning point for Nigeria and Africa is that the world is happy to live in a country free of Al-Shabaab, ISIS, Al Qaeda and Boko Haram.

In the far corners of the Middle East, you will continue to hear till eternity, “I hate America but I love her products”. Even Osama Bin Laden loved Whitney Houston. A country that is run by democracy, good governance and the rule of law will continue to be the choice of all nations. A country that ignores education, rule of law and good governance to tolerate illiteracy, unemployment and corruption will soon have citizens working and bombing for ISIS International Nigeria Limited.