Donald Trump, the 47th president of the USA, distinguishes himself from all former presidents of the United States of America. He has no room for diplomacy or diplomatic language. He doesn’t mind his words. He makes it known publicly whether he likes or hates anybody. The journalists are no exception from his tirade. He has both good and bad sides. Using his position as the leader of the free world to humiliate other leaders who disagree with him is normal for him. He is someone that cannot hide his feelings.
His own style of leadership defied all textbooks of Western world leaders that we have read or seen. Prior to the midterm election of 3 November 2026, he made a surprise campaign promise to the American adults, he promised to give them 5000 dollars each if they can vote for the Republicans in the elections. It will run to a trillion dollars. A powerful offer to cage the people of the United States. It is unheard of.
In 2025 , Donald Trump declared Nigeria as a Country of Particular Concerns, particularly on the killings of Christians in Nigeria. He took it personally to defend the christians of Nigeria. He sent a powerful message to president Bola Ahmed Tinubu. A clear warning.
President Bola Ahmed Tinubu of Nigeria did not argue the matter and gave Donald Trump a Carte Blanche to operate in Nigeria freely against the terrorists. Donald Trump on Christmas day of 2025 decapitated the Nigerian terrorists through a barrage of missiles that killed probably thousands of terrorists. American soldiers were allowed into the country to collaborate with our soldiers in fighting terrorism. They have since returned to their country. President Tinubu had learnt very well that Trump is an eccentric person and unpredictable. The way he seized Maduro, the president of Venezuela using American special forces to attack the presidential palace and took him to the US to face criminal charges in the USA. It was a strong warning to all 3rd world countries that we are now in an era of ‘might is right’. He can try the same in Nigeria and use religion and allegation of drugs as an excuse to raid Nigeria and kidnap him as well. He quickly sent his wife to the yearly USA thanksgiving ceremony. Trump acknowledged her presence and praised her to high heavens. President Trump loves those who respect and honour him. Tinubu handled him well. He too is a political strategist. That was a great diplomacy by Tinubu and highly tactical. His government was saved.
However, I suspect there was another message for Trump from our president to be delivered by the First lady. There are some useful things that Trump can learn from Nigerians too. ‘ how to sustain yourself in power’ It will be recalled that Trump has stated many times of his desire to break records by contesting for a 3rd term in America. The likely message from Tinubu is how to use money to influence voters because if the Republican can win convincingly in the US midterm elections , the 3rd term agenda will be easy. Nigeria is a place where money works well in luring voters. President Tinubu is an expert in that field, it will be great for him to help Trump by teaching him how to use it effectively in the election. The current hardship in America as a result of the hardline on immigration and the unresolved war in Iran is creating untold hardship in the lives of the American people. The closure of Strait of Hormuz by the decapitated Iranian regime is affecting fuel prices not only in the US but all over the world. It is unprecedented in American history to lure voters with money but Trump tried it and it failed.
The USA is not Nigeria, the offer was made in the wrong country. He did not learn well, money must change hands before the election day. Trump, unlike Nigerian politicians cannot afford the risk of giving money before the election.
Nigerian people know very well by experience that promises made before the election are null and void after the election’. We can see donations here and there now even in the churches and the mosques. The allurement is great now, some politicians who have never attended churches in their lives are now moving from one church to the others receiving prayers from the shepherds with a special anointing programme. Donating to mosques and the Imams are on the high side, it is election time, it is deception time. All roads to the 2027 election are painted with money.
Trump’s promise of money failed completely in the USA.. The people of the United States rendered it useless, they were not moved, they were as constant as Northern stars, they voted for their conscience, they voted massively for the democrats. Even the millions of Dollars spent by Elon Musk went to the abyss. The dream of president Trump 3rd term is truncated by the will of the people of the USA.
Will money fail in Nigeria in the 2027 election as it did in the USA. I remember one of Bob Marley’s songs ” destruction of the poor is in poverty and the destruction of the soul is in vanity.” Poverty in Nigeria has turned good people of Nigeria to something else.
The Nigerian leaders over the years have weaponised poverty against the people of Nigeria . The poverty of this time is even unprecedented and the election is coming on the heels of hunger and starvation created by the bad policies of the government. It is deliberate and it is wicked. It is not a delightful thing to see people mortgaging their souls for N20000 or N50000.
The game of money is on. However, money failed in the Osun Election. The ruling party spent a lot of money to lure the people of Osun state to vote for their governorship candidate on 15 August 2026. Thet mobilised all their powerful politicians to the place with majority of the hotels fully booked by the richest people of the APC. The people of Osun rejected the allurement of Mammon and cast their votes for their dancing governor of Accord Party. The APC stalwarts quietly left shamefully in the middle of the midnight. Their money has failed woefully .
The 2027 election is around the corner, the allurement of money is on the display as usual. Will the people fall for it and allow their conscience to be purchased?
Will money fail in Nigeria as it failed in the USA election?
Chief Niyi Aborisade is a lawyer, a human rights activist, an author, historian and a poet.
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