A video of presidential hopeful, former Vice President Joe Biden, on Friday sparked a hot debate on social media between two Nigerians on who Nigerians in the United States should support in the forthcoming presidential election featuring President Donald Trump and Biden. A third Nigerian-American chips in a comment towards the end.
Nigeria Everyday (www.everyday.ng) feeds you the debate unedited, as it is a reflection of the thoughts of our own abroad:
Peace: This video shouldn’t deceive any eligible African voter. Most people spreading the video won’t vote. The first question we should be asking “Had South Africa benefited indigenous South Africans? “We all know that America doesn’t defend where/what she has no interests!”
Joe Biden has very impressive/forceful political rhetorics. The passionate energy he exerted in this video was exactly how he defended the Crime Bill of 1994 (watch both videos)
When Biden finally became the Vice President to Barack Obama, WHAT DID HE DO?
What did he do with the powers of US Presidency to help the African Americans and the endangered Christians in Nigeria that are facing existential threat and begged Obama for help? Why didn’t Biden revise/reform the 1994 Crime Bill that he wrote to empower law enforcement in targeting Black people? Instead Biden and Obama looked the other way from the plight of Black people.
Ade: Did you know that Republicans controlled the legislature for 6 of Obama’s 8 yrs. And they made sure he couldn’t do anything. How could he then change the crime bill? All he could do was through the AG’s office which he did and Trump reversed.
Are you condemning Biden for what he did as a legislator and giving us the moron in the White House as alternative? This election is no longer about personality but about record. Trump is th xe incumbent so please put his record on the table for scrutiny. I dont care what Biden did as a legislator, he did well as a VP. Let us examine Trump’s record in office.
Peace: Did you forget that Obama had both Congress, Senate and the DNC in his complete first two years as US President?
How many days did it take Trump to act on what he ran for?
Prison reform, immigration reform, restructuring criminal justice systems should never had been an issue. His DOJ was black, his DHS was black and more. Blacks wasn’t his priorities. But LGBT.
Ade: True. Obama had two years. But he used it to pass Affordable health care. Something that no one before him was able to do. That singular act woke up the worst of the Republicans with unlimited resources put up against him.
What has trump achieved after he lost the house?
Obama by executive order reversed the injustice of the federal sentencing guidelines. He created DACA which today has saved 800k young pple from deportation. I wonder what Obama would have done if he retained both house for another 2yrs.
Peace: Even those who live outside the United States can answer this question. So I won’t go there.
The important question should be. How did Obama’s administration benefit Nigeria or Africans? Name one tangible thing he did for blacks. Even the killings in Nigeria what efforts?
All politics is local we should fight for our own community.
Ade: So supporting Trump helps our community?
Peace: Getting involved in politics is to be able to transform our respective community not going by the flow or popular opinion.
Ade: I guess to you, Trump represents Transformation of the black community in the US.
Peace: What has Trump done wrong to our community?
Trump fights for religious freedom/ tolerance over Nigeria which is the mother of all problems in Nigeria.
Trump returned Abacha’s loots
Trump spent more $38 molillion on Nigeria in this COVID-19
Constantly working to ensure that Christians are protected and Muslims too. Unity not division like Obama constantly focused on 19 northern governors. We need togetherness/unity of Nigeria.
Ade: Is our Nigerian interest more important than black American interest in this country?
Peace: No one carries a casket on his head and be picking ants with one leg.
Only a lost Nigerian will look to the otherside when we have worse killing our siblings and community while we make noise from our little cocoons.
Did you come to America to inherit quarrels?
Ade: While I am a Nigerian, I am also an American who takes the course of the black American very serious. They paid the price for my ability to live well in this country. I live in the neighborhood I desire, have my own biz, my children attended very good schools and now chatting their own course. All is possible because American blacks paid with their blood. So I can’t give Trump a pass for giving Nigeria its money back with one hand but call them shit holes, and ban immigration from Nigeria without any real justification inspite of our documented contribution to American society.
Peace: Its your right. Choose your battles wisely
I choose to be a reconciler. I dont engage in race or tribal fights.
“Its all of us or none of us.”
Ade: Hmmmm. I dont know how often you go to Nigeria and how invested you are over there. But I can tell you that I am not one of those who stay away and complain about Nigeria. I am also here in the US so I have a right to comment about here just like I do about Nigeria. I can assure you that I am not a lost Nigerian
Peace: I’m proud of you. Our goal should be about advancing Nigeria. Charity begins at home. We are hypocrites if we can’t solve the tribalism in Nigeria but we are murmuring against race.
Enjoy your weekend. But lets pray about these conversations. Shalom!
Ade: Enjoy your weekend too and stay blessed.
Akin: Gents, we should be as wise as a serpent and not fall prey to this politicking. If we want to be relevant as a formidable political force in this country, let us combine our coalition and become big time donor to both parties. That is what gets attention and access to influencing policies that can favor Nigeria and Africa as a whole.
Peace: Brother that is an important aspect too. Regardless, we can donate money and build friendship but what’s vital is ” Which/whose policies represents our VALUES and who we are?”
▪︎ Editor’s Note: We have blurred the full names and telephone numbers of the contributors for confidentiality reasons.
