By Laraba MUREY
Nigerians have been expressing their opinions on the assassination attempt on President Donald Trump by a gunman who was shot dead by the United States Secret Service at the campaign rally.
On Saturday, July 13, 2024, former President Trump was injured in the ear by 20-year-old Thomas Matthew Crooks in Butler during a rally.
While condemnations have trailed the political violence which motive was yet to be established, Nigerians have been mocking the U.S seen as the bastion of democracy.
Tobechukwu Casmir Kizito on Facebook said, “So America still witness this level of dirty politics…I thought it’s only peculiar to the Third World countries…”
Also, Ismaila Tanko on the micro blogging site stated, “We in Nigeria condemn the act of violence that is going on in the United States. We enjoin (President) Biden to do everything within his power to apprehend the gunman and hand him to Nigeria High Commission sic) for proper investigation.”
However, Eki Durojaiye blamed Trump for the escalation of violence. Eki notes, “Trump has reduced American politics to African standards. He encouraged violence during his first term pre and post-election stages. He is now a victim of the dangerous precedent he set.”
In a mocking tone, Emeka King stated, “so US face this type of politics, Nigeria we hail dee! (sic)”
Ahmed Olatunji unlike Eki blames incumbent President Biden. Olatunji accuses “Biden’s hand is already stained of blood. Democracy is no more existing in the world rather terrorists people (sic) with the mask of democracy. So most of the violence in other countries they learn from the US.”
For King Adedeji Bernard Adegboyega, “politicians all over the world can’t be trusted, a man with so much offenses, lawsuits, court cases and awaiting court judgement will do anything to seek support & wow voters, for me, I think this is just a stage stunt shooting for political purpose & gains from Trump’s camp.”
America is not new to political violence and assassinations of that of President John F. Kennedy tops and the attempt on Ronald Regan in the 80s’ as well.
Of recent, the FBI foiled a plot to assassinate conservative Supreme Court justices in 2022.
In same 2022, the husband of then-House Speaker Nancy Pelosi was attacked by a hammer-wielding intruder at their San Francisco home.
On January 6, 2021 a violent mob stormed the US Capitol to interrupt the certification of Joe Biden’s election win.
A year before then, 2020, would-be kidnappers hatched a plot to snatch Michigan’s Democratic Gov. Gretchen Whitmer but were foiled and sentenced on terrorism charges.
In 2017, a GOP congressional baseball team practice was attacked by a gunman in Alexandria, Virginia, where the then-House GOP Whip, Steve Scalise, was nearly killed.
