By using this site, you agree to the Privacy Policy and Terms of Use.
Accept
Independent News ExpressIndependent News Express
  • Home
  • International
    InternationalShow More
    United Nations
    4th International Conference On Financing For Development Delivers Renewed Hope And Action For Sustainable Development
    4 months ago
    The African Development Bank and the United Nations Human Settlements Programme (UN-Habitat) scale up drive for sustainable urbanization in Africa
    AfDB, UN-Habitat Scale Up Drive For Sustainable Urbanisation In Africa
    4 months ago
    UN
    North Africa: Green Climate Fund Approves Record $300m For FAO-designed Projects In Papua New Guinea, Saint Lucia, The Sahel
    4 months ago
    UNICEF
    How Wars Across Middle East, North Africa Affecting Children – UNICEF
    4 months ago
    UNDP
    UN Development Programme Welcomes Historic Deal On Sustainable Development Even Amidst Global Turmoil
    4 months ago
  • Africa
    Africa
    Show More
    Top News
    From Child Soldiers To Carpenters In The Democratic Republic of Congo
    3 years ago
    Egypt: United States Embassy Cairo Organizes Women And Environment Week
    3 years ago
    PeacePro
    Military Intervention In Niger Republic Will Amount To Digging Africa’s Grave – PeacePro
    2 years ago
    Latest News
     South Africa’s Think 20: Experts Address How Africa Can Bridge Digital Divide And Achieving Financial Inclusion
    4 weeks ago
    U.S. Africa Command Commander Visits West Africa, Underscores Partnership In Addressing Evolving Terrorism Threat
    1 month ago
    West Africa Regional Preparatory Workshop For COP30 On Climate Change Opens In Dakar
    1 month ago
    Systemic Racism Against Africans And People Of African Descent In Criminal Justice Systems Is Pervasive
    1 month ago
  • Corporate News
    • Media Outreach
  • Politics
    Politics
    Show More
    Top News
    Peter Obi’s Big Win In Lagos Set Social Media On ‘Fire’
    3 years ago
    Tayo Ayinde, A Leading Choice For Nigerian President-Elect’s Chief Of Staff
    3 years ago
    15th BRICS Summit
    Timi Frank Blasts Shettima For Gloating Over Predetermined Tribunal Judgement
    2 years ago
    Latest News
    Ex-Pres. Jonathan’s Senior Special Assistant, Dr. Dudafa Dumps PDP For APC
    1 week ago
    Senate President Akpabio Engages Young Progressives in Mentorship Conversation at the Youth House
    2 weeks ago
    Minister of Women Affairs Visits APC Youth House To Mark International Day Of Girl Child
    2 weeks ago
    EU, ADC Parley: Calls for Electoral Reforms To Guarantee Free, Fair, Credible Polls In Nigeria
    3 weeks ago
  • News
    • Agriculture
    • Breaking News
    • Tech
    • Maritime
    • Crime
    • Art & Culture
    News
    Show More
    Top News
    Ondo Governor, Akeredolu Begins Construction Of First Flyover In Akure
    2 years ago
    Celebration Of Life: Reverend Adewumi Jegede Of Later House Of God Assembly Buried Amid Pomp
    1 year ago
    Pa Abdulfatah Amoo Ayanwale
    Pa Ayanwale Dies At 76, Fidau Prayers Holds 8 August
    2 years ago
    Latest News
    Alleged N532m Debt: Court Orders Bank To Takes Over Abudu Family’s Firm
    1 day ago
    Popoola-Taiwo Legal Practitioners, Shipper’s Council Resolve 3-years Dispute Between Logistics Firms Via ADR
    3 days ago
    Final Journey of Ezinne Juliana Anyanwu To Begin January 2026 In Nguru
    3 days ago
    Receivership: Appeal Stalls Hearing Of Kepco Energy, Others’ Suit Against Ecobank, Others
    3 days ago
  • Entertainment
    • Comedy
    • Movies
    • Music
    • Television
    • Concert & Events
    Entertainment
    Show More
    Top News
    Temi Otedola Makes Her Stage Debut In Motherland The Musical
    3 years ago
    Discover Exciting Programmes with Ease on GOtv
    3 years ago
    Nigerian Afrobeat Artiste WONDA Drops Captivating Summer Anthem ‘Ibiza’
    2 years ago
    Latest News
    GOtv Stream vs. Traditional TV: Why Viewers Are Loving the Flexibility
    1 month ago
    Securing Africa’s Digital Future: Entertainment in Safe Hands
    1 month ago
    BBNaija S10: Joanna, Mide, and Isabella Clash as Denari and Tracy Exit the House
    1 month ago
    Akamai Adaptive Media Player 2: Bitmovin And Akamai Set New Streaming Standard
    2 months ago
  • Lifestyle
    • Fashion
    • Love & Life
    • Food & Drink
    • Travel & Tourism
    • Relationship
    • Sex
    Lifestyle
    Show More
    Top News
    Ilara-Epe Kingdom To Confer Chieftaincy Title On Trinidad and Tobago Envoy
    2 years ago
    Kida, Ejidike Felicitate With Nigerians On Christmas And New Year Celebrations 
    3 years ago
    Heritage Confectionery
    ADICC set for Irish African Food Festival
    1 year ago
    Latest News
    The Day Mourners Rebelled in Church By Babafemi Ojudu
    2 weeks ago
    Ambassador Raffy Bello Greets Imperial Majesty, Ooni Enitan-Ogunwusi, As Olojo Festival Begins In Ile-Ife
    1 month ago
    Preserving African Culture: Polaris Bank , Chivita, And Danone Support CIKDAS’ Youth Literary Initiative
    2 months ago
    Nigeria, Switzerland Takes Major Steps Towards Repatriation Of Artifacts And Cultural Cooperation
    2 months ago
  • Business
    • Banking & Finance
    • Oil & Gas
    BusinessShow More
    Financial Action Task Force Removes Nigeria From Grey List
    21 hours ago
    Unity Bank Shareholders Approve Merger With Providus Bank
    4 weeks ago
    Yomi Joseph Digital Pr Launches 360° Marketing Solutions To Transform Brands Into Industry Leaders
    1 month ago
    Gov Abiodun Showcases Ogun Investment Opportunities At AfCFTA In Algeria
    2 months ago
    Intra-African Trade Fair
    Nigeria To Host Intra-African Trade Fair In 2027
    2 months ago
  • Health
    Health
    Show More
    Top News
    South Africa’s Cannabis Growers In Pondoland Left Behind By Legalisation Plans
    3 years ago
    WHO
    WHO Expands Health Services Support For Vulnerable Populations In Nigeria’s Northeast
    3 years ago
    trachoma
    WHO Commends Benin, Mali For Eliminating Trachoma As Public Health Problem
    2 years ago
    Latest News
    Nigerian Academy Of Pharmacy Inducts 14 New Fellows
    1 week ago
    2025 World Pharmacist Day: Lagos Takes Healthcare To Ikorodu Communities
    4 weeks ago
    World Heart Day: Adopt Healthy Food Policies, CAPPA Tasks FG, States
    4 weeks ago
    Lagos Takes Fight Against HIV To Communities
    4 weeks ago
  • More
    • Sports
    • Aviation/Transportation
    • Deliverance Hour
    • Industry & Labour
    • Insurance
    • Interview
    • Judiciary
    • Metro
    • Opinion
    • Property
    • Religious
    • Romance
    • Science & Discovery
Reading: From First World To Third World By Babafemi Ojudu
Share
Notification Show More
Aa
Independent News ExpressIndependent News Express
Aa
  • Home
  • International
  • Africa
  • Corporate News
  • Politics
  • News
  • Entertainment
  • Lifestyle
  • Business
  • Health
  • More
Search
  • Home
  • International
  • Africa
  • Corporate News
    • Media Outreach
  • Politics
  • News
    • Agriculture
    • Breaking News
    • Tech
    • Maritime
    • Crime
    • Art & Culture
  • Entertainment
    • Comedy
    • Movies
    • Music
    • Television
    • Concert & Events
  • Lifestyle
    • Fashion
    • Love & Life
    • Food & Drink
    • Travel & Tourism
    • Relationship
    • Sex
  • Business
    • Banking & Finance
    • Oil & Gas
  • Health
  • More
    • Sports
    • Aviation/Transportation
    • Deliverance Hour
    • Industry & Labour
    • Insurance
    • Interview
    • Judiciary
    • Metro
    • Opinion
    • Property
    • Religious
    • Romance
    • Science & Discovery
Have an existing account? Sign In
Follow US
  • Advertise
© 2022 Foxiz News Network. Ruby Design Company. All Rights Reserved.
Independent News Express > Blog > Opinion > From First World To Third World By Babafemi Ojudu
Opinion

From First World To Third World By Babafemi Ojudu

Last updated: 2025/02/04 at 7:36 AM
9 months ago
Share
SHARE

What is happening in America? A few days ago , I woke up to the shocking news that President Donald Trump attributed the recent air collision in Washington, D.C., to “diversity.” The implication of his statement is as clear as it is disturbing: only white Americans, in his view, are competent to manage air traffic control.

This is not just an offhand remark; it is a statement from the President of a nation that houses some of the world’s best universities, a country that has historically led the free world. To hear such a divisive and reckless assertion from the leader of the United States is a moment of reckoning, a sign of how far America has fallen from the ideals that once defined it.

- Advertisement -
Ad imageAd image

When asked if he would visit the site of the tragic accident, his response was callous, almost absurd: “You want me to go swimming?” It was a remark so flippant, so devoid of empathy, that one could mistake it for something said by a dictator from a failing state, not the President of the United States. One wonders: has Idi Amin Dada resurrected in America, just with a different skin color? In Trump, compassion seems to have died, and in its place, a new, harsher America has emerged.

The Death of Compassion

Yesterday, I spoke with a Nigerian immigrant—a family friend and mother of four American-born children. For an entire week, she had not stepped outside her apartment, paralyzed by fear of ICE raids. The roundups are relentless , she said. Immigrants, including long-time residents, are being captured on the streets, handcuffed like criminals, and forcibly deported on military aircraft.

This is not the America the world once knew—the land of refuge for the persecuted, the dream of the oppressed. America, the country that once prided itself on its empathy and humanity, has become a place of dread, a land where people flee in fear rather than run toward in hope. The words engraved on the Statue of Liberty—“Give me your tired, your poor, your huddled masses yearning to breathe free”—now ring hollow. Lady Liberty, it seems, has turned her back on those she once welcomed.

Freedom of Speech, If You Dare

America has long prided itself as a bastion of free speech. Yet today, speaking one’s mind comes with a cost. Consider the case of Rev. Mariann Edgar Budde, the Episcopal Bishop of Washington. She had the audacity to plead with the President to have mercy—to show compassion for immigrants, the LGBTQ community, and other vulnerable groups.

“We were all once strangers in this land,” she reminded him in a homily at the Washington National Cathedral. But rather than listening, Trump, ever eager to retaliate, lashed out, calling her speech “nasty in tone, not compelling, or smart.” It was a familiar playbook—the same one he has used to silence and humiliate any woman who dares to challenge him.

Democracy on Life Support

All the fundamental pillars of democracy seem to be crumbling. Aid to the vulnerable has been frozen. Institutions meant to hold the powerful accountable are being dismantled or politicized. The rule of law—once a cornerstone of American governance—is now conditional, favoring the President’s allies while punishing his critics.

Perhaps the most ominous sign of America’s democratic decline is the chilling reality that investigators of a crime broadcast live to the world on January 6 are now the ones being threatened with punishment. This is not happening in Latin America, nor in some autocratic regime in Africa , it is not ABACHA’s regime I. Nigeria, this is not DRC Congo or Asia—it is happening in America. The same America that once stood as a beacon of justice, a model for emerging democracies. The same America I , a journalist haunted in Nigeria ran to for refuge has suddenly become where law abiding citizens are running away from.

The consequences of this shift extend beyond the U.S. borders. Those of us from the so-called “Third World” have long looked to America as a reference point—a place where democracy, justice, and human rights were upheld. But now, even our leaders, once restrained by the fear of international scrutiny, are watching closely. If America can erode its institutions with impunity, what is to stop them from doing the same?

Mr. Trump, Tear Down This Wall

The time is coming when someone, somewhere, will need to stand up and, in the spirit of Ronald Reagan’s famous words at the Berlin Wall, declare: “Mr. Trump, tear down this wall.” Not a physical wall, but the wall of fear, division, and authoritarianism that is slowly suffocating the very essence of what America used to stand for.

The United States was once a nation of hope, a country where democracy thrived and where the world could turn for moral leadership. That America is slipping away. The question is: will it be reclaimed, or will it continue its descent from First World to Third World?

You Might Also Like

Why Fortifying Ultra-Processed Foods Won’t Solve Nigeria’s Nutrition Crisis By Bukola Olukemi-Odele

INEC: An Institution In Need Of Rebirth By Babafemi Ojudu

The Day Mourners Rebelled in Church By Babafemi Ojudu

Nigeria’s Health Financing: Lessons From Canada’s $32.5bn Tobacco Settlement

Nepal Bloodshed: Of Nigeria’s Big Masquerades And Gọntọ By Festus Adedayo

TAGGED: Donald Trump, United States of America
INadminNG February 4, 2025 February 4, 2025
Share This Article
Facebook Twitter Whatsapp Whatsapp LinkedIn Telegram Email Print
Previous Article Year 2025 After US Aid Suspension, Tinubu’s Govt Announces N4.8bn To Support HIV Treatment In Nigeria
Next Article Proactive NOC Creates A Safeguard Commission
about us

Independent News Express (iNews Express), a publication of 4Ds Nigeria Limited, is birthed out of the desires of the founding fathers to report News as it is.

We value Professionalism, Excellence, Service, Creativity and Integrity.

The Company

  • Home
  • About Us
  • Contact Us
  • Privacy & Policy

Quick Links

  • Advertise with us
  • Newsletters
  • Deal

Categories

Find Us on Socials

© Independent News Express. All Rights Reserved.
Welcome Back!

Sign in to your account

Lost your password?