By Emeka Okonkwo
Abuja
— UNITED States President, Donald Trump, has come under criticism for
alleging Nigerians were to blame for the prevalence of HIV/AIDS in his
country.
The controversial
politician who came to power in 2016 has been quoted as saying 40 000
Nigerian nationals, alongside an almost equal number of Haitians had
come to the US and spread the ailment.
Francis John, Hope
for Africa executive director, demanded that Trump provided verifiable
facts and figures to back his statement.
"Otherwise, it may
be correct to diffuse his statements as follows... did he rush and sleep
with a Nigerian woman and contracted AIDS to prove 40 000 had come from
Nigeria with AIDS?" John questioned.
The human rights
advocate was speaking with CAJ News from Kansas City, Missouri in the
US. More than 1 million people in the US are living with HIV.
John pointed out it was not the first time Trump has stereotyped Nigerians and Africans.
In 2015, he was quoted as basting Africans as "very lazy and good at sex and theft."
"Whatever comes out
of his lips regarding blacks and Nigerians will be intercepted
proactively, with immediate response, until otherwise President Trump
lets go of Nigerians," John said.
John criticised the silence by the Nigerian embassies overseas each time such utterances were made.
"Once beaten twice
shy. It is time Nigerians overseas to join forces, identify ourselves,
collectively reinvent our unity, imbibe speaking up to any uncategorical
proclamations because no embassy will speak for us," he urged.
The White House has denied Trump made the statements about Nigerians and AIDS.
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