From @Mike Arnold
Tinubu is a crook. I don’t trust anything he says or does. And Trump is surrounded by conflicted advisers. So when I heard about this “mineral deal,” I was highly skeptical. But I dug into it—and it may actually be a very good thing for the people.
The announced deal is an investment framework—not a handover of even one ounce of Nigeria’s gold or lithium to Trump. America doesn’t get rights to the wealth underground. Instead, we get the opportunity to invest.
From everything that we know about the deal, the purpose is to secure American capital, equipment and expertise to build a native industry that processes minerals IN NIGERIA and creates JOBS FOR NIGERIANS. That is economic development. That is what Nigeria needs — and it’s what the looting Chinese will NEVER provide.
Here’s the part people are missing: the BLOOD MINERAL trade. The Smith/Moore Nigeria bill specifically targets illegal Chinese mining operations paying protection money to Fulani militias. Mineral looting is a security issue. It helps finance the massacres, rape, slavery, destruction and displacement. A deal like this is a step towards ENDING that. Good!
Properly regulated investment is a way to attack that blood mineral trade—and give America a direct national interest in helping stop it, which is necessary for an “America First” president.
Don’t trust Tinubu. But I haven’t found evidence that this in any way enriches him or Trump or translates to burying his DEA files. I see is as an opportunity to turn stolen wealth into Nigerian livelihoods and security.
Now we need to stay vigilant and watch who gets the contracts, who gets the jobs, and whether the blood money river to the jihadis and corruptucrats is cut off. That’s what matters. And it’s where Tinubu can still get his grubby hands on more of the wealth of the nation while leaving the people starving. We will keep watching!
#EarthShaker
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