High sulphur contents: Regulators undermining the market, instead of safeguarding it – Dangote
Admin
President of Dangote Group, Aliko Dangote, has advised regulators of Petroleum Refinery & Petrochemical products to safeguard the market rather than undermining it.
The Africa richest man stated that dubious certifications accompany the importation of high-sulphur diesel into Nigeria, causing both health risks and financial losses for Nigerians.
Dangote who disclosed this during the weekend was reacting to the statement credited to the Authority Chief Executive, Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority, Engr. Farouk Ahmed.
Engr. Farouk had alleged that Dangote refinery and other modular refineries like Waltersmith and Aradel produced diesel with high sulphur contents.
However, in a riposte Dangote opined: “We produce the best diesel in Nigeria. It’s disheartening that instead of safeguarding the market, the regulator is undermining it. Our doors are open for the regulator to conduct tests on our products anytime; transparency is paramount to us. It would be beneficial for the regulator to showcase its laboratory to the world so Nigerians can compare. Our interest is Nigeria first because if Nigeria doesn’t grow, we have limited capacity for growth.
“Right Honourable Speaker and esteemed members; you’ve witnessed the results of the credibility test. I appreciate your wise counsel in procuring samples from the filling stations alongside our refinery’s product. Ours shows sulphur content of 87.6 ppm, approximately 88, whereas the others exceeded 1,800 ppm.
“Although the NMDPRA permits local refiners to produce diesel with sulphur content up to 650 ppm until January 2025, as approved by ECOWAS, ours is significantly lower. Next week, we aim to achieve 10 ppm, aligning with the Euro V standard. Imported diesel is capped at 50 ppm, but as you’ve seen, those from the stations, imported by major marketers, fall well outside this standard.
“Dubious certifications often accompany the importation of high-sulphur diesel into Nigeria, causing both health risks and financial losses for Nigerians.
“The best method to verify this is to purchase the product directly from filling stations where end-users obtain it. I believe Farouk Ahmed speaks without sufficient knowledge of our refinery. We have successfully exported diesel and jet fuel to Europe and Asia without any complaints; in fact, we have received repeated orders, indicating satisfaction with our products.”
Similarly, the Vice President of Gas and Oil at Dangote Industries Limited, Devakumar Edwin, informed the federal lawmakers that the Dangote Petroleum Refinery, designed to process a wide range of crudes, including various African and Middle Eastern crudes, as well as US Light Tight Oil, conforms to Euro V specifications.
Noting that products from the $20 billion facility are of high quality and meet international standards, Edwin said it can meet 100% of Nigeria’s demand for petrol, diesel, kerosene, and aviation Jet, with surpluses available for export.
On his part, the Group’s Vice President, Olakunle Alake, expressed disappointment over accusations of monopoly against the Dangote Group, stressing that there are multiple players in the industry, including the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC), which operates four refineries.
In his response, Rt. Hon. Abass, said: “Today’s visit to the magnificent facilities of Dangote Industries Oil Refinery section has been nothing short of enlightening. It has afforded us a rare opportunity to witness first-hand the monumental strides that your organisation has made in transforming the landscape of petroleum production in Nigeria. The sheer scale and sophistication of this facility are awe-inspiring; it stands as a beacon of hope for our country as we navigate through the turbulent waters of energy supply challenges.
“Each corner of this facility resonates with the echoes of hard work, dedication, and an unyielding pursuit of quality. Every drop produced here carries not just oil but also the hopes and dreams of millions who yearn for a brighter future. We are deeply impressed by what we have seen during this visit which confirms the rating of this industry as the single largest oil refinery in Africa. This remarkable achievement does not merely reflect corporate success; it symbolises national pride, a tribute to what can be accompanied when visionary leadership meets relentless determination.
“I would like to take this opportunity to acknowledge the myriad challenges that have beset this remarkable facility. The regulatory hurdles that often loom like dark clouds over progress, the complexities surrounding crude oil supplies that can stifle even the most ambitious endeavours, and the daunting economic landscape we navigate especially in these times when our economy grapples with foreign exchange constraints are all formidable adversaries. Yet, despite these tribulations, your unwavering commitment to excellence shines through.”
Arike Ogunbowale, the American basketball player of Nigerian descent, was voted the most valuable player (MVP) of the 2024 WNBA all-star game following her team WNBA 117 – 109 victory over Team USA at Footprint Center, Phoenix, in the early hours of Sunday.
Ogunbowale had zero points in the first half before posting a record 34 points in the second half of the keenly contested encounter against the Olympics-bound Team USA.
The Dallas Wings sharpshooter converted eight of 13 three-pointers en route to the MVP award; the second after claiming her first honour in 2021.
Her latest MVP award sees her join the trio of Lisa Leslie, Maya Moore, and Swin Cash as the only players with multiple MVPs in the all-star games.
Ogunbowale scored 21 points in the third quarter — which is the most points in a single quarter in WNBA all-star game history.
She also added five assists in a blistering second-half performance.
Speaking after the match, Ogunbowale said an inspiring half-time team talk by coach Cheryl Miller was the catalyst for her record-breaking performance.
“I wasn’t expecting her [coach Miller] to say my name. She just told me to take a deep breath and play my game,” she said.
“I guess you guys saw what happened.”
Ogunbowale has always finished as a top-five shooter in the WNBA since her draft pick to the Dallas Wings in 2019. She has featured in over 180 games in her five-year WNBA history.
WHO IS ARIKE OGUNBOWALE?
Arike was born to Nigerian parents Yolanda and Gregory Ogunbowale on March 2, 1997, in Milwaukee, the United States. The 27-year-old is the youngest of three children.
The basketball star is of Yoruba descent and her name means “a child you treasure, cherish, pamper, and love” in the Yoruba language. Her father served in the Nigerian military.
[TheCable]
Refinery: Dangote now feels what Nigerians with no government connections have gone through in doing business—Aisha Yesufu
AFOLABI
A social and political critic, Aisha Yesufu has said that Nigeria kills its own.
While appealing that the Dangote Refinery not be allowed to fail, Yesufu urged all hands to be on deck to ensure it succeeds.
Her statement comes after the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority said the Dangote refinery has not been licensed to begin operations in the country.
Farouk Ahmed, the Chief Executive Officer of NMDPRA, had made the claims during a chat with journalists at the State House, Abuja on Thursday.
Ahmed revealed that the refinery was still in the pre-commissioning stage and had not been licensed yet, noting that there were concerns about the quality of petroleum products produced by the Dangote refinery.
He had alleged that the quality of product churned out from the new refinery was inferior to imported commodities.
He said, “So, in terms of quality, currently, the AGO quality in terms of sulfur is the lowest as far as a West African requirement of 50 ppm”, he said.
However, reacting to a call by an X user @Oluseun Onigbinde for the regulator to be sanctioned for the claim against the Dangote refinery, Yesufu said Nigerians should speak up.
The social critic said that Dangote now feels what Nigerian business people with no government connections feel and go through always.
She said: “Nigeria kills its own. I truly agree with you, the refinery should not fail. All hands should be on deck to ensure it succeeds.
“Alhaji Dangote @AlikoDangote now feels what Nigerian business people with no government connections have always felt and gone through.
How dreams are stolen and destroyed. Just yesterday LandMark got its share and there was silence from the business community.
“When you speak up when others are affected, it is to ensure that a stop is put to such injustice so it never gets to you.”
The Leader of INRI Evangelical Spiritual Church, Primate Elijah Ayodele has disclosed that the policies of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s administration are not friendly and fueling more economic hardship.
Primate Ayodele stated that the current government would have been the best if they listened to advice but the policies formulated so far have not been helpful to the country and her citizens.
In a statement signed by his Media Aide, Oluwatosin Osho, Ayodele said the decisions of Tinubu’s government have further destroyed the country and will likely bring more hardship and pain.
’Tinubu’s government would have been the best if they listened to advice. The government is formulating policies that have bad intentions because they are not friendly. Sending money and rice to people will further destroy the economy.
“The tax policy is not helping the country at all. There is so much wrong in the government that is yet to be explained, if care isn’t taken, this is how they will destroy the country and people will be facing more hardship and pains.’’
He advised the President to avoid being deceived by those celebrating his government because citizens are yet to experience a better economic situation where they can afford basic needs.
Ayodele said the country has resources that can help curb hardship but they are not being put to use. He urged the president to adjust his policies to become friendly.
‘’Things are not palatable; Tinubu shouldn’t be deceived by those celebrating his government. The economic policy should be adjusted and let them put things in place because people are not happy. We have resources that can help curb economic hardship but we are not using them.’’
Furthermore, Primate Ayodele mentioned that his prophecies are not to abuse the government or speak against them but to put them to work and speak truth to power.
‘’My prophecy isn’t to abuse the government or create panic but to put the government on their toes and whether they are fake or not, time will tell. The government needs to do something urgently, Tinubu should not be deceived. Economic hardship causes corruption and encourages insecurity.’’
The President of the Dangote Group has called on the House of Representatives to investigate the quality of diesel and petrol at filling stations.
Dangote made the call on Saturday when he received the leadership of the House led by Speaker Tajudeen Abbas and his deputy Benjamin Kalu.
To carry out the investigation, he urged the House to set up a committee to test products at various filling stations across the country.
Decrying the damage being done to vehicles and engines by substandard products, also called on the House to investigate the quality of laboratories being used to test imported products and compare that with the one at the Dangote Refinery.
He informed the lawmakers, who had earlier toured the refinery, that he was also open to independent testing of his refinery’s products as that would only attest to their quality while exposing the problem with some of the products being sold by other players in the sector.
The management of Dangote Refinery has complained in recent months about what they say is an attempt by international oil companies (IOCs) to sabotage the refinery. It has also decried what it says is the importation of substandard products.
In turn, the refinery has been accused of essentially pushing for a monopoly.
Dangote, however, dismissed the monopoly claims insisting that the Dangote Group did not receive any special incentive when the refinery was being built.
He also said there was no effort to prevent other players from operating.
Media
Operatives of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) have uncovered illicit substances in Lagos.
The items – consignments of Cocaine and Loud, a synthetic strain of cannabis – were concealed in incense candles, game packs, dry hibiscus leaves and ladies’, NDLEA spokesman, Femi Babafemi said.
According to a Sunday statement, the hard drugs were meant to be smuggled in and out of Nigeria through the Murtala Muhammed International Airport (MMIA).
Babafemi said some suspects were apprehended
“A businessman, Abdulwahab Owolabi Alebiosu was on Thursday 18th July 2024 arrested at his Horizon Court, Lekki, Lagos residence after a consignment of 40 parcels of Loud weighing 20.30 kilograms hidden in packs of chessboards, scrabbles, checkers, and poker set, brought in from Canada on a British Airways flight was intercepted at the SAHCO import shed of the Lagos airport during a joint examination of the cargo with men of Customs Service,” the statement read.
“A search of his home also led to the recovery of more exhibits including some drug paraphernalia, such as a weighing scale, and cannabis potency test kit, while four vaping machines were recovered from his business premises on Admiralty Way, Lekki. A Mikano black truck with registration number FST 657 HP was also recovered from his house.
“In the same vein, NDLEA operatives at the NAHCO export shed of the MMIA on Friday 19th July intercepted two jumbo bags going to Pakistan. The bags contained dried hibiscus leaves, dried bitter leaves and other food items, which were used to conceal four parcels of cocaine and 14 parcels of Loud, both weighing 1.360kg. Further investigations led to the arrest of a businesswoman, Eze Queen Ogechi who claimed she was sending the illicit consignment to Pakistan on the instruction of her brother, Eze Nnamdi Promise based in the South Asia country.
“Also at the Lagos airport, NDLEA operatives attached to Terminal II, Departure Gate of the MMIA, on Thursday 18th July intercepted a male Beninese passenger, Orobi Adoubi Amen, travelling with a bag containing some female native dresses. The suspect was going to Dubai via Accra, Ghana on an Air Peace Airline flight and a connecting flight to Dubai, UAE on Emirates Airline. A thorough search of the bag revealed eight parcels of Loud weighing 2.10kg were concealed in the ladies’ native wears. The suspect claimed he was given the consignment for a fee of N600,000 on successful delivery in Dubai.”
On his part, the NDLEA Chairman, Brigadier General Mohamed Buba Marwa (rtd) commended anti-narcotics officers for the seizures.
He said that their operational successes and those of their compatriots across the country are well appreciated, urging them not to rest on their oars but continue to intensify ongoing drug supply reduction and drug demand reduction efforts
A series of Nigerian football icons including Jay Jay Okocha, Kanu Nwankwo, and John Mikel Obi were left out of the 25 greatest African athletes of the 21st century list.
In the 25 greatest African athletes of the 21st century list released by American publication, ESPN, Ethiopia’s long-distance runner, Kenenisa Bekele is said to be the greatest athlete the continent has ever seen from the year 2000 to date, followed by a Kenya distance runner, Eliud Kipchoge.
Cameroonian football icon, Samuel Eto’o is the first footballer to appear on the list as he occupies the third spot, followed by a swimmer from Zimbabwe, Kirsty Coventry, and Ethiopian female distance runner, Tirunesh Dibaba.
Surprisingly, only five Nigerian athletes made it into the 25 greatest African athletes of the 21st century list. They are: Asisat Oshoala who is ranked 9th on the list, Israel Adesanya ranked 15, and Perpetua Nkwocha ranked 20th.
Other Nigerians on the list are: Former UFC Welterweight Champion, Kamaru Usman ranked 23rd, and New York Giants legend Osi Umenyiora ranked 24th.
To the surprise of many, in the list in which Sadio Mane, Mohamed Salah, Yaya Toure, Didier Drogba, and even Perpetual found a spot, Kanu and Obi who won everything the aforementioned players won and more, weren’t included.
Kanu won league titles in Nigeria, Netherlands (multiple times), and of course at Arsenal (twice). He also won the Champions League once with Ajax and played in the final twice. To crown it all, he won Africa its first gold in football at the Olympics (1966). Yet, he wasn’t deemed fit for a place on the list.
The same argument can be applied to Mikel Obi who also won virtually everything in both club and international football. He even won a bronze medal at the Olympics, a title other footballers who made the list can’t boast of.
Based on the key factors that were used to compile the list which includes the performance of the athletes and the number of major titles won since 2000, it is understandable that the highly skilful Jay Jay Okocha didn’t make the list but can the same be said about the exclusion of Kanu Nwankwo and John Mikel Obi?
Africa’s richest man, Aliko Dangote, has disclosed that the Federal Government did not give him any incentive to build his $20 billion refinery located at the Lekki Free Trade Zone.
He stated that he paid $100 million for the land the refinery was built on.
Dangote disclosed this on Saturday when he received the leadership of the House led by Speaker Tajudeen Abbas and his deputy Benjamin Kalu.
According to him, “In the refinery, we did not, and I repeat, we did not collect one single incentive from the Federal Government of Nigeria or even Lagos State. Yes, the Lagos State gave us a good deal but we paid $100m for the land. It wasn’t a free land; we paid for it.
“Majority of the population are with us. So, we are not discouraged, we will continue what we are doing.”
Speaking further, Dangote said the claim in some quarters that his group of companies enjoy monopoly is not true.
He said, “If you look at all our operations at Dangote (Group), we add value; we take local raw materials and turn them into products, and we sell.
“We have never consciously or unconsciously stop anybody from doing the same business that we are doing.
“When we first came into cement production, it was only Lafarge that was operating here in Nigeria…Nobody ever called Lafarge a monopoly,” he said, adding that labelling his group of companies as monopolistic is disheartening.
“Monopoly is when you stop people, you block them through legal means. No, it is a level playing field whereby whatever Dangote was given in cement, for example, other people were given because some of them even got more than us.”
The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Edo State chapter has reacted to the defection of the reinstated Deputy Governor of the state, Philip Shaibu.
Recall that Shaibu, alongside prominent members with their supporters dumped the PDP on Saturday.
The decamping took place in Benin at the inauguration of the National Campaign Council by the APC National chairman, Abdullahi Ganduje.
The deputy governor fell out with Governor Godwin Obaseki over his ambition to succeed his principal and was impeached after he lost to Asue Ighodalo in the PDP primary.
He was, however, reinstated by the court on Wednesday by the Abuja High Court and this has further caused division between Obaseki and him.
Speaking at the event, Shaibu said he was back to add value to the APC.
He said, “On behalf of the Legacy Group, I announce our movement to the APC. We have come to add value to the party.
“It is time to take back our state. We will not talk too much because action will speak for us. We are not afraid; we are ready to move forward.”
Reacting to Shaibu’s defection while speaking to Punch, the Chairman of the PDP in the state, Tony Aziegbemi wished the deputy governor well.
He claimed that those who were calling to join the party after Shaibu’s exit were more than those leaving.
He said, “I wish them good luck in their official endeavours. The PDP cannot be depleted because of this.
“Every vote counts but those who are now coming to us because of his exit are more than those who are leaving the party, so we are good. People have been calling me since he left to say they want to join our party.”
Dangote says firm will drop plan to invest in Nigeria’s steel industry to avoid monopoly allegations
Admin
The President and Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Dangote Group, Aliko Dangote, has announced that the company will abandon its plans to enter Nigeria’s steel industry to avoid being branded a monopoly.
Dangote made this disclosure in a statement on Saturday while addressing journalists at his refinery in Lagos.
The business tycoon explained that the company’s board decided to avoid the steel industry to prevent accusations of attempting to monopolize it.
Furthermore, he noted that pursuing this venture would involve encouraging the importation of raw materials from overseas, which contradicts the firm’s core mandate.
“You know, about doing a new business which we announced, that is, the steel.
“Actually, our own board has decided that we shouldn’t do the steel because if we do the steel business, we will be called all sorts of names like monopoly. And then also, imports will be encouraged. So we don’t want to go into that,” he said.
Dangote, however, urged other Nigerians to invest in the industry to help boost the country’s economy.
“Let other Nigerians go and do it. We are not the only Nigerians here. There are some Nigerians with more cash than us. They should bring that money from Dubai and other parts of the world and invest in our own fatherland,” the CEO added.
Backstory
In June, Nairametrics reported that Aliko Dangote said his company plans to delve into steel production in the near future stating that he wants to ensure that every steel used in West Africa comes from Nigeria.
He noted that the next venture after the refinery project would be in steel manufacturing and ensure that all steel products used in West Africa come from Nigeria.
“I don’t like people coming to take our solid minerals to process and bring the finished product. We should try and industrialise our continent and take it to the next level.
“I told somebody we are not going to take any break. What we are trying to do is to make sure at least in West Africa, we want to make sure that every single steel that we use will come from Nigeria”, Dangote said at that time.
What you should know
Nigeria has tried unsuccessfully to become a leader in the steel manufacturing industry with a handful of failed projects like the Ajaokuta steel plant, Delta Steel Company, Osogbo and Jos rolling mills even under government and private ownership.
Like the oil refineries, the federal government under different administrations has spent billions trying to put the local steel plants to work but has been unsuccessful.
The administration of President Bola Tinubu had promised during the campaigns to ensure steel production starts in the multi-billion-dollar Ajaokuta steel complex.
Dangote investment in the industry might have been a game changer, attracting more capital and economic opportunity to the sector.
However, with the recent revelation and decision from the African richest man, the steel industry may still linger in the shadow of underinvestment for years to come.
[Nairametrics]
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Senator Ali Ndume, lawmaker representing Borno South, is obviously not done with his criticism of President Bola Tinubu.
His criticism of the president had led to his removal as Chief Whip of the Nigerian Senate.
His party had also asked him to quit and join an opposition party of his choice.
The lawmaker had accepted his removal in good fate, vowing not to stop telling the truth to power.
During an interactive session with journalists, Ndume was asked to comment on the N70,000 minimum wage which Tinubu convinced labour to accept.
“People are suffering, people are angry, people are not happy. I am happy that yesterday, the president agreed with NLC to increase the salary to N70,000, which is a good move, but it takes more than that because, realistically, that is like a bag of rice, money that will buy a bag of rice or cover the cost of a bag of rice.”
“So, I call on the president to still open up and listen to the people,” the lawmaker said.
Earlier, the lawmaker had described his action as patriotic, advising President Tinubu to listen to the cries of Nigerians and immediately address the concerned areas.
“I insist it is unpatriotic to stand by the president in whichever or whatever he does. It is patriotic to speak the truth not only to the president but also to anybody, for that matter. It is unpatriotic not to speak the truth to power or anybody and I still stand by that. In doing so, it is also known that God is always with the person that speaks the truth.
“So, I know that I am not wrong. The people are not wrong by speaking the truth and standing by the truth, and I pray that the president, who is now – I expect that the message has gotten to him – to look at what I have said and take appropriate measures to eliminate the sufferings of the people.”
[DailyTrust]
Nigeria’s former Minister of Sports and Youth Development, Solomon Dalung has said that President Bola Tinubu and his ‘locust cabal’ love only the wealth of Nigeria.
Dalung also berated Bayo Onanuga, a presidential spokesperson, for claiming that the proposed nationwide protest against bad governance is meant to destabilize the country.
The former Minister in a post on his X handle on Saturday said that Onanuga’s statement was not only uncharitable but wicked.
According to him, “the generation of Nigerians demanding for good governance, accountability and justice are more entitled to Nigeria than the group of scavengers occupying power.”
Dalung insisted that the proposed protest is sacrosanct, saying it is to demand accountability from those who are destroying Nigeria’s common heritage.
His words: “Make no mistake about it, we love our country but @officialABAT and his locust cabal love only the wealth of Nigeria.
“The protests are to demand for accountability from those who are destroying our common heritage. Nigerians have nowhere to go but @officialABAT has France, while others have Europe, Canada and USA.
“Therefore @aonanuga1956 calling out Nigerians as those planning to destabilize Nigeria is not only uncharitable but wicked.
“The generation of Nigerians demanding for good governance, accountability and justice are more entitled to Nigeria than the group of scavengers occupying power. Take it to the bank, the protests are sacrosanct.
“Deploying antics of divide and rule will not only fail but antiquitated. The only antidote to the protests is for @officialABAT and his cult of plunderers to surrender to the demands of the people.
“The fear of the protests degenerating into anarchy is evil imaginations of your mind calculated at abating holding the government responsible. All we are demanding is good governance, which is not too much.”
[DailyPost]
Wife of former President, Chief (Mrs) Bola Obasanjo has urged parents and guardians to invest in the future of their children by giving them quality education at all levels to enhance their chances of being useful to themselves and society.
Mrs. Obasanjo said that given the current challenging times, parents and guardians should be more strategic in spending and set priorities right to make the task of educating their children and wards feasible and less burdensome, stressing that if the plans to buy the next cars or build a second house could stand in the way of children’s education, they should not hesitate to jettison such plans.
She advised at the weekend during the 12th Anniversary and Graduation Ceremony of Lyceum Schools with the theme “Global Reach Within Local Realities” held at Olusegun Obasanjo Presidential Library (OOPL) Abeokuta, the Ogun State.
Obasanjo, who praised the parents and guardians for sending their children to Lyceum schools despite the rising cost of living, charged them not to relent in their efforts as they would reap the fruit of their labours in life
She also urged Nigerian parents and guardians not to use the current hardships in the country as an excuse to remove their children from schools, expressing the hope that things would get better if they don’t give up on them
“Whatever education we give to our children, it is our backbone and we need to lift them. We should invest in their future with this economy and not in building houses and buying cars. May Almighty God lift their hands and continue to provide and bless their parents,” Obasanjo noted.
Head of Schools, Mrs Maureen Ola-Williams admonished parents and guardians to teach the children to be respectful to teachers and their elders in the society as well as having good characters that would guide their paths to a better tomorrow.
[TheNation]
Donald Trump commanded the stage for nearly two hours Saturday in his first rally since a gunman tried to kill him last week, with a fiery, rambling speech to thousands of passionate supporters.
Here are five takeaways from the vision painted by the Republican presidential nominee for the United States:
‘Shoveling ballots into wheelbarrows’ –
Last week’s Republican National Convention notably downplayed Trump’s persistent lie that the 2020 election, which he lost to Democrat Joe Biden, was stolen from him.
Mohbad's father appeals for Nigerians' help in unraveling cause of son's death
But when Trump returned to the campaign trail Saturday night he did not hold back.
“The Radical Left Democrats rigged the presidential election in 2020 and we’re not going to allow them to rig the presidential election in 2024,” he said, in just one of his references to voter fraud.
“We want a landslide that is too big to rig,” he added later.
He warned those who voted early to “follow your vote” and insisted that 2020 saw some states “shoveling ballots into wheelbarrows, moving them around.”
And the crowd cheered as he called on them to “Fight, fight, fight.”
That evoked both the moments after his attempted assassination last Saturday — when, bloodied and surrounded by Secret Service agents, he raised a fist in the air and shouted “fight” — and his comments before the 2021 Capitol riot, when he warned supporters “if you don’t fight like hell, you’re not going to have a country anymore.”
‘I’m not an extremist at all’ –
Trump also again disavowed Project 2025, a shadow manifesto characterized by opponents as an authoritarian, right-wing wish list.
“The other side is going around trying to make me sound extreme … I’m not an extremist at all,” he complained.
The sweeping blueprint from the hardline Heritage Foundation to remake the federal government in Trump’s image was created by “the radical right… they’re seriously extreme,” he said, insisting “I don’t know what the hell it is.”
The official Republican platform ratified at the Milwaukee convention is less conservative than Project 2025 in several areas, including abortion and entitlements.
But many of the more extreme proposals in the Heritage Foundation handbook are indistinguishable from Trump’s remarks at his rallies and his own video statements, while Democrats say members of his inner circle have been linked to it.
Still Trump insisted the idea that he is a “threat to democracy” is “misinformation.”
“Last week, I took a bullet for democracy,” he said.
-‘Stupid’ Biden –
Trump also laid in to the crisis engulfing rival Biden’s candidacy, as Democrats fearing that at 81 the president is too old to serve for another four years pressure him to step off the ticket.
“They have no idea who they candidate is … Sort of interesting, this guy goes and he gets the votes and now they want to take it away. That’s democracy,” Trump said in Michigan.
Former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, he said, had turned on the president “like a dog.”
Branding Biden “stupid” and “a low-IQ individual,” he also denigrated Vice President Kamala Harris — who, if the president steps aside, is in a strong position to take over — as “crazy.”
Trump again touted his relationships with autocrats around the globe, insisting of North Korean dictator Kim Jong-Un that getting along had made the United States safer.
“All he wants to do is buy nuclear weapons and make them,” he said of Kim.
“I said, just relax, chill. You’ve got enough. You got, you got so much nuclear weapons, so much, I said, just relax… let’s go to a baseball game.”
He called Hungarian President Viktor Orban a “very powerful leader” and again insisted that, had he been US leader, President Vladimir Putin of Russia would never have invaded Ukraine in 2022.
And he said he received a “beautiful note” after the assassination attempt from President Xi Jinping of China, calling him a “great guy.”
He said he had told reporters that Xi was “a brilliant man. He controls 1.4 billion people with an iron fist.”
– ‘Migrant crime’ –
Trump also unleashed a litany of threats against illegal migrants, decrying an “invasion” over the US border and again suggesting that Democrats were allowing it to happen in hope of using their votes.
On day one of his return to the Oval Office, he promised to launch “largest deportation operation in the history of our country.
“When I return to the White House, we will stop the plunder, rape, slaughter and destruction of our American suburb cities,” he continued.
“We’re going to get the bad ones out. We’re going to get them out immediately. It’s not going to take long.”
He promised to “crush migrant crime” and complained that countries such as Venezuela are “dumping their criminals into the United States of America, and we’re not going to take it anymore.”
AFP