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U.S. hegemonic, domineering, bullying practices exerting grave harm

Published

4 years ago

February 26, 2023

By Zhong Sheng, People’s Daily

As the world’s most powerful country, the United States has long been pursuing, maintaining and abusing hegemony under the guise of promoting “democracy,” “freedom,” “human rights” and upholding a “rule-based international order.”

Clinging to the Cold-War mentality, the country has ramped up bloc politics, provoked conflict and confrontation, arbitrarily imposed unilateral sanctions, grossly interfered in other countries’ internal affairs, advanced in infiltration and subversion and willfully waged wars.

The notorious record of the U.S. in the political, military, economic, financial, technological and cultural fields, seriously threatens world peace and stability, and the well-being of all peoples.

Recently, the indifference of U.S. hegemony was once again exposed as Syrian people, who have been severely impacted by deadly earthquakes, failed to receive timely assistance due to U.S. sanctions.

To maintain its hegemony, the U.S. has long been attempting to mold other countries with its own values and political system.

In the name of “promoting democracy,” it has pushed for the “Neo-Monroe Doctrine” in Latin America, instigated “color revolutions” in Eurasia, and orchestrated the “Arab Spring” in West Asia and North Africa, bringing chaos and disaster to many countries.

Over the recent years, it fabricated a false narrative of “democracy versus authoritarianism,” assembled a so-called “value alliance,” and formed exclusive clubs. Such hegemonic practices have created division in regions, stoked confrontation and undermined peace.

The high military spending for long and wanton use of force have indicated the U.S. military hegemony.

The U.S. has about 800 overseas military bases, with 173,000 troops deployed in 159 countries. According to a Tufts University report, the U.S. undertook nearly 400 military interventions globally between 1776 and 2019.

The U.S. military hegemony has led to humanitarian tragedies around the world.

The wars and military operations launched by the country in the name of fighting terrorism have claimed over 900,000 lives. The U.S. has created 37 million refugees around the world. More than 10 million Afghans were displaced. It has also left Libya in incessant civil unrest.

Looting and exploitation with its economic hegemony is a customary trick of the U.S.

By taking advantage of the dollar’s status as the major international reserve currency, it is basically collecting “seigniorage” from around the world. It costs only about 17 cents to produce a 100-dollar bill, but other countries had to pony up 100 dollars of actual goods in order to obtain one.

During the COVID-19 pandemic, the U.S. abused its global financial hegemony and injected trillions of dollars into the global market, leaving other countries, especially emerging economies, to pay the price.

With its control over international economic and financial organizations, the U.S. imposes additional conditions to their assistance to other countries. In order to reduce obstacles to U.S. capital inflow and speculation, the recipient countries are required to make their economic policies fall in line with America’s strategy.

The United States also suppresses its opponents with economic coercion, doubling down on unilateral sanctions and “long-arm jurisdiction.”

So far, the U.S. had or has imposed economic sanctions on nearly 40 countries across the world, affecting nearly half of the world’s population. Its economic and financial hegemony has completely become a geopolitical weapon.

The U.S. seeks to deter other countries’ scientific, technological and economic development by wielding monopoly power, suppression measures and technology restrictions in high-tech fields.

It monopolizes intellectual property in the name of protection. Overstretching the concept of national security, the U.S. mobilized state power to suppress and sanction enterprises of other countries. It weaponizes technological issues and uses them as ideological tools.

The U.S. has put “democracy” and “human rights” labels on high-technology, so as to fabricate excuses for its technological blockade against other countries. Besides, it also abuses its technological hegemony by carrying out cyber attacks and eavesdropping.

The U.S. worships hegemonic, domineering and bullying practices, and has long left behind fair competition and win-win cooperation.

Just as French entrepreneur Marc Lassus said in his book The Chip Trap, the U.S. values of the so-called “free market” and “full competition” are pure hypocrisy.

The U.S. has often used cultural tools to strengthen and maintain its hegemony in the world. William Blum, an American expert on U.S. foreign policy, once described ideology as a major force fueling the U.S. ambitions to rule the world.

American values and lifestyle are a tied product to its movies and TV shows, publications, media content, and programs. The country thus shapes a cultural and public opinion space in which American culture reigns and maintains cultural hegemony.

It also pours staggering amounts of public funds into radio and TV networks to support their ideological infiltration. U.S.-dominated Western media has a particularly important role in shaping global public opinion.

The U.S. uses misinformation as a spear to attack other countries, and has built an industrial chain around it: there are groups and individuals making up stories, and peddling them worldwide to mislead public opinion with the support of nearly limitless financial resources.

While a just cause wins its champion wide support, an unjust one condemns its pursuer to be an outcast. The hegemonic, domineering, and bullying practices of using strength to intimidate the weak, taking from others by force and subterfuge, and playing zero-sum games are exerting grave harm. Such practices have drawn growing, intense criticism and opposition from the international community.

The country must critically examine what it has done, let go of its arrogance and prejudice, and quit its hegemonic, domineering and bullying practices.

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Fuel Price May Hit ₦5,000 Per Litre Under Tinubu — Atiku Warns

Published

1 minute ago

September 17, 2026

Our Reporter

By Fabian Apechihin

Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar has warned that petrol prices could rise to ₦5,000 per litre under President Bola Tinubu’s administration if the government fails to address concerns surrounding oil revenues and public spending.

Atiku raised the alarm through his Senior Special Assistant on Public Communication, Phrank Shaibu, following the latest petrol price increase.

He questioned why Nigerians were paying as much as ₦1,470 per litre when crude oil was trading at approximately $102.52 per barrel.

“With crude oil around $102.52 per barrel, Nigerians are paying as much as N1,470 per litre. In 2008, when crude oil reached about $147 per barrel, petrol sold at N65 per litre under the Yar’Adua administration,” Atiku said.

The former vice president called for a reconciliation of oil revenues and deductions from 2023 to date, arguing that Nigerians should be able to establish how much revenue was generated, what deductions were made before distribution and where the funds eventually went.

“Nigerians deserve accounts they can interrogate, not accounting labels designed to discourage questions,” he said.

Atiku also questioned the use of funds saved following the removal of the petrol subsidy, recalling the government’s earlier assurances that the savings would create room for increased investment in education, healthcare and infrastructure.

“After all the pain imposed on Nigerians, they have a right to ask: where are the subsidy savings and where is the money?” he asked.

He further called for scrutiny of financial transactions involving the Renewed Hope Infrastructure Development Fund, OML 143, oil production revenues and the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited’s international liquefied natural gas trading operations.

“These allegations are too serious to be answered with press statements and political insults. Every barrel can be measured, every cargo identified and every legitimate payment traced,” Atiku said.

The former vice president’s remarks come amid continuing public debate over petrol pricing, oil revenue management and the economic impact of subsidy removal on Nigerians.

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2027: Atiku Hosts Aisha Buhari in Abuja Amid Political Realignment

Published

7 minutes ago

September 17, 2026

Our Reporter

Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar on Wednesday hosted the former First Lady, Aisha Buhari, in Abuja, in a meeting that has attracted attention amid growing political realignments ahead of the 2027 general elections.

Neither Atiku nor Aisha publicly disclosed details of their discussions or indicated whether the meeting centred on political matters.

The meeting comes against the backdrop of renewed interest in the Buhari family’s political influence, particularly in Katsina State.

In May, Yusuf Buhari, son of the late former President Muhammadu Buhari, won the All Progressives Congress (APC) primary for the Sandamu/Daura/Mai’adua Federal Constituency seat in Katsina State. He secured 6,386 votes, defeating Auwal Daura, who polled 322 votes.

The outcome generated considerable interest within political circles in the Daura axis, where the Buhari family has maintained a strong political presence.

Aisha Buhari has also remained active in promoting the legacy of her late husband, who died in London on July 13, 2025.

In July, she described education and human capital development as among Muhammadu Buhari’s most important legacies while speaking at the groundbreaking ceremony for a Computer Science Complex at Al-Qalam University, Katsina.

The project is being financed with proceeds from the book From Soldier to Statesman: The Legacy of Muhammadu Buhari, which chronicles the former president’s life and public service.

Aisha said the initiative was aimed at preserving Buhari’s legacy through investment in education, knowledge and innovation rather than through the construction of monuments.

Although the purpose and outcome of Wednesday’s meeting between Atiku and Aisha were not publicly disclosed, the encounter has drawn attention as political actors and groups continue to position themselves ahead of the 2027 elections.

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2027: VP Shettima Urges Politicians To Play Politics without Bitterness

Published

57 minutes ago

September 17, 2026

Our Reporter

As Gov AbdulRazaq Is Turbaned As Sadauna Of Ilorin Emirate

Stephen Olufemi Oni, Ilorin

Vice President Kashim Shettima has stressed the need for politicians to embrace one another, play politics without bitterness and according to the rules in order to ensure an astronomical growth and development for the country.

Shettima made the appeal on Wednesday in Ilorin, the Kwara State capital, at the turbaning of Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq as the Sardauna of Ilorin Emirate by the Emir of Ilorin, Alhaji Ibrahim Sulu-Gambari, while admonishing
Nigerians to serve with humility, do good to one another and have forgiving spirit, as they, according to him, would spend more time after office.

He added: “Power is given by God to the people He so wishes and not because we are better than others. I, therefore, call on all politicians to unite themselves as one family despite their political differences.

“Take a cue from President Bola Ahmed Tinubu that I serve as his assistant. He is a good and decent man who has the love and interest of Nigerians at heart.”

Shettima explained that when they assumed office in 2023, the economy of the country was at the brink of collapse, but President Tinubu refused to pass blame; with courage he accepted both the assets and liabilities and moved on.

He further disclosed that during the 2023 electioneering campaign, only six out of the 19 northern governors supported Tinubu’s presidential aspiration, based on the erroneous belief that Baba (Buhari) didn’t like him, adding: “But today the President has embraced everybody as his own and things are going on well”.

He added: “President Bola Ahmed Tinubu is a good man by all standard; he believes in the people that work with him.”

Shettima also thanked the Emir of Ilorin for the honour done to Governor AbdulRazaq, which , he noted, was based on his contributions to the development of the Ilorin Emirate and the State at large, adding that “the father of the Governor had planted a solid footprint in the Ilorin Emirate and by extension Nigeria as a whole”.

Shettima, who expressed optimism that this new chapter would create a stronger bond between the Emirate and the family of Governor AbdulRazaq, urged the people to continue to pray for the progress and development of the Emirate and the State as a whole.

He commended Governor AbdulRazaq for his efforts in the massive improvement on infrastructure to assist the people of the State, as well as for his
contributions to the actualisation of policies and programmes of government at the federal level towards providing succour to average Nigerians.

In his remarks, the Matawaliof Ilorin Emirate, Dr.Alimi AbdulRazaq, said the title of Sardauna bestowed on the Governor was well deserved, thanking the Emir of Ilorin for finding the Governor worthy of the noble recognition by the Emirate.

Dr,Alimi urged the Governor to see the tittle as a clarion call to provide more dividends of democracy to the nooks and crannies of the State.

The turbaning ceremony witnessed large turnout of dignitaries, including the Governor of Niger state, Umar Bago, Governor of Kaduna state, Senator Uba Sani, Governor of Imo State ,Hope Uzodinma, and Governors of Kebbi ,Katsina States.

Others are the Emir of Zazzau Emirate, Ambassador Ahmed Nuhu Bamali, the Deputy Governors of Sokoto, Anambra, Nasarawa, Delta, Ondo, and Oyo States.