President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, Muhammadu Buhari (GCFR) has congratulated the winner of 2023 Presidential election and All progressive Congress party (APC) candidate, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu.
The president in his congratulatory message acknowledged Asiwaju Tinubu is the right person to lead the nation as reflected in the results of the presidential election, having polled a total of 8,794,726 votes to defeat his closest challenger Alhaji Atiku Abubakar of People’s Democratic Party (PDP) who polled a total of 6,984,520 votes and the second runner up, Peter Obi of the Labour Party (LP) who polled a total number of 6,101,533 votes, with the Candidate of New Nigeria People’s Party (NNPP) Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso coming in 4th position polling a total number of 1,496,687 votes.
President Buhari expressed gladness in the electoral process, saying Nigeria’s democracy keeps growing and the election demonstrates our democracy’s continued relevance and capability to deliver the best globally accepted type of government.
The president in his message described the recently concluded election as competitive, which once again has proven the beauty of democracy.
He enjoined people of Nigeria, political players and actors to come together now, as it is time to act responsibly and with caution.
Applauding the credibility of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), the president warned all parties and lovers of democracy not to undermine the commission.
Hearty congratulations to Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu and his All Progressive Congress party (APC), on his success at the polls as president-elect of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.
We also commend and congratulate the people of Nigeria on the relatively peaceful conduct of the elections.
We wish Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu and the people of Nigeria the best and a continued strengthening of the core institutions of Nigeria’s democracy, uniting the country, bringing all Nigerians together to move the nation forward and implementing the progressive policies and reforms needed for a prosperous nation.
Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, President-elect Federal Republic of Nigeria
We commend the non partisan efforts of President Muhammadu Buhari, ensuring a free and fair election that eventually represents the will of the Nigerian people. The man of the moment and unsung hero of this election, Prof. Mahmood Yakubu, Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) we thank you specially for a job well done.
29th of May shall yet be another win for democracy in the history of our great nation.
Congratulations to the people of Nigeria and the President-elect Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu.
What is JAPA? Japa is a slang/ lingo in Nigeria. It is a combination of two (2) Yoruba words; Ja (Escape/Run)+ Pa (faraway), Japa simply means to ‘Run Faraway’.
Yoruba language is the indigenous language of the Yoruba tribe of south western Nigeria. The word Japa is more than a tribal lingo, it is a national slang to express interest in running or moving away, among the Nigerian people.
The word Japa became a relevant street lingo in Nigeria to communicate intentions of leaving a place or running for safety when Nigeria afro pop singer Naira Marley released his hit single JAPA in 2018, a self explanatory song about how he is being chased by the police but he won’t stop rather he will “Japa” to London, Canada and the song goes on.
Ever since the release of the song in 2018, Japa became the lingo to communicate intentions of moving away or running from something.
But today in Nigeria, the word Japa is more than just a lingo, it is a syndrome turning gradually into an epidemic. The majority of the Nigerian people especially the youths are of the opinion that the living condition in the country is not good enough and thus the conclusion by many that leaving the country in search of a better life is the solution.
No one is saying the Japa mentality is not a good one, at least before anyone could reach such a conclusion they must have weighed their options carefully before deciding to Japa
But the concern here is why do we have so many people willing to Japa from the country? Considering the reality of the nation, majority of the people hoping to one day Japa have seen how the lives of their relatives and friends that have been able to Japa got better over time.
Things are not so impressive in the country but still, it is not entirely bad, there is a vast majority of people doing the most with the harsh reality and having a moderately good life in the country.
The situation when carefully looked into is that of a coin;
This article is not to convince anyone otherwise, it is about the new trend in our society, from careful observation many people now see Japa as the solution to the reality the nation find itself.
The solution/ cure to the Japa syndrome is what we hope to see soon before capable minds and able bodied Nigerians that the country needs to be industrious and productive all decide to Japa.
Experts have said we are living in the information age, information today is communicated in different languages and conveyed through various mediums. It is knowledge communicated and received through several mediums of dissemination.
There are several means of information dissemination, our focus for the sake of this discussion is social media as a means of disseminating or/and communicating, the impact of social media in our society and the influence/power of social media as a tool of communication among the youths.
We will examine the role of social media as a digital platform for youths to communicate and receive information as Nigeria heads to the polls in 2023.
The 2023 elections in Nigeria will no doubt be highly influenced by the youths, thanks to the various social media platforms on which information is not only conveyed and received but readily available.
Nigerian youths represents about 79% of the total registered voting population. About 40% of this figure are active on social media. It is no surprise that more than 50% of the total registered voting population in the country are youths.
The reason for this as monitored by BlogSpotMedia on various social media platforms is the awareness among the youths that ‘there is no polling unit on social media’ except the numerous discussions about the 2023 election is all a clout, yet social media has provided the needed platform for youths across the country to congregate, share opinions and important information such as the fact that only with a permanent voters card (PVC) will they be able to exercise their rights to choose and decide who leads the country.
Without doubt, social media has greatly influenced the registered number of youths that will vote in 2023.
The increasing rate of unemployment, crime rate and low minimum wage is synonymous but not limited to the youths. The frustration of the youths who felt they have been marginalized in a way or the other is evidenced in discussions across social media platforms, discussions about how the youths can secure a better future for themselves. Most of what is being discussed among youths on social media is how the government has failed them and why they won’t hesitate to exercise their voting right to vote in a candidate they feel will do the most for the nation, especially the youths.
It is important to note that the issue of unemployment, crime and low minimum wage in the country is a recurring one which every government in Nigeria in the past have had to struggle to curtail.
The country is at a point where the real issues have to be separated from the distractions if the electorates/ youths will effect any meaningful/ positive change with the ballot in 2023. Thankfully, social media has offered a leverage for youths to connect and share information that will shape their future by the decisions they make with the ballot.
The real issues are; who is capable of managing a delicate economy towards prosperity? which of the candidates can the people trust to formulate and implement policies that will boost the economy? who will reform the education sector? who is that man that will innovate and create lasting jobs for the unemployed youths? and most importantly which of the candidates is capable of managing a very limited resources to do the most in a period of 4 years without excessive loans in a country with overstretched debt profile? Who will be able to set the stage and forge a new path to prosperity for the country?
The answer to these questions is within the Nigerian youths whom with the ballot can decide who is right to lead the nation to the desired path.
Nigeria is getting closer to another critical and important moment of deciding who among a list of presidential hopefuls to vote into Aso Rock (The Presidential Villa) for yet another four years of unpredictable future.
The list of presidential hopefuls have featured familiar politicians in the country. Some aspirants have been on the ballot in past elections contesting for the office of the president, these politicians are relentless in their quest to be the next occupants of Aso Rock after the second tenure of President Muhammadu Buhari.
The list of presidential hopefuls have also featured politicians that even though they are contesting the presidency for the first time, they are gladiators with history in the political system of the country.
Mr. Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso – New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP)
With qualities and characters of aspirants varying from one another, their achievements in the political landscape of the country as well as their impact in nation building varies just like their individual political ideology.
The question on discerning minds is not who will eventually win but who is the right man for the job?
Major Hamza Al-Mustapha (retd.)- Action Alliance (AA)
Research has proven that knowing the right thing to do at the right time will help anyone make an informed decision void of regrets.
Asiwaju Bola Tinubu – All Progressive Congress (APC)
In a country of over 200 million people that have never had a government they voted into office fulfilling their expectations of a better and improved welfare for the country and its people, how then is 2023 going to be different?
These questions and many others alike should be the concern of the electorates before heading to the polls in 2023.
There have been those among the electorates that are not so optimistic about the election stating their reasons to be a loss of confidence in the electoral process and some have said their reason for not being so optimistic about 2023 election is the imbalance in the process leading to the emergence of some candidates as presidential flag bearer of their parties.
Omoyele Sowore – Africa Action Congress (AAC)
Professor Peter Umeadi – All Progressive Grand Alliance (APGA).
Mr Kola Abiola – Peoples Redemption Party (PRP)
It is general knowledge that political parties in Nigeria conduct primary elections within their respective parties, among aspirants that have showed interest in becoming the flag bearer of the party at various levels.
There have been claims during presidential primary election of some political parties that candidates that emerge as the flag bearer to contest the presidential election have emerged based on monetary inducements at the primaries.
Prince Malik Ado-Ibrahim – Young Progressive Party (YPP)
Prince Adewole Adebayo – Social Democratic Party (SDP
Professor Christopher Imumolen – Accord Party (AP)
Now, these are mere accusations as no one is able to provide substantial evidence to back the claim of monetary inducements by aspirants during the presidential primary elections of some political parties. But lack of evidence does not invalidate the reasons some electorates are not so optimistic about 2023 election in Nigeria.
Dumebi Kachikwu – African Democratic Congress (ADC)
Mr Peter Obi – Labour Party (LP)
Elections over the years in Nigeria have been marred with so much irregularities and the electorates are right for stating the obvious.
Alhaji Atiku Abubakar – Peoples’ Democratic Party (PDP)
Will these awareness of the electorates about the electoral system shape the outcome of the 2023 presidential election for good or is it just awareness and nothing more?
How then will the knowledge of past elections and reports of irregularities leading to 2023 presidential election influence the electorates decision at the polls?
BlogSpotMedia 