Nigerian youths have taken to social media to air their disapproval of the announcement of Bola Ahmed Tinubu as the president-elect after winning the recently concluded 2023 presidential election.
On Wednesday, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) announced the All Progressive Congress (APC) flagbearer, Bola Ahmed Tinubu as the winner of the zenith position in the country.
Prior to the official announcement on Wednesday morning, the process had been met with mixed reactions from most youths and pundits in the country; several commentators claiming the voting process was marred with several irregularities and falsification of results.
Despite immense support for the presidential candidate of Labour Party, Peter Obi, he was unable to achieve his objective of becoming the leader of a supposed ‘new Nigeria’.
Much to the disappointment of of numerous young individuals who are aspiring for a powershift from the APC-PDP duopoly; they would have to await another election and hope for the pendulum finally swings toward their direction.
In the meantime, Nigerian youths have resorted o social media to express their grievances through publication of memes and other jocular means.
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It’s a coping mechanism to accept their latest fate.
In this article, we would be dissecting the animosity the youths bare towards the ruling party and why they are not embracing the incoming president, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu with open arms.
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Who Gave The Order?
On Tuesday, October 20, 2020, several young individuals who were at the Lekki Tollgate, Lagos state during the #EndSARS protest were massacred by armed military personnel. It was a moment that proved significant in modern history, especially in sparking the interest of the ‘future’ leaders in the decision making process of the country.
On this day, the people realized that the ruling government predominantly see them as member of a statistics and not necessarily citizens of a country that have a right to protection, provision and a clamour for a more productive economy.
It t was a gloomy period and would forever be.
A period that transitioned the perception of young individuals about the rulers of the nation, ruling party and the former governor of Lagos state (and now president-elect), Bola Ahmed Tinubu.
Tinubu Justifies Massacre Of #EndSARS protesters
The former Lagos state governor was vocal about the use of force to end the #ENDSARS protest in 2020.
Tinubu, who has on several occasions denied sponsoring the protest, said the youth must end the action now and “also be careful not to fritter away such gains due to lack of moderation and strategic thinking”.
Speaking about the protest, he said, “The protesters have made considerable gains within a very short period. But they should also be careful not to fritter away such gains due to lack of moderation and strategic thinking.
He continued,
For instance, it is unfortunate that hoodlums, thugs and assorted criminals have seized on the protests to perpetrate violence, disrupt civil life and harass, intimidate and assault innocent persons going about their lawful business.
He added,
The intent of the organisers of the protests is to achieve stated objectives on police reform, which the government has in principle accepted. It can certainly not be their motive to cause generalised anarchy or effect regime change.
If they give the impression that that is their goal, then any government will necessarily have to act with the requisite decisiveness and force to restore law and order and preserve constitutional rule.
He went forward to say,
However, the protesters must be careful not to set the stage for the erosion or destruction of the same democratic process that gives them the freedom and right to protest in the first place.
Let me commend all our religious leaders, Christians and Muslims for their patriotism and high sense of responsibility at this sensitive time. I appeal to them to call on their teeming followers to call off the protests for now and give peace a chance.
Finally, I also strongly appeal to the protesters — you have made your point. Government has made its commitment to you. Please, please and please, call off the protests. Give government a chance to implement your demands.
Has Tinubu Lost His ‘City’?
The above statement from Jagaban has made youths wince at the mention of his name. Also, the incident from two and the half years ago explains why Tinubu was unable to win his own ‘city’, Lagos state during the recently concluded presidential election.
Despite manipulations and underhand tactics from political miscreants, Peter Obi was still able able to win Lagos state, beating Asiwaju by over 10,000 (ten thousand) votes. This depicts how influential youths can be in deciding the fate of the country.
At the coming Gubernatorial election on Saturday, March 11, Lagos state residents would be looking to avenge the murder of innocent protesters in October 20.
Since the state governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu has refused to show to disclose who gave the heinous order on that fateful, young individuals would be looking to forward to electing a new leader who can speak for the vulnerable and protect the affairs of the fragile individual until their outcry is heard.
In the meantime, congratulations to Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, the president-elect of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.
