The emergence of Bola Tinubu as Nigeria’s next president has elicited reactions from many Nigerians with various hashtags trending on social media.
Development Diaries reports that hashtags like #BlackWednesday and #Japa have in particular dominated the Nigerian Twitter space.
The 2023 presidential election came with a heightened sense of awareness from Nigerian youths due to the country’s poor economy, insecurity, corruption, and a general sense of dissatisfaction.
All of these led to a momentum buildup towards the polls, with a determination to get it right.
The youths came out in their numbers and supported a candidate whom they believed represented a new dispensation for Nigeria.
Since the announcement of the winner of the presidential poll, there has been a general sense of dissatisfaction among many young people.
Development Diaries has gathered some reactions from Nigerians on Twitter.
@Blink says, ‘The country is mourning. Black Wednesday’.
The country is mourning
Black Wednesday😭😭😭😭 pic.twitter.com/gSAA7tDZR8
— blink🥰🤩 (@juliajohn249) March 1, 2023
Another Twitter user encourages a tweep who reportedly broke their voter’s card as a result of disappointment in the electoral process and lack of trust in the institutions.
Black Wednesday indeed, moral down, INEC failed us…….
.
.
PS: Pls try not to break your PVC, might be the only means of regaining the mandate esp. if you’re in lag still have another battle of gubernatorial to be won, they’ve played their rigging card, TIME FOR SMARTNESS… pic.twitter.com/2bKKSQo2zl— Sam (@haryour_samuel) March 1, 2023
One thing that has been established in the unfolding of events since the polls is a renewed lack of trust by Nigerians for the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) over its lack of transparency in the conduct of the elections.
This has led to renewed determination among Nigerian youths to leave the country in order to chart a new path for themselves and their future.
This Twitter user, @Anaekwe Bridgette, made this hilarious tweet in addition to the ‘japa‘ trend.
Thank God for Journey mercies,LP and PDP I don finally Japa. Zimbabwe pls be good to me,na hustle I come hustle ,Nigeria don too show me pepper with a touch of shege.I know you will favour me 😊 pic.twitter.com/PCceXPpZIM
— Anaekwe Bridgette (@Bridgetluv4) March 1, 2023
It is understandable to be downcast when expectations are not met, especially after putting in the work.
Development Diaries, however, calls on all aggrieved political parties and their candidates to take their grievances to court, and not resort to violence.
We also encourage citizens to start tracking promises made by the president-elect ahead of his searing-in as Nigeria’s fifth president since the country’s return to democracy.
Photo source: Bola Ahmed Tinubu
