The results of the 2023 presidential election in Nigeria were shocking, particularly to supporters of the presidential candidate Atiku Abubakar who, despite leading in the polls, ultimately lost the race. This loss has been felt by many, especially in the buildup to the election and its aftermath. This feeling of loss has been emphasized by the observations of singer Paul Okoye, who recently shared something meaningful on his Instagram story.
Okoye’s post addresses the stark absence of public celebration in Nigeria following Bola Tinubu’s victory in the 2023 presidential election. Though Tinubu won the election, Okoye noticed that people in the North had not been showing their support through parades or state-to-state solidarity walks, like they had done when Muhammadu Buhari won the 2015 election. This observation is especially poignant when contrasted with the overwhelming public outpouring of joy when Buhari won back in 2015.
This lack of celebration for the current president’s victory can be seen as a reflection of the sour taste of loss still present in the minds of many Nigerians following the election. It could be interpreted to mean that people are still not satisfied with the results, despite the election and its outcome having been decided months ago. Additionally, it could imply that people feel resigned to the fact that things didn’t go as planned and are still struggling to accept the outcome.
See Paul Okoye’s post about people not celebrating Tinubu’s victory below:
