THE 2023 PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION AND THE ENVISAGED INCREASED JAPA SYNDROM

Earlier today, the Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Mahmoud Yakubu, declared Bola Tinubu of the All Progressives Congress (APC) the winner of the Presidential election with a total of 8,794,726 votes to defeat his closest rival, Atiku Abubakar of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) who scored 6,984,520 to emerge second, while Peter Obi of the Labour Party (LP) clinched third position with 6,101,533 votes. The NNPP came a distant fourth with 1,496,687 votes.

The 2023 presidential election was an epoch-making election in Nigeria’s history. The election was the most participated and the result/outcome was most-anticipated.

From the records, Nigeria has never experienced such an exponential increase in the number of registered voters (93,469,008), accredited voters (25,286,616 according to INEC), and the massive turnout of voters (24,965,218 according to INEC) for the 2023 Presidential and National Assembly election. The upsurge in the turnout was a sequel of Nigerians' desperation for a new Nigeria devoid of rising insecurity, banditry, inflation, terrorism, kidnapping, consistent tertiary institution strikes, high unemployment rate (42.5%, according to NBS), police brutality, and underinvestment in tertiary education compared with global standards, unfavourable policies, and many more.

Without a shred of doubt, the youths, especially the Gen Z and millennials are mostly affected by these challenges, as such, they unanimously resolved to harness the electoral process to initiate the process that will birth the national change they desire in their country. The INEC reveals that the youth population tops the age distribution chart of the 93.5 million registered voters. The youths seemed to be united in the choice of who to vote for in the election, their preferred candidate was the former governor of Anambra State and the Presidential flag bearer of the Labour Party (LP), Peter Obi. Despite being his first time vying for the position, alongside his barely unknown party, he pulled a total of 6,101,533 votes (according to INEC). Peter Obi seemed to be the anticipated Messiah of the people, the most educated and exposed, and the conveyor of the long-awaited new Nigeria because he kept communicating in the language of the people (young and old) and kept reiterating the plans to restructure the narratives. The hope for a better Nigeria, if Peter Obi becomes the President, was what kept young professionals from migrating, and this underscores the importance of the 2023 general election.

The Inevitable Exodus of the Youths

Over the years, Nigeria has witnessed a massive exodus of youths to the United Kingdom, the United States of America, Schengen countries, and other developed countries of the world seeking greener pastures through education, tourist, or academic routes. According to NBS, the number of arrivals in 2021 stood at 6,533,740, which was higher compared to 4,870,072 in 2020. On the other hand, departure stood at 6,472,741 in 2021 compared to 4,199,223 in 2020. The major obvious reason for the sudden increase in the japa trend is the aggravated state of the country. Migrating to developed countries through education offers them the availability of post-study work options, direct work permit for job seekers, or even permanent residency, compared to their country where jobs aren’t available after graduation. According to the research, the low growth of Nigeria’s economy, combined with the nation’s lack of transnational education, has triggered the preference of Nigerians to leave the country for greener pastures.

From my conversations with friends living abroad, only 2 out of 5 Nigerians living abroad want to come back to Nigeria, of course, they have a better system and laws that make them productive and be the best of themselves in their endeavours.

With the declaration of Bola Tinubu as the winner of the presidential election and Nigerians’ detestation of the APC administration, Nigeria is envisaged to witness the highest rate of youth exodus to developed countries of the world, leading to huge damage to the country’s future socio-economic development. India was once in this situation but it overcame the trend by creating a robust policy and institutional framework that reversed the trend.

To prevent the envisaged high rate of the japa syndrome, I hope the President-elect will swing into action immediately, ameliorate the dwindling state of all sectors and create a conducive environment for citizens to pursue and realize their potential within Nigeria. Undoubtedly, these measures will help reverse long-term mass migration from the country.