The year 2023 will remain indelible in the anal of Nigeria’s democratic experience, not only because the year is a period of upset in the political ecosystem, which came with intense political pressure for politicians, but also because of the aggressive involvement of youth and the seeming readiness to change the narrative, making the game really tough for many notable household names.
Beyond the upset and dislodgement of many strong politicians, especially with the tsunami of Presidential Candidate of the Labour Party, Peter Obi, who almost turned the tide against them, the electoral contest and struggle for power brought up many dictions, which expanded the political lexicon of the largest black nation on earth.
Until recently, political coinage, either to deconstruct a view from opponent or to bring them to ridicule has been part of Nigeria’s political experience, readily comes to mind was the polyglot and the last Premier of Western region, Late S L Akintola, in his days of Obu gau literally means (It exploded), this was a sarcastic reference to a new political party called UPGA, formed in days of trouble with the late sage.
Ever since, spontaneous political lexica have been reduced, essentially because politicians since the birth of the 4th Republic hardly engage the electorates in meaningful discussion ahead of election, but the 2023 elections came with many new expressions.
- Eluu Pee- (a rhythmic sound of LP)
This is the most recent expression, still gaining momentum in the nation’s political lexicon, a by-product of Peter Obi, the Presidential Candidate of the Labour Party.
That Peter Obi of the Labour Party brought an upset to the political scene in this year’s election is not in doubt, so at the dawn of Presidential election, he enjoyed overwhelming support majorly among the youth, and particularly from South Eastern part of Nigeria, a particular individual, relishing the outcome of the poll while witnessing the counting of ballot papers unconsciously subjected the counting of ballots cast for his preferred candidate to a dramatic rhythm, Eelu Pee, 71, Eelu pee 72, instead of LP.
That particular occasion went viral on the internet and today, a click on the internet will bring numerous versions of its remix. For the remaining time leading to the period of the conduct of governorship and state assemblies elections, Eelu Pee became so popular.
- Emilokan- (It is my turn).
Without sounding immodest, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, the President-elect is the most popular dramatic personae in the just concluded election, arguably, whatever he says or does makes news.
In the days of trouble, when his fate was still hanging in the balance, there was an outburst to confront the establishment, Abeokuta remained the most popular arena from where he fired salvos to that effect, Emilokan was birthed from Egbaland.
Even though attempts were made to misconstrue this expression, many public commentators observed this as a sense of entitlement, whereas Nigeria is bigger than anyone or a group of people.
The aftermath of the poll, however, re-established the power in the use of words and language.
- Awalokan- (It is our turn)
This is very difficult to trace to a particular individual, but it was an expression thrown into public consciousness to turn the tide against the concept of Emilokan and its exponent.
- Lule- (failed)
Again, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu is the originator of this expression, this was in reference to various failed attempts of President Muhammad Buhari before the formation of APC, where he contested and won the Presidential election.
It is another addition to the lexicon from the popular Abeokuta outburst.
- Eleyi – (this one)
Governor Dapo Abiodun was the point of reference here, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu was the propounder, and the arena remains Abeokuta, the Ogun state capital. It was in the days of uncertainty.
- Batified-(diehard fan of Bola Ahmed Tinubu)
Batified is the tag generally adopted by the diehard fans of the President elect, this was coined out of his acronym BAT. The name gained traction across the length and breadth of Nigeria, and for those believing in the aspiration, Batified was their point of convergence.
- Atikulated- (Die hard fan of Atiku)
This is the PDP version of the Batified, it was generally adopted by the supporters of the Presidential Candidate of the PDP.
- Obidient- (Followers of Peter Obi)
It’s a group of young Nigerians willing to comply with commands and instructions of Peter Obi, perhaps the most trending word in Nigeria political history, offline and online, especially among youth.
It is spelt in conformity with the name of their Principal, so, instead of Obedient, ‘e’ was replaced with ‘i’ . They are youthful, trending, determined but could be bullying agents to anyone that dares to express different opinions apart from supporting their candidate.
Obedient will continue to be used as one of the new words in our political lexicon.
- Obidiot- (sheepish follower)
This evolved to counter the aggressiveness of the Peter Obi followers, and most likely to subject them to ridicule as a group of people who could not interrogate issues, but follow their Principal dogmatically. It is a political strategy to demarket the Labour Party and its gang of support
- Go and Verify
In the early days of the 2023 Presidential election, the candidate of the Labour Party, Peter Obi was the most visible candidate, junketing around various media houses, again he came into the contest, with presentation of data to substantiate most of his developmental agenda, though, could be very spurious sometimes, this worked like magic among the young folks, and when subjected to further interrogation, he usually say go and verify.
- Elo fokan bale (Be rest assured)
Again, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu is the originator of this expression; it is an assurance that he kept given to his numerous supporters to be rest assured that there was no threat to his aspiration of becoming President of Nigeria.
In one of the occasions, before his party primaries, he said he has done what is humanly possible, and if he is defeated, he will go back home, but he assured them ‘E lo fokan bale’. It became a signatory tune for his campaign and that of his supporters.
- Bala Blue (Only Asiwaju knows the meaning)
Several gaffes at campaign venues by Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu were some of the arguments opposition continuously presented against his fitness.
Bala blue was one of the gaffes, till today, nobody knows what it truly means, may be a meaningless or meaningful incantation, or none of the above.
But to say, it came up as a new expression in the political lexicon is like stressing the obvious.
- G5, (the recalcitrant five PDP Governors)
Group of five governors from the PDP, who had reservations against the PDP presidential ticket going to the north came up under this name, they are the governors of Benue, Abia, Enugu, Oyo and Rivers.
Until the presidential election was held and won by the APC candidate, Bola Ahmed Tinubu, “5G” had remained on the lips of most political actors and analysts, importantly because of the role they played, which cost their party victory in the poll. 5G is the nemesis of Alhaji Atiku Abubakar.
- M-M (Muslim Muslim ticket)
This expression is the most contentious one in the 2023 polls. It is the hard but political decision taken by Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu to choose a Muslim, Kashim Shettima as is running mate, even though the idea of MM had been an issue before now, the annulled June 12 Presidential election assumed to have won by Late MKO Abiola brought this concept into Nigeria’s political terrain, it came to prominence again, when such hard choice was made, alongside the backlashes that followed from the Christian community in Nigeria.
M-M will continue to dominate political discourse in the years to come.
- Emefiele
The Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria is an actor outside the political arena, whose actions and inactions came with enormous impacts on the 2023 polls.
His style of implementation of the cashless policy, embarked upon by the apex bank that essentially threw the nation into a cash crunch dominated public discourse, this played a significant role in the build up to general elections.
The name Emefiele attracted different pronunciations among Nigerians, underpinning their anger and frustration.
Dayo Ogunsola writes from Abuja.
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