A Critical Discourse Analysis of Language Use to Depict Power Dynamics and Different Ideologies in President Tinubu’s 1st October, 2024 Independence Day Speech

Abstract

This research presents a critical discourse analysis of President Bola Tinubu’s Independence Day speech delivered on October 1, 2024, with a primary focus on how language is used to construct power dynamics and express principal ideologies. Using Fairclough’s three-dimensional model of critical discourse analysis and Leech and Short’s framework for stylistic analysis, the research explores the relationship between linguistic choices and socio-political contexts. Through qualitative textual analysis, the speech is found to articulate multiple ideologies such as nationalism, neoliberalism, populism, democratic liberalism, and religious moralism. These ideologies are communicated through carefully constructed discourse that balances technocratic governance with emotional appeals to the Nigerian populace. The findings of the research show the significant role of political rhetoric in shaping public perception, strengthening social hierarchies, and mobilising collective identity. This research contributes to a deeper understanding of how contemporary Nigerian political leadership uses language as a tool of power, persuasion, and ideological expression.