“From Change to Renewal”: A Comparative CDA of Buhari’s 2015 and Tinubu’s 2023 Presidential Acceptance Speeches in Nigeria

Halima Abdullahi Aminu PhD

doi:10.56201/ijelcs.vol.10.no6.2025.pg11.22

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“From Change to Renewal”: A Comparative CDA of Buhari’s 2015 and Tinubu’s 2023 Presidential Acceptance Speeches in Nigeria

Halima Abdullahi Aminu PhD

Abstract

This paper offers a comparative Critical Discourse Analysis (CDA) of the acceptance speeches delivered by General Muhammadu Buhari (April 1, 2015) and Bola Ahmed Tinubu (March 1, 2023). Using Fairclough’s three-tier framework (text, discursive practice, social practice) and van Dijk’s ideological square, the analysis shows how both speeches craft legitimacy and authority by emphasizing the “us-versus-them” binary, deploying metaphors of rebirth/renewal, and making strategic omissions. The comparison reveals both continuities and shifts in rhetorical strategies, particularly in how each leader frames national identity, democracy, and expectations of governance. While Buhari’s speech centers on transition, conciliation, and foundational legitimacy, Tinubu’s emphasizes renewal, youth, accountability, and forward momentum. The discursive choices in both speeches contribute to shaping Nigerians’ expectations of leadership and democratic culture.

Keywords

Critical Discourse Analysispresidential acceptance speechNigeriaideological

References

Channels Television. (2015, April 1). Full text: General Muhammadu Buhari’s acceptance speech. Channels TV. Retrieved from https://www.channelstv.com/2015/04/01/full-text-general- muhammadu-buharis-acceptance-speech/ Channels Television Channels Television. (2023, March 1). Full text of Tinubu’s acceptance speech. Channels TV. Retrieved from https://www.channelstv.com/2023/03/01/full-text-of-tinubus-acceptance- speech/ Channels Television Fairclough, N. (1995). Critical discourse analysis: The critical study of language. Longman. Fairclough, N. (2001). Language and power (2nd ed.). Pearson Education. Fairclough, N. (1992). Discourse and social change. Polity Press. Lakoff, G., & Johnson, M. (2003). Metaphors we live by (reprint ed.). University of Chicago Press. van Dijk, T. A. (2006). Ideology and discourse analysis. Journal of Political Ideologies, 11(2), 115–140. https://doi.org/10.1080/13569310600687908 Wodak, R., & Meyer, M. (2016). Methods of critical discourse studies (3rd ed.). SAGE.

“From Change to Renewal”: A Comparative CDA of Buhari’s 2015 and Tinubu’s 2023 Presidential Acceptance Speeches in Nigeria

Abstract

Keywords

References

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