Discursive strategies of manipulation in President Bola Tinubu’s subsidy removal discourse

Abstract

This study attempts to explore the discursive manipulative tactics deployed by President Bola Tinubu in the subsidy removal discourse. Although studies on discursive manipulative strategies abound, this particular study specifically focused on subsidy removal discourse in Nigeria, which none has hitherto considered. This study is an attempt to fill this gap in literature. The study, which employed Critical Discourse Analysis (CDA) and Speech Act Analysis as its theoretical framework, was aimed at unravelling the manipulative strategies President Bola Tinubu deployed in the subsidy removal discourse in Nigeria. Using a descriptive research design, the study derived its data online from YouTube channels. Findings from the study indicated that President Bola Tinubu explored and exploited the emotions of the recipients in order to manage their minds. The author also made use of metaphorical allusions that helped to compare his ideologies to experiences that are very familiar to the recipients. Further, in order to achieve buy-in, President Tinubu portrayed himself as the helper, and the removal of fuel subsidy as the only way for the dreams and aspirations of Nigerians to be achieved. Among other things, the study recommends that other studies should consider the speeches of other political actors, on this subject and compare their discursive strategies and ideological positions. The study concludes that, language is a power tool in the possession of man and has been utilized to justify various actions with political undertones, and the removal of fuel subsidy in Nigeria, is one of such actions.