An Analysis of Rhetoric in Crisis: Goodluck Jonathan, Muhammadu Buhari, and the Chibok School Girls Abduction
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.31150/ajshr.v6i5.3564Keywords:
Boko Haram, Rhetoric, Insurgency, Terrorism and AbductionAbstract
This study analyzed the rhetoric of Goodluck Jonathan and Muhammadu Buhari regarding the Chibok School Girls' abduction and rescue. Anchored on speech act theory and invitational rhetoric theory, the research employed textual analysis to examine eight speeches delivered between April 14, 2014, and December 31, 2015. Findings revealed that Goodluck Jonathan significantly utilized rhetorical canons (invention, arrangement, memory, and style) in his speeches, whereas Muhammadu Buhari showed minimal deployment of these canons. Both leaders employed rhetorical proofs, but audience reaction primarily questioned their ethos, doubting their credibility and authority in handling the crisis. The study's results indicate that effective rhetoric is crucial in leadership, particularly during conflicts. The analysis highlights the importance of developing comprehensive rhetorical strategies that incorporate all canons of rhetoric to persuade citizens. The research recommends that Nigerian political leaders enhance their rhetorical skills to effectively address national crises, establish credibility, and provide solutions rather than mere rhetoric. By doing so, leaders can better engage citizens and respond to critical issues, ultimately fostering trust and cooperation.
References
N. Crick, Rhetorical public speaking. Boston: Pearson, 2014.
A. Ekwueme and C. Akpan, "Mass Media & Boko Haram Insurrection: A call for reportorial paradigm shift," Media Terrorism and Political Communication, Nigeria: ACCE, 2012.
P. Esuh, "Introduction to rhetoric," in Fundamentals of human communication, D. Wilson, Ed. Ibadan: Stirling-Horden, 2006, pp. 222–237.
K. Foss, "Rhetorical theory," in Encyclopaedia of Communication Theory, Thousand Oaks: Sage, 2009.
K. Foss, "Rhetorical theory," in Encyclopaedia of Communication Theory, Thousand Oaks: Sage, 2009.
E. Griffin, A first look at communication theory, 4th ed. New York: McGraw-Hill, 2000.
J. Heinrichs, Thank you for arguing: What Aristotle, Lincoln, Homer Simpson can teach us about the art of persuasion. New York: Three Rivers Press, 2007.
J. Herrick, The history and theory of rhetoric, 5th ed. London: Routledge, 2016.
J. Hullman and N. Diakopoulos, "Visualization rhetoric: Framing effects in narrative visualization," IEEE Trans. Vis. Comput. Graph., vol. 17, no. 12, 2011.
G. S. Jowett and V. O’Donnell, Propaganda and Persuasion, 5th ed. London: Sage, 2012.
J. Lauer, Invention in rhetoric and composition. Parlor Press LLC, 2004.
J. Ramage and J. Bean, Writing arguments, 4th ed. MA: Allyn & Bacon, 1998.
J. Selzer, "Rhetorical analysis: Understanding how texts persuade readers," in What Writing Does and How It Does It: An Introduction to Analyzing Texts and Textual Practices, Ch. Bazerman and P. Prior, Eds. Mahwah, NJ: Erlbaum, 2004, pp. 279–308.
M. Stevanovich, "Rhetorical analysis of success brands in social media discourse," M.A. dissertation, Gonzaga University, 2012 (unpublished).
O. F. Ayodele, “Regulatory Successes and Opportunities for Value Chain Analysis of Gas Industries,” Green Energy and Technology, vol. Part F3468. pp. 23–37, 2024. doi: 10.1007/978-981-97-6282-8_2.
