Discursive Representation of Nigerian Economic Situation in President Bola A. Tinubu Public Conversations

Abstract

The economic state of Nigeria is causing a lot hardship to the citizens. Several studies have attributed the economic crisis to poor leadership, corruption, and poor management of resources, indicating that the ruling class are taking decisions that affect the economy and, in turn, the masses. Nevertheless, attention has not been given to how the leaders perceive the economy and its impact, which could influence their decisions. The aim of this study, therefore, is to identify how Nigerian leaders view the country’s economy and its impacts on citizens. Its objective is to identify how the present Nigerian president perceives the country’s economic state, the causes of the country’s economic crisis, and the impact of the economy on citizens. The data for this study were collected from three purposively selected live broadcasts of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, the president of Nigeria, on the country’s 63rd Independence Day Anniversary, 2024 New Year Day, and 2024 Workers Day. The data were analysed qualitatively, using the Topic vs Comment tenet of Halliday’s Information Structure as the theoretical anchor. The results revealed that the president made utterances that captured his perceptions of the country’s economic state, whereby he expressed that the crisis is inevitable as a result of the economic reforms taking place. It is also discovered that he believes Nigerians are responsible for developing the country’s economy and should, therefore, endure the hardship until the positive effects of the reforms are felt. The study, therefore, concluded that the president perceives the country’s economy as undergoing a positive reformation that introduces a short-lived hardship.