A PRAGMATIC STUDY OF CONVERSATIONAL IMPLICATURES IN PRESIDENT TINUBU’S SPEECHES ON NATIONAL SECURITY AND GOVERNANCE

Abstract

The essence of political speeches lies in their powerful ability to shape public perception, unify diverse groups and drive political action. These speeches serve as a vital communication tool for leaders to articulate their visions, justify decisions and more especially to manage conflicts and respond to crisis. This study investigates the conversational implicatures embedded in President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s speech, through the lens of Grice’s Cooperative principles. Employing a qualitative research approach, it analyzes and interprets selected speeches to uncover the implied meanings shaped by context and pragmatic cues. The findings reveal that Tinubu often conveyed meanings indirectly, relying on the interpretative efforts of his audience to grasp the intended message. However, the analysis indicates that the selected speeches deviated from the issues it ought to have addressed, they failed to respond to the pressing needs and the concerns of his constituents, instead it focused on assigning blames, displaying ethnic bias and engaging in self- promotion. The study further demonstrates that Tinubu’s rhetoric is better understood only when interpreted pragmatically, through the theory of conversational implicature. The frequent flouting of the Gricean maxims as observed in the speeches, contributed to ambiguity and obscurity, especially for readers who lack critical reading skills. The paper concludes by emphasizing the importance of clarity and pragmatism in political communication, urging public figures to adopt more direct and responsive language when addressing their audience.