Emi Lo Kan’ Concept in Nigerian Politics: A Critical Discourse Defragmentation

Abstract

Text and context, mind, and domination are key concepts whenever we consider language and politics. This study examines the ways in which political and ideological undertones were conveyed in political speeches, as well as how texts reproduce and maintain power and unequal power relations. In order to understand how language shapes and maintains power relationships and ideological structures the study employs the principles of critical discourse analysis by Norman Fairclough. Critical Discourse Analysis helps us to see how specific language techniques produce, enact, and legitimise power relations. The study found out that the aspirant used the expression to reflect both good self-ideology and negative self-ideology in order to neutralise the asymmetrical power relationships that exist between his group and the other groups within the APC at the point of liberalising power. It was a declarative. Typically, this resulted in the other aspirants’ power being politically diminished. The aspirant also used discourse structures that have implications for ideology as weapons of persuasion and pleading, positive self-representation of “Emi", meaning "I”, negotiation and personality projection. The researchers conclude that language of politics has the power to weave visions and “imaginaries” that can alter, obfuscate, and politically interpret realities.