GLITTERING GENERALITIES AND VALIDATION OR INVALIDATION BY AUDIENCES: AN ANALYSIS OF SELECTED SPEECHES OF NYESOM WIKE, ROTIMI AMAECHI AND BOLA TINUBU

Abstract

The study thrust was anchored on the need to provide a scientific explanation of the application of glittering generalities as identified in the political narratives of select Nigerian politician’s speeches. The objectives among others bordered on the need to investigate the glittering generalities antics employed by politicians under review in their political communication. Above all, the study affirms that the scientific application of glittering generalities as identified in the political narratives of select Nigerian politician’s speeches is explainable using Rhetoric Theory and Public Sphere Theory. A mixed methods research design was adopted, combining discourse analysis of the speeches of the 3 selected politicians transcribed from 3 online media platforms with 3 speeches per politician and survey of their audiences through a Focus Group Discussion of 6 participants each from the city of Port Harcourt and Benin. The study gathered all of its data for discourse analysis using documentary analysis guide. While focus group guide was used to gather data from the participants from Port Harcourt and Benin metropolis during the focus group discussions. The study found that politicians under study deployed glittering generality antics in their speeches. The finding showed that politicians in using these techniques do not only seek to control the people’s opinion or make them change their views, but also, the ultimate goal is to win elections and control the nation. Furthermore, data from the speeches examined showed that the different politicians used glittering generality techniques severally and differently. In all the speeches where glittering generalities were used, it was calculatedly for the persuasion of their audiences, and for making statements to portray or validates them before the right-thinking public. In the light of the findings, the study recommended that politicians should stop making statements without substance; rhetorical antics should be used more for public good and the enrichment of our polity rather than for manipulation; political actors should be more conscientious with the use of glittering generality technique, meaning that, rather than using glittering generality rhetoric to sway the citizens to subscribe to vain causes, glittering generality antics should be used to mobilize the citizens to causes of our common good and development.