If Nigeria has had 61 Presidents, it would have been 61 Independence Day speeches for the country. But this is not possible because at least democratically elected President needs to present four of such speeches if he ruled the country for a single term of office. For those who governed the country for 8 years, it means 8 Independence Day speeches for them. This year’s Independence Day speech is the Seventh for the President. By October 2022, he is expected to deliver his last National Day speech. According to public affairs analysts, who spoke with our analyst, this year’s speech remains semi-final speech for the President, who has been criticised and praised locally and internationally.
Like other previous speeches delivered by the President and his predecessors, Nigerians and the international community are always being told the progress made in the previous years and expectations of the citizens and the international community towards the growth and development of the country.
Our analyst examines President Buhari’s 2021 speech, which has 3,428 words, and found that the President paid attention to Nigerians, government’s efforts in the critical sectors of the economy and level of insecurity in the country. Efforts of Nigerians during early stages of COVID-19, which helped in mitigating viral spread of the virus, are appreciated by the President. Government’s efforts towards sustainable infrastructure provision and security of lives and properties are also stressed by the President.
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Exhibit 1: Dominant Words in President Buhari’s Speech
Analysis shows that the first sentence of the speech, which is ‘it is with full gratitude to God that today, we celebrate Nigeria’s sixty first Independence Anniversary’, pulsates with the government’s efforts in the area of security and resonates with the citizens’ roles in maintaining peace and order [see Exhibit 2 and 3]. It also emerged that President Buhari is in need of micro and macro leaders, who will help in ensuring sustainable physical and health security across the country.
On the need to continue embracing necessary measures for total control and management of ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, President Buhari notes that “…we can control this pandemic, but it requires effort on everybody’s part. The investments we made in response to COVID-19 will also serve our country to tackle any future disease outbreaks or pandemics.”
Exhibit 2: Correspondence among the Top 10 Dominant Words in President Buhari’s Speech
Exhibit 3: Vibration of First Sentence with a Key Issue and Citizens in President Buhari’s Speech
On security, President Buhari asks “all Nigerians to embrace peace and dialogue” because the country is not hoping to fight for peace. Instead of fighting for peace, grievances could be settled peacefully without spilling any blood. “I will therefore take this opportunity, on this special day that symbolises the unity and oneness of our great nation, to ask all Nigerians to embrace peace and dialogue, whatever your grievances.”
From the insights, our analyst notes that Nigeria really needs micro and macro leaders who have the spirit of doing good and live with for the rest of their life. This is necessary as the country continues receiving low rankings in critical areas of its life.