The Inaugural Addresses and Ascension Speeches of Nigerian Elected and Non-Elected Presidents and Prime Minister, 1960-2010

Solomon Williams Obotetukudo

doi:10.5771/9780761852759

Summary

From Balewa's declaration, 'Today is Independence Day,' to Azikiwe's impassioned plea, 'Let us bind the nation's wound and let us heal the breaches of the past so that in forging our nation there shall emerge on this continent a hate-free, fear-free, and greed-free people,' to Buhari's patriotic fervor, 'This generation [of Nigerians]... have no other country than Nigeria,' to Obasanjo's confident commitment, 'I will not spare any effort in rising to this challenge of building firmly and decisively on our achievements,' and to Yar'Adua's clarion call, 'Let us set aside cynicism... Let us discard the habits of low expectations... Let us join together now,' words by Nigerian leaders invoke common threads that are essential for nationbuilding. In a democracy, words initiate a relationship between leaders and citizens, a relationship deepened by sacred trusts not easily broken. This collection of inaugural and ascension speeches facilitates comparison of presidential themes, leadership styles, personal philosophies, and evolutionary communication strategies in Nigerian nationbuilding. Each chapter opens with biographical notes on the speaker, followed by an introduction to the prevalent political climate, and ends with the leader's unabridged speech.

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Bibliographic data

Copyright year: 2010
ISBN-Print: 978-0-7618-5274-2
ISBN-Online: 978-0-7618-5275-9
Publisher: Hamilton Books, Lanham
Language: English
Pages: 198
Product type: Edited Book

1. Contents No access
2. Illustrations No access
3. Foreword No access
4. Preface No access
5. Acknowledgments No access
6. Abbreviations No access
Introduction No access Pages 1 - 32
Chapter One. Sir Alhaji Abubakar Tafawa Balewa No access Pages 33 - 38
Chapter Two. Dr. Nnamdi Benjamin Azikiwe No access Pages 39 - 55
Chapter Three. Major General Johnson Thomas U. Aguiyi-Ironsi No access Pages 56 - 59
Chapter Four. Lieutenant Colonel (Later General) Yakubu Gowon No access Pages 60 - 65
Chapter Five. Brigadier (Later General) Murtala Ramat Mohammed No access Pages 66 - 71
Chapter Six. Brigadier (Later General) Olusegun Aremu Obasanjo No access Pages 72 - 75
Chapter Seven. Alhaji Shehu Usman Shagari No access Pages 76 - 89
Chapter Eight. Major General Muhammadu Buhari No access Pages 90 - 96
Chapter Nine. General Ibrahim Badamosi Babangida No access Pages 97 - 103
Chapter Ten. Chief Ernest Adegunle Shonekan No access Pages 104 - 114
Chapter Eleven. General Sani Abacha No access Pages 115 - 120
Chapter Twelve. General Abdulsalami Abubakar No access Pages 121 - 124
Chapter Thirteen. Olusegun Aremu Obasanjo No access Pages 125 - 158
Chapter Fourteen. Umaru Musa Yar’Adua No access Pages 159 - 164
Epilogue. Communication and the Construction of Nigeria’s National Purpose No access Pages 165 - 170
Appendixes. COUP ANNOUNCEMENTS 1966–1990 No access Pages 171 - 188
Bibliography No access Pages 189 - 196
About the Author No access Pages 197 - 198