SOURCE:

Faculty: Social Sciences
Department: Mass Communication

CONTRIBUTORS:

Onoja I. Ben
Dunu V. Ifeoma

ABSTRACT:

This dissertation deconstructed presidential rhetorics (1999-2015) to ascertain the national development objectives stated in the Inaugural speeches; the national development achievement stated in the Handover Speeches; the extent of disparity in the development objectives and achievements; and the extent to which their national development rhetorics corresponded with the independent national development indicators (performance) in Nigeria. The study was anchored on Agenda Setting Theory as well as Correspondence and Coherence Theories of Truth. The dissertation employed content analysis and historical analysis methods. The data were generated from secondary sources using coding sheet and analyzed using descriptive statistics like frequency and percentage tables, thematic analysis, and interpretivism. Simple Percentage Difference Model (SPDM) and Average Disparity Rate Model (ADRM) were design specifically for the analysis of disparity in presidential rhetorics on development objectives and achievements. The Weighted Average Development Model (WADAM) was also designed specifically for the analysis of correspondence of presidential rhetorics and performance on national development. The study found that the dominant development objectives in the Inaugural speeches were economic, political, Niger Delta/petroleum, infrastructural developments and corruption control. The dominant development achievement claims in the Handover speeches were economic, infrastructural, political developments and security. There was high level of disparity between the stated objectives and achievements. There was also low level of correspondence between presidential rhetorics on national development and the actual performance on national development within the period. The study therefore recommends, among others, that: Nigerian Presidents should not only set development agenda in their speeches but should also follow through the agenda by fulfilling any development objectives they set during their inauguration and avoid claiming development goals they did not achieve while in office. Also, Nigerian Presidents should increase development outcomes in any development area identified in their Inaugural speeches.