THE GRAMMAR OF GOVERNANCE

METAFUNCTIONAL AESTHETICS IN TINUBU’S INAUGURAL ADDRESS

Abstract

The work examines aesthetic analysis of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s inaugural speech, identifying the linguistic and rhetorical strategies that contribute to its artistic appeal and political impact. Specifically, the study aims to demonstrate how aesthetic elements are deployed to reinforce political legitimacy, articulate leadership vision, and engage the Nigerian public in a collective narrative of nation-building. This has demonstrated that President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s inaugural speech is a finely crafted aesthetic and rhetorical artifact that performs multiple critical functions within Nigeria’s political and cultural context. Through deliberate lexical choices, powerful metaphors, rhythmic syntactic patterns, and inclusive language, the speech achieves an artistic harmony that elevates its persuasive impact and emotional resonance. The analysis revealed how aesthetic elements such as repetition,
parallelism, and metaphor not only beautify the discourse but also serve essential ideological and interpersonal functions—constructing a unified national identity, fostering leadership ethos, and engaging diverse audiences emotionally. By foregrounding unity, resilience, and hope, Tinubu’s speech speaks directly to Nigeria’s socio-political realities and aspirations. The findings underscore the indispensable role of aesthetics in political communication, particularly in heterogeneous societies like Nigeria where language must simultaneously convey meaning, inspire confidence, and evoke cultural solidarity.