摘要：Political leaders consciously or unconsciously employ Speech Act Theory in their effort to govern. This article discursively analyses the farewell speech of the former president of Nigeria, Olusegun Obasanjo to unearth the linguistic and political underpinnings of his speech via Speech Act analysis and pragmatics, respectively. Obasanjo's speech is laced with a preponderance of assertives to mobilize and persuade Nigerians to support Umaru Musa Yar'Adua, "the man in whom I have great confidence". In light of the socio-political events preceding and following the installation of Yar'Adua as Nigeria's president and his eventual premature demise, this article argues that Obasanjo's confidence in Yar'Adua is either misplaced or self-serving.
关键词：Discourse Analysis; Language; Communication; Philosophy;Discourse Analysis; Speech Act; Pragmatics; Language; Olusegun Obasanjo; Umaru Musa Yar'Adua; Nigeria; Communication
