Comparative Analysis of Lexical Features in Inaugural Speeches of President Olusegun Obasanjo and President Muhammadu Buhari

Publication Details

Publication Date

10/09/2026

Volume / Issue

Vol 1, Issue 4 (2026)

Article No.

083

Journal

British Journal of Contemporary Research

DOI

https://doi.org/10.67693/BJCR-6YWAI2HJ

Received

26 Aug 2026

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7

Downloads

3

Abstract

This study entitled, ‘Comparative Analysis of Lexical Feature in Inaugural Speeches of President Olusegun Obasanjo and President Muhammadu Buhari’, examined the usage of a lexical feature in inaugural speeches of President Olusegun Aremu Obasanjo on the 29th May, 1999 and 29th May, 2003 and President Muhammadu Buhari on the 29th May, 2015 and 29th May, 2019 respectively. Specifically, the study focused on a lexical feature: lexical density. Two inaugural speeches each by the two former Presidents making four inaugural speeches formed the corpus of the work. The paper was anchored on David Recador’s Comparative Analysis Theory (CAT), which was used to form the basis for this research. Purposive sampling technique was used to select the corpus of the study. The study adopted descriptive research design for the fact that it involves the procedure in which data are normally collected, organized, described and analyzed as they are (in natural setting) without distorting them. The design involved quantitative approach analyses. A manual method was used in generating and analyzing the data. Results showed that the ratio of content words to function words in terms of lexical density was not adequately used in some instances of the speeches which presumably resulted in low assimilation of the messages by the audiences. One of the findings showed that there is a significant increase in the number of lexicons used in each of their respective second speeches. Secondly, there was a significant increase in the number of words in the second inaugural speeches of both President Obasanjo and President Buhari. This cannot be unconnected with an effort to console and convince the audiences of their possible weaknesses in their respective first tenures. One of the recommendations proffered by the study include: Engage English for Special purposes (ESP) practitioners to help in producing balanced speeches.

License

This article is published under the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License . Free to read, share, and adapt with attribution.