A Stylistic Analysis of Selected Speeches of The Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB)

This work examined a stylistic analysis of some selected speeches of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB). The Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) is a new Biafra (Igbo) movement of the people of Eastern Nigeria. It is led by Mazi Nnamdi Kanu agitating for the declaration of Biafra republic. It was initiated in 1967 by former Military administrator of Eastern Nigeria from 1966 who is now Late Ikemba of Innewi, Chief Odimegwu Ojukwu. The aim of this study is to carry out a stylistic analysis of selected speeches of the Indigenous People of Biafra with the intention to ascertain the particular stylistic choices that characterize the speeches. This study combines stylistics principles with Michael Halliday's Systemic Functional Grammar as the theoretical framework to examine the pattern of the language used in the speeches. The study reveals that the speeches are characterized by lexico-semantic features such as Collocation, Figurative and Lexical relations which are creatively used to convey the speakers' intentions of grieving, protesting, self-defending, calling for international aid and so on. It also reveals that the state of agitation, brutality informed their choice of negative words. In view of this, this study concluded that the language pattern of the IPOB speakers are aggressive using propaganda and rhetorical techniques which might be responsible for their being misconstrued as a terrorist group by the Federal government of Nigeria.