LANGUAGEDETERMINATIONINPOLITICSTHESITUATIONINNIGERIA (original) (raw)

There is a popular slogan in Nigeria that ‘politicians can promise to build bridges where there is no river’ and can justify why a relationship or bilateral agreement need not be sustained. This is consequent upon language usage and determination by speakers and principal actors. This paper adopts qualitative research method to discuss major issues in language manipulation in Nigeria. It conceptualizes the key term of language and debates how language interfaces with politics, national and international relations. The study recommends that, the National Assembly should as a matter of urgency amend the Electoral Act 2010 with the provision of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and the Judiciary empowerment to sanction politicians for language manipulation and the review of Nigeria policy on language to make provision for multilingualism at all levels of official engagement.