Delegitimating the Nigerian state and other anti-Boko Haram in selected messages of Abubakar Shekau

Abstract

This paper examines the delegitimation of the Other in selected messages of Boko Haram (BH), using seven of the messages delivered by the longest-serving BH leader, Abubakar Shekau. The messages delivered during Shekau’s period as the BH leader between 2009 and 2021, were identified using f4analyse as a coding tool and discussed analytically using Theo van Leeuwen’s Discourse Legitimation approach to discourse analysis. The analysis unearths Shekau’s deployment of four delegitimation strategies: authorisation, moralisation, rationalisation and mythopoesis to discredit the actions and practices of the Other – those who do not associate with BH. The four delegitimation strategies are linguistically realised through negative other-presentation strategy. The messages deployed polarisation, other-condemnation, other-blaming, negative tagging (derogatory labelling/nomination) of anti-BH, otherexclusivity in perceived positive contexts, metaphorising, hyperbolising and euphemising to accentuate in-group consensus and ingroup solidarity. The strategies are deployed to negatively represent the Other in order to delegitimise their actions, beliefs and principles.