INTERTEXTUALITY AND THE DISCURSIVE CONSTRUCTION OF INSTITUTIONAL PRACTICES IN SPEECHES OF ORTOM AND TOR-TIV V ON HERDERS-FARMERS CONFLICT (HFC) IN BENUE STATE

Abstract

In a conflict situation such as the Herders Farmers Crisis in Benue State, language becomes a tool for the expression of grievances and concerns. For instance, parties in conflict situations could employ various discursive strategies to canvass support, mitigate crisis or reinforce other intentions towards the crisis. Thus, this study examines how speeches of Ortom and Tor Tiv V utilise intertextuality to construct institutional roles and practices in the context of the Farmers-Herders Conflict in Benue State. An earlier study has focused on ideologies and power dynamic in Tor-Tiv V's speech. However, this study shifts its focus to intertextuality and how it functions as a mechanism for the representation and legitimisation of the roles of social institutions in the context of the conflict. This study adopts Kristeva's Intertextuality and Fairclough's three-dimensional model of CDA. Qualitative method and descriptive research design were adopted to analyse speeches of Ortom and Tor-Tiv V. The findings reveal that the speakers reference legal, historical, media and global economic realities alongside institutional directives to represent varying roles and positions of state, federal, traditional, media, political and security institutions. Ortom's speech reference global economic practices to justify ranching law and the State government's restriction of open grazing, legalising the action as modern, global and sustainable practice. Whereas, Tor-Tiv's speech alludes to and evokes historical memory and nationalist discourse as well as counter narratives to mobilise support, counter misinformation and condemn actions of complicit political elites, underscoring how traditional authority represents the moral voice of the people. The study concludes that intertextuality functions as a discursive mechanism that legitimises social actions, mobilises support and inspires intervention in the context of conflict.