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Ethos And Logos In As The President Of The Republic Of Biafra

1040 Words5 Pages

Biafra's secessionist commander, General Emeka Ojukwu, gave a speech about the condition of affairs in the vanquished state on January 15, 1970. Ojukwu made the statement in an effort to mobilize his supporters and give a candid appraisal of the circumstances on the ground after the civil war in Nigeria came to an end. In his speech on the state of defeated Biafra, General Ojukwu successfully uses logos, ethos, and pathos to make an argument for the rights of his people, and his points are still relevant today.
His defense of the right to self-determination is one instance of logos in Ojukwu's assertion. He claims, "We know that in the civilized world, there is no basis for the denial of self-determination" (Ojukwu). The notion that the Nigerian …show more content…

First, General Ojukwu demonstrates his legitimacy by highlighting his previous role as the head of the Biafra breakaway state. Asserting his authority on the subject at issue, he begins the declaration with, "As the President of the Republic of Biafra..." He presents himself as a real leader with firsthand knowledge of the events he relates by utilizing this title. Given the circumstances of the speech, which was made soon after Biafra's defeat in the Nigerian Civil War, this appeal to ethos is extremely potent. As a result, Ojukwu's leadership and power are essential in determining how the loss of Biafra and its aftermath would be portrayed. Second, by portraying himself as a champion of justice and human rights, General Ojukwu makes a moral plea to his audience. In his essay, he states, "I decided that as a man, a soldier, and a leader, I owed it to my conscience and to the people of Biafra to tell the truth." By highlighting his dedication to justice and truth, Ojukwu makes a moral appeal to the listener and implies that his story is not prejudiced or self-serving. Given the complexity and division of the fight, which included numerous factions with varied points of view, this is especially crucial. Ojukwu makes an effort to establish himself as a reliable and unbiased source of information by highlighting his moral …show more content…

He uses quotations from his remarks to support this claim, using words like "a scar on the conscience of the world" and "tragedy beyond measure" (Ojukwu). The fact that Ojukwu's comment was spoken in a situation that gave it more weight and significance also contributed to its effectiveness (Jombo-Ofo). Ojukwu's speech was specifically broadcast on the BBC, a news and information source that was generally regarded and trusted. Ojukwu was able to reach a larger audience and give his message more credibility by using this medium to deliver his message. Overall, Dr. Jombo-Ofo comes to the conclusion that General Ojukwu's remark was a strong and effective piece of communication that significantly influenced public opinion and attitudes throughout the Nigerian Civil

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