Conflict and Diplomacy: Politeness and Face Management in Olusegun Obasanjo’s My Watch

This study critically examines Olusegun Obasanjo’s My Watch through the lens of face management, focusing on the strategic interplay of Face-Threatening Acts (FTAs) and Face-Saving Acts (FSAs). By analysing several randomly extracted utterances from the text, the research explores how Obasanjo employs language to navigate conflict and diplomacy. His use of FTAs establishes authority and challenges. However, these acts often risk alienating the audience, highlighting the complexities of political discourse. The findings revealed a balance between conflict and diplomacy, demonstrating how language serves as a pragmatic tool to assert authority while promoting unity. This study underscores the importance of politeness and face management in constructing leadership narratives and managing public perceptions. It concluded that effective communication in political discourse requires balancing assertiveness with diplomacy, respecting both positive and negative face needs. The research provides insights into the role of face management in political autobiographies and highlights its relevance in broader socio-political contexts.