DRAMA AS REMEDY FOR A NATIONAL MALADY: CORRUPTION AND ITS ANTIDOTE IN “HENRY HIDDEN TREASURE AND UBE REPUBLIC”.

Abstract

The injurious consequences of bad government in most African States cannot be overstressed. The sad realities are reflective in Nigeria body politic; which is characterized by maladministration, vicious economic recession, electoral manipulation, armed insurgencies, terrorism, insecurity, poverty, internal displacements, violence and deaths. Thus making Nigeria look like a failed state. This paper therefore reassesses the effects of bad governance on Nigeria using Henry Leopold’s two short plays: Hidden Treasure and Ube Republic as moral critique of the unwholesome state of affairs in Nigeria. Utilizing Vilfredo Paretso’s Political Elite Theory as theoretical framework the paper avers that some unscrupulous Nigerian politicians pursue their cause with desperation and egocentrism devoid of democratic ideals. This paper finds the need to engage in a contextual reading of Henry Leopold Bell-Gam’s play-texts; The Hidden Treasure and Ube Republic as a moral compass to negotiate the anomie in the country. The findings reveal that the failure in government has led to disillusionment and apathy with deleterious consequences, such as violent crimes and militancy and kidnap for ransom. The paper recommends that Nigeria urgently needs detribalized and democratic political leadership to transcend the hoi polloi to a peaceful and egalitarian society where everyone would be proud of. And Nigeria can rightfully take its place in the comity of developing states.