POLITICAL THEATRE AND CORRUPTION IN NIGERIA: FINDING MEANINGS IN RASAKI OJO BAKARE’SONCE UPON A TOWER.

Abstract

A persisting trend in Political theatre in Nigeria has remained a careful evaluation and a critical analysis of the vicious Politicking and corruption perpetuated by the Nigerian political elites in the Nigerian polity, questioning the status quo for a general social change. However, this vicious politicking and corruption has demeaned and maimed the society, thus creating a dichotomy between the oppressor and the exploited. It is on this note that, Once Upon a Tower is analysed in this study to highlight and discuss the various odious politicking and selfish corruption of Nigerian leaders especially within the educational sector and its effect on the majority as well as radical social transformation that the exploited class clamours for. Therefore, this research submits that Political theatre can be employed as a tool to prod out the various issues of corrupt politicking in the society, by questioning the status quo and socially preaching change and proffering solutions if need be as demonstrated in Once Upon A Tower. The study concludes that corruption which is an offshoot of dangerous politicking, has maimed our society drastically especially within the educational sector. Thus this study recommends that corruption and dirty politics will continue to retard the society and debase the Nigerian society, until the oppressed rise up to challenge the statusquo, thereby taking the bull by the horns, to liberate themselves from the inhumane treatment they are subjected to, change will only be a mirage.