The Crab: Journal of Theatre and Media Arts (Number 8/June 2013, 25-40)

Theatre and Democratic Practice in Nigeria: The Playwright as the

Pivot of Creativity in Ubong Nda’s Khakhigbada

Iwumene Christiana Chibuzo

Abstract Democratic practice in Nigeria has been confronted with bottlenecks.

Efforts at encouraging healthy democratic practice have had issues of

accountability, succession, electoral misconduct and killings, among others

to battle with. There has been massive looting of the national treasury as

funds meant for developmental projects have been converted to personal

use. This raises questions on the adoption and application of democracy as a

system of governance as theatre seeks ways to combat these anomalies. As a

reflection of society, theatre presents these contradictions, and the

playwright functions in this capacity as the vanguard of change. The

playwright’s commitment as a visionary challenges poor democratic

practices assaulting the nation. Through his unfailing task, the playwright

strives towards raising the consciousness of the citizens by chronicling these

conflicts. The paper sees theatre as the mouthpiece of the people as it

consciously and constantly engages with the political class for a healthy

democratic practice. The research methodology adopted is the qualitative

research as it produces comprehensive information on the subject of

research while achieving the objective of the research. The study points out

that the playwrights' task as the force that propels change in a democratic

society like Nigeria is one of commitment.

Introduction

…democracy has come to our country only after a painful

struggle. If it must endure, it will be through constant

vigilance among the general populace. And it is the

responsibility of all artists on the stage or screen… to

stimulate this crucial awareness. (Osofisan, vii)

Theatre and Democratic Practice in Nigeria: The Playwright as the Pivot of…. 2 The above captures the thrust of this paper as the playwright constantly

engages with political themes. These issues which have plagued the nation

as scholars maintain provides the artist with materials as tools of creation.

The artist in this wise responds to these realities as the voice of vision

through his representation of the follies and foibles of men. He configures of

a nation bestride with anomalies found among the rulers and the ruled, thus

bringing to bare unhealthy political practices that continually assaults

democratic practice.

Democracy as a political system has been applied by many and varied

regimes. As stipulated in the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria

1999 as Amended 2011, “The Federal Republic of Nigeria shall be a state

based on the principles of democracy and social justice” (Section 24:1). This

stipulation appears to be on paper as in practice democratic tenets have been

mangled and in the words of Odey is in chains (12). The chains are manifest

with anti-democratic practices that have infiltrated virtually all aspects of

governance. This has resulted in anomalous practices characteristic of the

political terrain, and thus degenerated into retrogression. Osofisan maintains

that, “… the principal reasons for our backwardness are still very much the

same- that is, treacherous leadership and elite which, very frequently, is in

collision with neocolonial interests…” (17). The leaders who should groom

democracy have impacted negatively on its practice. Issues not in tandem

with democracy, grossly militates against its practice. A major stumbling

block to the sustainability of democracy relates to electoral conduct. At such

times, unhealthy practices like succession, violence, god-fatherism,

snatching of ballot boxes, disenfranchisement, and money-politics, among

others are employed to rig elections. The disadvantaged populace oftentimes

resorts to political apathy which has negatively affected democratic practice.

Also, rights of citizens appear to be a thorny issue as citizens suffers

discrimination, under the guise of non-indigene concept. The dismissal of

non-indigene civil servants in Abia state and the repatriation of Ibo’s by the

Lagos State government substantiate this. An unhealthy practice which has

affected democracy in Nigeria relates to the presence of an opposition. As a

tenet of democracy, the presence of a vibrant opposition gives room for

efficiency as the opposition group serves as a watch-dog against the

government. It criticizes policies and practices that are at variance with

democracy. Events in the political terrain have revealed that opposition

groups are perceived as political enemies that must be crushed. Their

presence appears nightmarish to the leader who employs every means to

crush such groups or persons. Artists are not left out as scores have suffered

Theatre and Democratic Practice in Nigeria: The Playwright as the Pivot of…. 3 intimidation, arrest and at some point death. The likes of Wole Soyinka,

Hubert Ogunde, Fela Kuti, and a host of others are testimonies to this fact.

Those who mask the truth, oftentimes turn out singing praises of politicians.

Sycophancy, a scourge in the nations politics have been employed to

ingratiate oneself, “This practice of flattery seems to be a tool employed by

misfits in government to seek for unnecessary favours. By so doing, they

eulogize the leaders with unrealistic half-truth statements and insincere

praise” (Iwumene, 60). This is an abnormal practice engaged by

unprincipled minds because they lack self-esteem. To Odey, these praise

singers are the greatest enemies of leaders as they sing praises even when

things have gone so bad (66). Insincere praise as it is being practiced among

the political class is tantamount to institutionalized treachery. This ugly

trend spells doom for the polity, as these toadies with their display inveigle

leaders. This does not mean that leaders are not aware of the real situation in

Nigeria, but oftentimes they claim to be ignorant of such depictions and

living conditions of the people.

Theatre has served in this capacity voicing out displeasures against the

ruling class. Playwrights have constantly challenged political malpractices

inherent in the nation. In A Restless Run of Locusts, Osofisan uses violence

and thuggery as themes to reflect on Nigerian politics. Rotimi’s Hopes of the

Living Dead paints the picture of Nigeria as a colony of lepers, while

Clark’s The Raft captures the nation adrift on tumultuous waters. Asigbo’s

The Reign of Pascal Amusu satirizes leadership ineptitude as electoral

misconduct seems the other of the day. On a sad note, Umukoro bemoans,

But Nigerians are not so lucky with their leadership. They

have dealers rather than leaders; plunderers rather than

builders; oppressors rather than liberators; politicians rather

than statesmen. And so, for over half a century, the country

has groped from one political crisis to the other, fleeced and

looted to a state of near bankruptcy... (177-178)

The situation drifts to disillusionment and playwrights have attempted at a

truthful depiction of these occurrences. The excerpt from Yerima’s Kaffir’s

Last Game substantiates this,

Proffesor: That is why we decided to grow and nurture our

own home-brewed grassroots democracy.

Theatre and Democratic Practice in Nigeria: The Playwright as the Pivot of…. 4

Mbulelo: Home-brewed democracy (chuckles). You

Nigerians make me laugh. Democracy a foreign

concept, it is either you practice democracy or you

don’t. You people have not even succeeded with

foreign one; you are talking of a home-brewed

grassroot democracy. Very funny concept... (26)

Yerima in this masterpiece attacks the idea of home-brewed democracy, a

concept devised by Sani Abacha and his Foreign Affairs Minister, Chief

Tom Ikimi. Mbulelo pokes fun at Nigerians with the adoption of home-

made democracy. It is worrisome that Nigeria celebrates Democracy on

every 29 May when in reality, pretentious practices characterize the home-

brewed democracy. Critics and scholars have maintained that Nigeria’s

democratic practice have been managed by despots who have stolen the

peoples mandates and yet act as ‘demi-gods’. Their Nigerian interpretation

and application of democracy is evident with multitude forms of oppression,

poverty, bad leadership the citizens are faced with. The playwright as the

chronicler of human conflict lampoons these contradictions as Asigbo puts

it, “…the quintessential artist is he who refuses to keep silent in the face of

tyranny” (16). As the mouthpiece of the society, he functions as the,

“…questioner and the implacable critic of the mores and attitude… of his

society, but he is also the exponent of the aspirations of his people”

(Breytenbach, 166). As the pivot of creativity, he raises questions and

criticizes the attitude of his society. The questions are directed at the

leadership class interrogating their style of leadership, at the same time, at

the populace conscientizing them to shun despondency, corruption and be

more proactive.

The fictional work of art Khakhigbada is used to x-ray the political

experiment in Nigeria. The playwright through this medium stimulates and

sustains the crucial awareness of the challenges assaulting democracy in

Nigeria. Through his craft, the playwright has unearthed malpractices

inherent in the home-brewed version of democracy practiced in Nigeria.

Synopsis of the play

Khakhigbada dramatizes the various dimensions of the contemporary

political life of the Greenwood State. Khakhigbada presents a ruler

intoxicated with power. Khakhigbada, the protagonist of the play, is the

Governor of Greenwood state whose insatiable quest for power consumes.

His perceived political opponent is the Secretary of the State Party, who

Theatre and Democratic Practice in Nigeria: The Playwright as the Pivot of…. 5 dared to point out that the Governor’s leadership style, is anti-people.

Khakhigbada schemed to destroy his political career by appointing him as a

Commissioner which he declines. Other members of the State party turn out

being sycophants even when it is obvious that the government is lacking in

good will. The governor employs libel and intimidation to pull the Secretary

down. His abuse of office manifests with his looting of the state treasury. He

has five houses in five different countries but fails to provide for the welfare

of the citizens as some of them starve for days. As the governor, his interest

is to build a formidable empire for his son whom he schemes to succeed

him. The feud between the governor and the Party Secretary makes the

governor to call off the wedding plans between his son and the Party

Secretary’s daughter, who is expecting a baby boy. The conflict heightens

that he masterminds setting the Secretary’s house ablaze; in the process the

fire consumes his only son and the Secretary’s only daughter, who are in the

country to conclude their final marital rites. Khakhigbada shoots the Vice

Chairman of the youth wing who almost confesses that the governor

masterminded the act. The authorities catch up with him as the Youth

Chairman fingers him as the mastermind of the inferno, and he would have

been tried and jailed but for the immunity clause.

Theatre and Democratic practice in Ubong Nda’s Khakhigbada

The play x-rays political practice in Greenwood state; it sheds light on how

democracy is enthroned in the nation and the level of participation of

political office holders who are portrayed as embezzlers and sycophants.

The plot structure is a logical one with events progressing as in a linear plot

with three acts. The action of the play unfolds, as protesters demonstrate

against the government of Khakhigbada with placards which has

inscriptions like, “We want full democracy”, “Down with imposition of

party executives”, “We want election not selection”. These protesters who

are chased away are referred to as unauthorized demonstrators. This allusion

makes mockery of democracy as citizens have a right to register protest

when they feel aggrieved. In relation to the accusation by the Chairman

against the Secretary that he organized demonstration to protest the list of

Local Government Party Executive members, the Secretary replies thus:

…I do not know why a demonstration against undemocratic

maneuvers should be seen in bad light in a democracy (9).

Theatre and Democratic Practice in Nigeria: The Playwright as the Pivot of…. 6

The Chairman’s accusation stems from the fact that the Party Secretary

criticized the Governor’s anti-people policies, thus, is seen as an enemy of

the government. Khakhigbada goes to the extent of fabricating and

crediting libelous interview to the Secretary. This attitude is condemnable

as opposition groups in government are seen as political enemies.

Oftentimes, protesters are not allowed to register their grievances as they

are dispersed by security operatives. Issues raised by these protesters

bother on poor democratic practice in the nation. It is glaring that election

is down played as selection tool as party members are imposed on the

electorate. This does not portray a functioning democracy as cases of

imposition of party members abound in the polity. Another group of

demonstrators approach, this second group of demonstrators contrasts the

initial group as they are praise-singers, who actually inveigled

Khakhigbada. This second group is referred to as the friendly group and

should be allowed free passage:

Inspector: … (The demonstrators sing and dance in,

displaying posters with inscriptions: “Khakhigbada

we are behind you” “Khakhigbada the Messiah”

“Ignore disgruntled elements” “No khakhigbada, No

government” “Khakhigbada forever” (They move

past with the policemen protecting and escorting

them) (3).

This is an unhealthy practice which has eaten deep into the minds of people.

This group of demonstrators is paid for this task. This is a clear indication of

institutionalized corruption as the masses are used as pawns to achieve the

leader’s selfish objective. Similarly, the Chairman, the Financial Secretary

and Treasurer of the State Party can be described as possessing fulsome

traits.

Chairman: How many times have you organized solidarity

demonstrations to his His (sic) Excellency’s office?

Fin Sec: Ah! Ah! Chairman, almost every month. Don’t you

remember the last one I had when three of those

boys died in a bus accident as they were going back

home?

Theatre and Democratic Practice in Nigeria: The Playwright as the Pivot of…. 7

Chairman: Yes… I think I remember that one. How many

villages in your area have you made to send

congratulatory message to His Excellency on radio

since we took over.

Fin Sec: Almost every village in my clan. In fact, I have

ensured that they send congratulatory messages to

His Excellency on his birthday, the anniversary of

his swearing-in, the anniversary of the day he

announced his intention to stand for election. All

those messages are always on radio and television. I

have even been recording them off air and sending

the cassettes to His Excellency’s office.

Chairman: But your clan has not given him any chieftaincy

title. Why?

Fin Sec: That one is coming. If he could just appoint this my

young in-law as commissioner, we will organize a

reception to thank him. And it is on that day that we

will give him a title. In fact, I have even started

thinking of the speech I will give on that day. Our

entire clan will declare its unflinching support for his

Excellency to go for a second term (5-6).

Equally the Treasurer’s solidarity visit with his group corroborates this:

Treasurer: Standing before you (referring to Khakhigbada) is

the true son of our land, the messiah of our time, the

grand developer of our state … Your Excellency;

here are your own people- the very people that you

have saved from underdevelopment. They have

mandated me to present this address of solidarity to

you… Indeed it is worthy to note that in spite of the

activities of your detractors and disgruntled

elements, you have done well that people will soon

stage demonstrations asking you to go for a second

term or call for an amendment of the constitution to

Theatre and Democratic Practice in Nigeria: The Playwright as the Pivot of…. 8

allow governors like you go for even third and

fourth terms (85-86).

This is an unbecoming practice which has been entrenched alongside with

democracy in the nation. These sycophants reel off unimaginable things just

to be in the good books of these leaders. Of all the feats claimed to have

been achieved by Khakhigbada, none is made explicit in the play which

goes to say they are mere fabrications. Sometimes, these sycophants urge

the leaders to go for second tenure so far as the government favours them.

Although second term is an international accepted political process where

the leader is re-elected, but its craze in Nigerian polity has negatively

affected development and democracy, as a good number of re-elected

leaders seize the opportunity to loot the state to stupor. A pertinent issue

raised by the playwright is the use of weapons to accompany protesters.

While the police dispersed the demonstrators, Corporal says:

If they had stretched me further, I would have used my

weapon (1).

Use of weapons when confronting protesters is wrong as cases abound when

police shoot innocent citizens who are fighting for a just cause. This is an

infringement on citizens’ right and thus is a negation of democratic practice.

One wonders why security operatives are heavily armed during

demonstrations. Demonstration is one of the ways citizens employ to

register their grievance against unacceptable actions, laws, pronouncements,

among others. But in Nigeria, demonstrators are seen as political enemies

whose views are suppressed to annihilate opposition. In some instances

demonstrators are arrested and at other times are threatened to abandon their

cause. Nepotism, which discourages meritocracy, appears to hamper

democratic process. This featured in the play as the Financial Secretary is

hell-bent on his brother-in-law being appointed a commissioner:

Fin Sec: I want to see the list, that list of new

commissioners; I want to be sure that my brother-in-

law has made it.

Chairman: Don’t worry,

Theatre and Democratic Practice in Nigeria: The Playwright as the Pivot of…. 9

Fin Sec: Please Chairman; I am ready to give anything to get

that boy into the Exco (5).

This shows how political positions are filled in the polity as favoritism is

employed as a yardstick against merit and skill. This has greatly affected

democracy in the nation as the principles guiding electoral conduct are

thrown aside and in its place, favoritism upheld. This has given rise to ‘god-

fatherism’ in the nation’s politics as the likes of Financial Secretary occupy

such positions:

Fin Sec: See… I have already spent millions getting the

house members to approve my candidate. Since

this administration started, this is the first time… a

close nominee of mine has made the list. And I am

eager to get back my money within the first six

months that the young man shall be commissioner.

Secretary: But that won’t be fair.

Fin Sec: To whom? To me or him?

Secretary: To the young man, to the state, to the society,

indeed to everyone (79).

This is pathetic as the political process has been mangled with all forms of

shoddy deals. It has become a money making venture as ‘god-fatherism’ is

now part and parcel of the system. The Secretary warns the Financial

Secretary about his attitude; using money to secure political position for his

in-law. He warns that such practice is not in the interest of the nation and

will stifle our democracy. Money politics is a bad omen in the nation’s

politics. Politicians adopt this strategy to get their candidates into political

positions, and recoup their expenses either in cash or by using their

candidate as a stooge to execute their wishes. This appears to be the case in

Anambra State on November 10, 2004 as Governor Chris Ngige was forced

to resign from office because he failed to meet the obligation of his ‘god-

father’, Chris Uba. Uba had requested three billion naira from the state

treasury. This is a clear evidence of corruption as these issues assault the

actualization of democracy in the nation. One may question, what is the

hope of democracy in Nigeria in the face of these challenges assaulting its

Theatre and Democratic Practice in Nigeria: The Playwright as the Pivot of…. 10 sustenance? It appears that ‘god fatherism’ and money politics have been

enthroned as creed for democratic practice in Nigeria as these corrupt acts

have continued to multiply unabated. One wonders about the potency of

anti-graft agency like Independent Corrupt Practices and other related

offence Commission (ICPC).

The rate of killings in the play is rife, instances being the disappearance

of a journalist whose article described Khakhigbada as being worse than a

worst military dictator (8), Khakhigbada shoots the Vice Chairman Youth

Wing, for burning people’s houses while in actuality he masterminds the act

which consumes his son and the daughter of the Party Secretary. The

Governors housekeepers’ son was shot during a shootout between two

political groups. The death of a couple as Madam reminisces:

…I have never forgotten that day… that day in 1983, when

they were both killed by stray bullets in a cross-fire between

the police and a political group protesting an election result

announcement (48).

The victims are the Lady’s parents. Also the mysterious death of Madam’s

first husband (now Khakhigbada’s wife) is attributable to Khakhigbada.

Khakhigbada, the governor, appears to be responsible for most deaths in the

play. This is ironical for a leader of a people to be their executioner and,

thus is a negation of democratic principles. The rate of incessant killings in

the play is rife that insecurity becomes the order of the day. This shows that

Khakhigbada has no respect for human life. His reply when policemen want

to arrest him for sponsoring the burning of the Secretary’s house is against

the tenets of democracy as political office holders hide under immunity

clause to perpetuate dastardly acts. He believes, like other authoritarian

leaders, that they are above the Constitution and their actions cannot be

questioned:

Khakhigbada:…(angrily) I am the Chief Executive, Chief

Security Officer, Chief Accounting Officer, Chief

Political Officer and Executive Governor of this

State. I have the power over life and death. I can

confirm and commune death sentences…. And I

have the ultimate power to determine who lives (32).

This is indeed a mockery of democracy as his actions and words bring to

mind the historical Caligula whose obsession with power led to his death.

Theatre and Democratic Practice in Nigeria: The Playwright as the Pivot of…. 11 Khakhigbada personifies tyrannical leaders whose ultimate goal is to crush

every possible opposition as he attempts with the Secretary, Treasurer,

Journalist, among others. Intimidation and elimination of opponents is a tool

which the likes of Khakhigbada in the society wield.

The issue of accountability comes to mind as the leaders are interested

in amassing public wealth. Their abridged definition of democracy as Dike

states is a “government of the people by a privileged few that can plunder,

squander, embezzle, mismanage, misappropriate, loot, siphon and hoard

public funds abroad” (9). Khakhigbada and his allies display poor

accountable practices as they loot state treasury without considering the

under-development they are plunging the nation into. He has houses in five

different countries outside Africa. This is a replica of what leaders in the

country do as they embezzle public fund to acquire assets in foreign

countries. A good example is the discovery of huge sum of money traced to

Late Gen. Sani Abacha. He was allegedly accused of looting this money and

stashing it away in Swiss account. The renowned Treasurer of the party is

found wanting on this issue as he embezzled funds from a contract awarded

to him. The Fin. Sec. whose interest is in money brings to limelight issues

relating to allowances:

Fin. Sec.: …. The last time you people argued like this

and scattered the meeting without paying our

sitting allowances. If that is where you people

are going again, can we please send for the

party cashier to pay my sitting allowance and

after that you can resume your quarrels (10).

Sitting, wardrobe, furniture, constituency allowances and security votes

appear to have been entrenched in the Constitution. It is alarming that

Abdulsalami Abubakar’s royal edict entitles the sum of three and half

million naira to each Senator and two and half million naira to House of

Representatives members as furniture allowance. There is no section in the

Constitution that stipulates security votes and yet this has dubiously been

legalized. Security votes as Chief of General Staff, Commodore Ebitu

Ukiwe reminisced to be ten thousand naira and fifteen thousand naira has

currently escalated to billions of naira. Iyare submits that “it constitutes a

major source of funneling money from the public treasury to private pockets

without being accounted for” (43). Thus, it appears that leaders are found

wanting on matters relating to accountability as their insatiable quest for

Theatre and Democratic Practice in Nigeria: The Playwright as the Pivot of…. 12 wealth induces them to ‘kleptocracy’. Instances of public office holders who

have amassed public fund abound, few being former Inspector General of

police; Tafawa Balogun, who stole twenty billion naira, the first Female

Speaker of House of Representatives, Patricia Eteh, Ibori’s two hundred and

fifty million dollars looting among others. This is a grievous situation as

poor accounting practices manifest virtually in all aspects of governance.

Democracy as it is practiced under Khakhigbada’s regime appears to be

a far cry from reality as virtually all tenets of democracy are made mockery

of. Elections are simply selection tools as party members whose interest is to

milk the citizens dry are imposed on the citizenry who remain alienated,

marginalized and trampled upon. The effect of Khakhigbada’s approach is

likened to Dike’s stance on partisan politics, “The result has been tyranny

and autocracy, with myriad negative effect on the political life of Nigeria”

(x).The dramatist sheds light on how elections are conducted to fill political

positions. The Party Chairman and Vice Chairman Youth Wing are not

elected but selected based on certain attributes they possess:

Khakhigbada: … and that is why I regret even your own

appointment (correcting himself) em…election, as

the Party Chairman… You are so naïve...

uninventive, so unintelligent…well… I think those

are the attributes that qualified you for the job in the

first place (30).

This is against the principle of free and fair election which is a prerequisite

for democracy. Selection as it is being employed in politics debilitates

democratic structures and exposes the system to abuse. More so it belittles

the right of the people to select their representatives through the ballot box

as friends are selected to fill political positions.

The nation that Nda deals with in his dramaturgy cannot be divorced

from the Nigerian situation which has witnessed varied forms of leadership

ineptitude. As a pivot of creativity, he presents a ruler obsessed with power,

whose tyrannical disposition makes the Party Secretary to be his sworn

enemy as he fights tooth and nail to remove him. To the Secretary,

Khakhigbada has failed to fulfill the promises the Party made to the people,

which is entrenching democracy, but instead practices ‘Khakhistorcracy’,

which is clothing a military man with civilian robes. The creative work

derives its title from this imagery as it is imbued with symbolism.

Khakhigbada and his cabinet are engrossed in official corruption as they

Theatre and Democratic Practice in Nigeria: The Playwright as the Pivot of…. 13 flagrantly embezzle public fund, promote god-fatherism, sycophancy,

assassination, and oppression, trample on citizens’ rights, electoral violence,

among others. His megalomaniac approach leads him to make mockery of

democratic process, at the same time; he siphons public funds to foreign

countries. Okorie reports that, a weekly magazine in the United States,

“once carried a news report that about $50 billion in the Swiss Banks

belonged to people without any name”. A little further, the report states that

most of the owners of the account are leaders of some impoverished African

nations (55), the situation is pathetic and at the same time sympathetic as

leaders fail to uphold democracy, browbeat citizens and amass public wealth

under the guise of national cake.

Thus, the dramatist, as a mirror of societal happenings reflects these

issues in his works. The citizens’ disposition remains an issue of concern as

their negative response (political inaction, sycophancy) as seen in

Khakhigbada mars the essence of democracy in Nigeria. It is glaring that the

leadership class distances herself from the citizens who empowered her

through the ballot box. They amass wealth meant for the development of the

nation, leaving the citizens to wallow in abject penury. The miasma so

created poses a serious threat to the continual existence of the polity

resulting in crisis. This has resulted in political apathy as the citizens’ hope

for the future appears bleak. It is imperative to point out that the demeaning

condition the citizens are immersed in hinges on the hydra - headed vice,

corruption. Its resultant effect can be seen in poor accountable practices of

public officers whom allegations trail on looting of the national treasury.

Also, the stealing of the people’s mandate turns out being a perturbing issue

as elections have been down played as selection tools where the ruling party

selects candidates to perpetuate their whims and caprices. In some cases, the

stooge is answerable to the “god-father”, who dictates the business of

governance, thus marring the essence of democracy. Elections have been

characterized with rigging which has matured and taken the form of

violence. Political opponents are repressed and sometimes eliminated during

elections.

Youths, the leaders of tomorrow, have been empowered in the wrong

direction by politicians. Each round of election spells doom as they are

being rearmed to trouble an already traumatized and distressed nation. The

effect of this excruciating experience is manifold as it has aggravated the

state of disillusionment of the citizens, instilled fear in men of integrity to

view politics as a devilish encounter, annihilated prospects to revivify the

economy, comatose efforts by men of good will to constructively criticize

Theatre and Democratic Practice in Nigeria: The Playwright as the Pivot of…. 14 the ills of governance and accelerate the emergence of miscreants on the

corridors of power. The Demonstrators who served as praise singers are the

same group who burnt the Party Secretary’s house. They are being used for

this dishonourable job by the governor. This can be seen as a way of

empowerment by leaders as they recruit youths for such devilish acts. It is

no longer news that some university undergraduates are recruited to carry

out electoral malpractice. These students are provided with sophisticated

weapons to achieve their mission. This is a bad omen for the nation.

Poor accountable culture has affected democratic practice in the polity.

The play under study attempted at thorough treatment of the issue.

Democracy as some quarters maintain is a fraud and an illusion in the nation

and autocracy is the order, thus, the malaise corruption has assumed

monstrous proportion, ranging from bribes and embezzlement of public

funds, kickbacks, gross mismanagement. In Nigeria, money politics seems

the order of the day, consequently there is the need to fight the malaise of

corruption.

Conclusion Thus far, the research has x-rayed through Nda’s Khakhigbada problematic

issues confronting theatre and democratic practice in Nigeria. Among the

issues the playwright raised, it is observed that the electoral process is

oftentimes flawed, as rigging has been adopted as a canon for

electioneering. Leaders in the quest for power mar electoral guidelines by

perpetuating themselves in office, as the likes of Khakhigbada adopt

selection to enthrone their candidate. This mars democratic practice as

citizens’ right is made mockery of. Power, as it is believed in a democratic

setting, should reside with the people to pave way for a fruitful democratic

practice in the nation.

The truth be told, Nigeria as a nation has not made remarkable

achievements in sustaining democratic practice judging from the play, as

‘the government of the people, by the people and for the people’, has been

punctured and punctuated with bottlenecks, and the tenets of democracy has

not been upheld. In place of majority rule, minority rule seems the order of

the day, as few elites usurp power and thwart credible elections to incredible

elections with crude forms of election rigging, including hijack of votes and

disenfranchisement. A tenet of democracy now made laughable is the rule of

law. Its modern interpretation is the ‘rule of men’ as supremacy of the law is

a contentious issue. Also poor accountable acts exhibited by public officers

are daunting, as corruption has penetrated all spheres of public life. Thus,

Theatre and Democratic Practice in Nigeria: The Playwright as the Pivot of…. 15 the study contends that undemocratic acts exhibited by both leaders and

followers will only water and fuel the path to bad governance. Finally, the

dramatist has chronicled these conflicts assaulting democracy. By x-raying

these contradictions in the polity, the dramatist have painstakingly,

documented the abridged version of half-baked-democracy practiced in the

nation. The complexity of theatre lies in its strength to confront the intrigues

and scheming of the political class. As a pivot of creativity, Nda has not

relented to lend his voice to the litany of crimes bedeviling the nation.

Through his craft, he has consciously raised awareness on these anomalies

stifling democratic practice in Nigeria.

Recommendations

Efforts at upholding democratic tenets appear to be a flash in the pan as the

government pays lip service to urgent issues of national importance.

Concerted efforts should be made towards safeguarding the practice of

democracy so that its dividends will be manifest. Good and purposeful

leadership inspires confidence in the citizens. Promises from Nigerian

leaders seem but political promises which are half-truths. Promises are not

marched by action, thus, making fun of governance. Leaders should exhibit

charismatic qualities that are befitting of leaders, and the citizens, on their

part, should give unflinching support to the leaders for the smooth running

of government. A change of heart is sued for, on the part of the leaders, to

forge the nation ahead. Abandoning vices by them will enhance good

governance.

Punitive measures should be taken by government to discipline public

officers involved in corrupt practices to serve as a deterrent for others. The

issue of sacred cows should be looked into as no one is above the

constitution. Everyone is equal before the law thus offenders should be

punished accordingly. Immunity clause should be looked into as it has given

incumbent leaders the impetus to act above constitutional provisions. All

forms of injustice and disrespect for the rule of law should be addressed.

Youth empowerment should be in the positive direction to curb rising

crime in the polity. Government should provide jobs for the teeming

population. There should be a revisit to abandoned projects as these projects

would have engaged the services of greater percentage of the citizens.

Contractors who abandon projects should be disciplined appropriately. As a

way of curbing unauthorized use of arms during demonstrations, security

operatives should be banned from carrying arms during demonstrations to

curb the killing of protesters. They should accompany protesters with

Theatre and Democratic Practice in Nigeria: The Playwright as the Pivot of…. 16 batons, tear gas, and cudgel, water cannons, among others. Anomalies

characteristic of electoral conduct should meet stiffer judicial sanctions. It is

not enough for the courts to upturn stolen mandates, there should be a law

that empowers the judiciary to recover salaries, allowances of leaders with

stolen mandate. In the case of non-availability of funds, the person’s assets

should be confiscated and auctioned to recover the loot.

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