Impunity as the bane of contemporary Nigeria social-political development on examination of Niyi Osundare’s The State Visit

Abstract

The traditional role of an African writer is that he is the conscience of his society. He should serve as the record of the mores and experiences of his society and the voice of vision in his own time. Niyi Osundare has demonstrated his awareness of these in his play The State Visit. He x-rays how the leadership of Yakeland rules the state with impunity sacking his ministers and aides, diverting resources meant for the development of agriculture, and ignoring the vulnerable in society. The paper, apart from dilating on all of these, shall look at the messages the playwright tries to put across to Nigerians particularly the need for the masses to be aware of their situation and the need for resistance.