This study examines the application language and speech for the purpose of deception as a means of achieving concealment of information as portrayed in two plays of a Nigerian playwright Emeka Nwabueze. Thus, this study attempts to discuss some typologies of deception and concealment of information as a means of understanding better, the reasons and circumstances that inform the description of concealment of information as good, bad, devious, ugly, legal or illegal. This attempt will help us to interpret why and when concealment of information as well as deception are essential in achieving survival, progress, redress, defence, discovery, illumination, satisfaction or vendetta directly or indirectly. Though concealment of information can occur through inaction and nonverbal mediums, we are focusing on deception through language and speech, and how worldview aids in locale specific definition and perception of forms of deception and concealment of information. The discussion in this study revolves around interpretive analysis approaches as means of accessing applicability of some theories of concealment and deception in describing behaviours in these categories as universal common with shades of interpretive community perspectives. Lastly, the didactic relevance of Nwabueze’s projection of presumed propelling forces and the consequences of concealment of information in the plays understudy, subsumes the understanding of deception as a universal common with trajectories of interpretive community suppositions.

This paper presents a critical comparative inquiry aimed at discussing patterns of Chinua Achebe’s A Man of the People and Emeka Nwabueze’s A Parliament of Vultures, portrayal, definition, situation as well as contextualization of political corruption and charlatanry in Nigeria. In addition, we are looking at how the texts’ application of the same literary device in projecting similar massages through biting satirical undertones, scathing rebukes and grim humour. Hence, we shall examine the effectiveness of this device in specific instances. To this end, this study seeks to interpret the embedded messages in the texts’ projections of corruption and charlatanry through two characters – Chief Nanga in A Man of the People and Mrs. Omeaku in A Parliament of Vultures. Furthermore, our aim is to explain what the texts view as the immediate and future consequences of the alluded negative vices to the society, espouse on the variables they adduce as the propelling forces, understand better their suppositions on why these vices fester, and adumbrate on suggestions from the texts on how these vices can be eradicated or contained. To carry out this discussion, we are applying theories espousing on reasons behind corruption in politics, and our discussion will be hinged on interpretive approach.