Politics of Betrayal in Henry L. Bell-Gam’s the Hidden Treasure

This paper explores the politics of betrayal in Henry L. Bell-Gam’s The Hidden Treasure, situating the dramatic text within the socio-political and cultural landscape of the Niger Delta. Anchored in conflict theory, the study critiques how betrayal by political elites and traditional authorities erodes communal cohesion, stalls development, and undermines justice in postcolonial African societies. Bell-Gam’s work is analyzed alongside related Nigerian plays such as Ola Rotimi’s Our Husband Has Gone Mad Again, Femi Osofisan’s Once Upon Four Robbers, and Ojaide’s Niger Delta poetry to illuminate how drama mirrors the persistent disillusionment with leadership in the region. The paper affirms that through betrayal, greed, and foreign collusion, communal wealth becomes a source of disintegration rather than empowerment.