A
MAN OF THE
PEOPLE.(1966)CHINUA ACHEBE. A man of the people is a captivating novel that guarantees you an entertaining and breath taking time as you continue reading page by page. Chinua Achebe has used very creatively the political history of his country Nigeria to form the basis of this
book, A man of the people captures the indiscretions of African leaders and their un level playing field when it comes to political issues. The book also captures the ills of the ruling class represented by
Chief Nanga and his cronies in power, the likes of Chief Koko.
A man of the people starts with the now famous lines among literature students in Africa, “No one can deny that Chief the Honorable M.A. Nanga, M.P., was the most approachable politician in the country…” The book is written using the I narrator perspective and therefore, the above lines are said by Odili Samalu. Odili of course comes out strongly as being a major character in the text and the main rival of Chief Nanga. The book starts out at a function at the Anata Grammar School where Odili teaches and the functions chief guest is none other than Chief Nanga. He was due to address the staff and the students at the schools’ Assembly Hall. The villagers of course not being able to keep away from such an important visit by the area Member of Parliament thronged the Assembly Hall to capacity. In fact the narrator tells us that the Assembly hall must have carried more than thrice its capacity.
The people
went out of their way to welcome the politician. We are told various dancing groups were performing at different points in the school compound as they awaited the arrival of the chief guest, Chief Nanga.
Chief Nanga was able to recognize his favorite pupil sixteen years back when he used to teach in standard three, Odili was over whelmed at Chief Nangas’ good memory. Nanga invited Odili to his
home in Bori, the Capital.
Odili disagreed with Chief Nanga after he Chief Nanga shamelessly slept with Odilis’ Girlfriend Elsie in his matrimonial home. Odili could not stomach this insult to his manhood and he had a verbal spurt with Chief Nanga which led to him leaving his home and went to stay with his friend Maxwell Kulamo a lawyer.
This was the beginning of the bitter rivalry between Odili and Nanga. Maxwell Kulamo known as “Coolmax” by his friends back at the Grammar School consoled Odili and together with other of his friends formed a party called Common People’s Convention. (The C.P.C).
Maxwell was to run against Chief Koko in the next Election and Odili readily accepted to join the party and run against Chief Nanga. They went ahead to implement the plans and went the full way to the elections. However, it was not a simple affair for them as the incumbents used all that was available to their disposal to stop this new crop of politicians from humiliating them in the Elections.
Chief Nanga for example planted crude weapons on Odilis car and he was put under arrest for possession of dangerous arms. Nanga made sure that Odili naver had a chance to sign his nomination papers.
Maxwell Kulamo was killed in Abaga by Chief Koko. He was ran over by one his jeeps when alighting from his vehicle. Eunice, Max’s Girlfriend, pulled out a pistol immediately and fired two bullets into Chief Koko’s chest as revenge for felling her boyfriend.
Chinua Achebe has described what African politics is explicitly in this book and I would recommend it to any one for reading and for any one who wishes to have an insight of African dirty Political gimmicks Finnaly I end this Abstract with Odili’s final words in he book; “I say you died a good death if your life had inspired someone to come forward and shoot your murderer in the chest- without asking to be paid.”
Article by,
PHILIP ETYANG.
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