A man of the people by 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 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 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 had come 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...