A Man of the People by Chinua Achebe
A Man of the People is a first-person account of Odili, a
school teacher in a fictional country closely resembling post-colonial
Nigeria. Odili receives an invitation from his former teacher, Chief
Nanga, who is now the powerful but corrupt Minister of Culture. As
Minister, Nanga's job is to protect the traditions of his country
especially when he is known as "A Man of the People". Instead, his
position is used to increase his personal wealth and power that proves
particularly alluring to Odili's girlfriend; she cheats on him with the
minister. Seeking revenge, Odili begins to pursue the minister's
fiancee.
Odili agrees to lead an opposition party in the face of both bribes and violent threats. Then there is a military coup...
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