Consequence
of corruption
Book: A
Plague of Gadflies
Author: Paul
Emema
Publisher:
Visual Network Press
Pages: 118
Year: 2011
Reviewer: Ada Dike
A Plague of Gadflies mirrors the issues of a special breed
called the Royal Blood, largely in control of political and economic power
breaches a long-standing traditional process of choosing a successor to the
ancestral throne of kingship. This happens at a time when the spiritual and
ritual festival of peace, Egba is to be observed. Spurred on by the realisation
that people’s last functional vestige of tradition is about to be erased.
Crossfire between the traditional warlords and political reformists ensures, bringing
the peaceful village of Ovrode to the brink of disintegration.
Emema hints that, to control the rising rebellion against
his kingship, the traditional, Ovie Ogbighe Okumagba –‘the Night Fox’ indicts
his king’s men and appeals to the spirit of his ancestors. However, the spurious
twist of fate that follows catches the glow of Night Fox’s rule fading in the
pool of sins and deaths that haunts his smooth and convincing façade of
innocence.
This historic drama is a satire of the abominable sins of
the political class in Africa. He highlights issues of bedevilling Nigeria
including corruption, which has led to uprisings in many African countries
including Chad, Mali and so on. He dedicated this book to the healing of
Nigeria and all God’s wounded children in Africa.
A Plague of Gadflies
set in Niger Delta highlights the imbalance in the control of resources at the
expense of the poverty-stricken communities caused by corruption.
This book touches
issues about family relationships, traditions, social and traditional issues. It
concerns a village in early 20th century about a certain village in
which there are a lot of complaints between the populace and the ruler in
Ovrode. The selected chief (The Royal Blood) without having feelings for the
people enrich themselves with slaves and concubines and wives, low-level Samson
Akpojaro, the half-brother of Isaiah often complains.
There comes a time when Okumagba will select his chief. He
selects Isaiah Akpojaro, who was wealthy but childless. Meanwhile the culture
states that a childless person cannot be king so the populace rejects him and
threatens to cause mayhem. Samson and Ochonogo team up with the people to
challenge the corrupt regime. Many houses are burnt during the Egba festival.
After 23 years of Okumagba’s regime, he slips. “I, Gideon Ogbighe Okumagba –
The Night Fox – as I live, and because my noble ancestors watch over my throne
night and day, I pronounce your exile to Bini Kingdom until your deaths.”
Truth is revealed that Okumagba collected bags of cowries
and parcels of land from Isaiah so the people tell him that he will no longer
be their king. He banishes himself.
This book teaches that a society cannot move forward if it
accepts bad or corrupt leader.
A Plague of Gadflies was written by a man endowed with a lot
of talents. He is a writer, producer of drama series including Behind The Cloud
and Supple Blues. In the 1990s, he did other works like Intended Outcomes, a
drama targeted to promote positive social re-integration. He’s one of the
producers and directors of I Need To Know,
an educative television series sponsored by the United Nations Funds for population
Activities (UNFPA). Emema believes that every Nigerian has a role to play, that
is why he revealed the way out. He garnished this story with proverbs. Quite
interesting story, it was written in simple English. Whoever picks up this book
will not drop it till he or she finishes reading it. There was no grammatical
error noticed.
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