The Last Green Bottle: Dictatorship In Chinua Achebe's Anthills of the Savannah by Omowunmi Segun

Anthills of the Savannah remains topical two decades after it was first published. The novel is about leadership and the excessive use of power in the fictional West African country of Kangan. The novel, which is also about organisational behaviour, gives an insight into how characters interact, resulting in conflicts and shifting allegiances within the top management.

The plot revolves around the trio of Sam, who is head of state, Chris, a member of his cabinet and Ikem, Editor of the Gazette. The trio, bound together by their school tie, could also be likened to a business partnership in which the partners have discernible strengths and weaknesses. Sam is considered the all rounder and socialite, Ikem, the intellectual and Chris, somewhere in between the two. The three friends are strong allies until Sam’s power as the Chief Executive intoxicates him and begins to change the dynamics of the team.

When Sam assumes leadership of the country unexpectedly, he naturally enlists the support of his friends by placing them in key positions. Chris, in fact, helps Sam to identify and recruit most of the members of the cabinet. There is mutual trust and respect among the three until an unhealthy rivalry creeps in, mainly as a result of a change in Sam’s attitude and leadership style, which transforms him from an affable socialite to a monstrous dictator.

The reason for Sam’s metamorphosis is given by Ikem who notes that Sam’s
“…major flaw was that all he ever wanted was to do what was expected of him, especially by the English whom he admired sometimes to the point of foolishness.”

We also learn that Sam is swayed from his initial ambition to go to medical school by the military exploits of his English Headmaster. Sam is so impressionable that others easily influence him, positively or negatively, depending on whom he sees as his role model. Unfortunately, his choice of a role model as a leader is an octogenarian dictator whom he meets at an OAU meeting shortly after he becomes head of state. This trait in him makes him an unstable leader and impairs his judgement of members of his team and events going on around him. He is therefore susceptible to deceit and manipulation.

Not surprisingly, Sam’s leadership style engenders a climate of fear in which only the foolhardy dare to contradict him or offer advice. This is all too apparent at the management (cabinet) meeting where Chris, who is Commissioner for Information, attempts to persuade Sam to make a conciliatory move towards the people of Abazon who largely opposed Sam’s bid to perpetuate himself in power. The presence of the Abazon people fuels Sam’s anger because it is a sore reminder of the lack of support that he received from his closest allies - Chris and Ikem – during his campaign for life presidency.

There is no doubt that Sam’s divide and rule tactics cause disaffection within the team, however, the crisis between Chris and Ikem which borders on injured professional pride is as a result of Chris’ attempts to censor Ikem’s fiery editorials in order to protect him from the wrath of Sam. Ikem resents this and there is constant quibbling over professional ethics which blinds both of them to the unfolding drama and to the fact that their jobs, and more importantly, lives would soon be at stake. Chris is, however, the first to recognise that he and Ikem have lost favour with Sam but he does not say anything to Ikem until it becomes obvious that they are in way above their heads. On learning about their predicament, Ikem says:

“If Chris had reported this to me at the time I should have insisted that we both resign there and then and we would not be in this mess today.”

This situation in which Chris and Ikem find themselves is not unusual among top managers where endless in fighting often leads to witch-hunting with the affected persons ultimately being axed from the team, sometimes with such devastating results in which careers and lives are completely destroyed. Chris’ attempt to resign when confronted with Sam’s high handedness and complete disregard for the rule of law is rebuffed. At this point, both he and Ikem know that the situation is hopeless and they adopt different strategies to try and salvage their situation. Chris feels it is better to lie low in the hope that the crisis will blow over; Ikem decides to be confrontational and publicly condemns the regime at a lecture organised by the students union. This precipitates the events that follow. Ikem not only loses his job, but also pays dearly with his life. Chris goes underground from where he exposes the atrocities being committed under Sam’s regime to the world press. He is, consequently, declared wanted purportedly for his role in an attempted coup. Although he manages to escape, he is killed in an unrelated incident.

Sam’s attempt to hold on to power by eliminating dissenters within the regime and replacing them with stooges and sycophants makes his position vulnerable. One of those he considers loyal to him – the Chief of Army Staff - turns out to be after his job and overthrows him. The Chief of Army Staff also goes on to eliminate anyone he thinks was loyal to Sam such as Colonel Ossai. Interestingly, there are survivors like Captain Abdul Medani who acts as a double agent and plays a key role in paving the way for Chris’ escape. He is able to keep suspicion at bay and maintain his position within the new regime.

Anthills of the Savannah is a must read for managers and all those who aspire to leadership positions. Its appeal lies in the author’s vision, creative use of language, and mastery of the craft.