Between the Watchdog and the Absolute Ruler: A Review of Chinua Achebe's Anthills of the Savannah by Samuel Oluwaseun Adeyemi
Like a soothsayer looking straight into his crystal ball and foretelling events that are yet to unfold on the political terrain and corporate governance. And at the same time standing on the mount to preach the sermon of the blessed are the…,
Professor Achebe, the master story teller himself, in Anthills of the Savannah cuts the picture of a prophet and a patriot.
A prophet by daring to look beyond the horizon to predict the rise and fall of a dictator and a patriot by warning other would be leaders of the danger of taking their followers for granted.
In form, the book is basically a political satire that mirrors the emergence of General Sam who perhaps has imbibed all the political philosophy of Nicolo Machiavelli’s message in his book The Prince and Robert Greene’s 48 laws of power, to unleash terror on his subjects and those that dare to check his excesses.
With fire in his belly, and a passion to right the wrong, Mr Ikem who is a poet, journalist and a childhood friend of General Sam, so much believed that journalism should serve as a watchdog and not a lapdog to the government of the day.
Through his writing in the National Gazette editorial page, Mr Ikem made the atmosphere uncomfortable for General Sam not minding the fact that the medium was government owned. But this was short-lived as he was booted out by General Sam, and undeterred he went on defending the cause of the masses.
Trailing the path of Ikem is Mr Chris Oriko, also a friend of General Sam who is the Commissioner for Information who insists that the absolute ruler visits the people of Abazon to sympathize with them on their problem of draught. Hence, relations were severed between General Sam and Chris. And as a principled man, his intention was to resign his appointment but for the fear of the unknown he stayed put.
The foregoing brings to the fore the vivid picture of our corporate world and political arena full of ruthless leaders at the helm of affairs. These leaders rose to their position without understanding the nitty-gritty of managing people and resources and as a result they failed to deliver.
These leaders break every known rule and cook the books in order to have their way in the ever highly competitive corporate world and any dissenting voice is quenched in the process. But in the long run they get what they deserve.
Professor Achebe, the master story teller himself, in Anthills of the Savannah cuts the picture of a prophet and a patriot.
A prophet by daring to look beyond the horizon to predict the rise and fall of a dictator and a patriot by warning other would be leaders of the danger of taking their followers for granted.
In form, the book is basically a political satire that mirrors the emergence of General Sam who perhaps has imbibed all the political philosophy of Nicolo Machiavelli’s message in his book The Prince and Robert Greene’s 48 laws of power, to unleash terror on his subjects and those that dare to check his excesses.
With fire in his belly, and a passion to right the wrong, Mr Ikem who is a poet, journalist and a childhood friend of General Sam, so much believed that journalism should serve as a watchdog and not a lapdog to the government of the day.
Through his writing in the National Gazette editorial page, Mr Ikem made the atmosphere uncomfortable for General Sam not minding the fact that the medium was government owned. But this was short-lived as he was booted out by General Sam, and undeterred he went on defending the cause of the masses.
Trailing the path of Ikem is Mr Chris Oriko, also a friend of General Sam who is the Commissioner for Information who insists that the absolute ruler visits the people of Abazon to sympathize with them on their problem of draught. Hence, relations were severed between General Sam and Chris. And as a principled man, his intention was to resign his appointment but for the fear of the unknown he stayed put.
The foregoing brings to the fore the vivid picture of our corporate world and political arena full of ruthless leaders at the helm of affairs. These leaders rose to their position without understanding the nitty-gritty of managing people and resources and as a result they failed to deliver.
These leaders break every known rule and cook the books in order to have their way in the ever highly competitive corporate world and any dissenting voice is quenched in the process. But in the long run they get what they deserve.
posted by Wunmi Segun at 12:30 AM
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