CHARACTER ANALYSIS

Miedia: He is a protagonist of the novel. Miedia is an avctivist in the Movement for the Survival of Izon Communities (MOSIC). He becomes a militant youth to solidify his Chief’s second tenure.

Miedia fights for the protection of his people and for resource control, but in the end he is betrayed by his Chioef, the priest behind his powera and the youth leaders he looked up to. Yet, he fights on for his people by sparing the life of Chief Peredou( his Chief who betrays him).

Miedia’s mark …
“because our sources of livelihood, our rivers and seas, are polluted with oil from spillages. Our lands can no longer yield fruits because of acid rain from gas flaring from multinational companies.
To add to our woes, we do not have roads or hospitals but much of the wealth of this country comes from my community. We cannot get good jobs also as these big oil companies are headed by people from non-oil-producing communities. I am a militant youth because of my will to survive. This is the only way for me to express my grievance because even those we voted into power to speak for us have joined them and have now started developing potbellies. We are not lazy. We are not crazy. We are just oppressed. We are wounded lions. We are militant youths. That is the only way left for us. For us to be heard. For them to know we exist.

Miedia is used to symbolize the depraved yet patriotic citizens.

Chief Peredou: He is the antagonist of the novel. Chief Perdou is the weathy and influencial chief of the oil-rich Oloibiri. Out of greed, he corners money meant for the community to his pocket.

He receives money to turn a blinfd eye to the oilk spillage in his community and also to keep his people calm, that is from claiming their rights.. he turns the youths into militants, gives them powers, arms and ammunition and assurance of good jobs and money. He reveals the hideout and secret powers of the militant youth when they become restless (as hbe fails in all his promises and even avoids them). In the end, he has a change of heart as Miedia spares his life.

Chief Peredou at the beginning …

““…Chief Peredou had always been receiving extra money as they saw he had control over his subjects. The amount of money on his table would be used to send his children to school, he decided. How could he misuse this opportunity? He was ready to do anything now for exploit oil.”


Chief Peredou in the end…

“he would use his resources to help the youth and give as many people who were willing to study scholarships and create job opportunities for as many people as he could with his connections.”

Olotu: He is a major character that develops throughout the novel, surprising the reader in the end. Olotu is the one who creates MOSIC, and is very passionate about the welfare of his people. Though not a militant youth, Olotu fought for the cause of his people in his own way. He organizes the people, teaches them their rights and obligations and creates a forum for the fight against bad leadership and the oil companies.

He is bitter at the state of his people, thinking that they would be a developed people when he comes back from abroad. In the end of the novel, Olotu becomes what he fought against for a long time: a bad leader. He becomes a cause of worry to the public, surprising everybody with his turn around.

Olotu’s mark at the beginning…

“Olotu encouraged the youths to encouraged the youths to engage in the activities of the village…we do not want people who will betray us…we must look for good leaders first before we take the case to the outside world…”

Olotu’s mark in the end…

“Don’t allow those boys in… they are rogues and hooligans… Olotu had been installed by the government in power despite many protests…”

Chief Inemo: He is a Chief, who wins the local government election with the help of Chief Peredou and the militant youths. He also promises the youth heaven and earth, but fails and avoids them, later encouraging the government to war against them. He retains his evil character till the end.

Gbasa: Gbasa is a militant youth, whom Chief Peredou uses for his dirtier works. He smokes and supplies Indian hemp. In the end he occupies a political appointment.

Jack Forrest: he is a white rig worker who falls in love with Tutu, a native of Oloibiri. He has a change of heart on meeting her, and determines to be a different man around her.

Baba: He is priest of Egbesu who infuses the powers of anti-bullet in the militant youths. Yet, he betrays them for four million naira.

Other characters include: 
Izonbodie,Chief Ari and Ikiou, Ebiboere, King Alfred Diete-spiff, Chief G. F. Aganba, mr Osagie, etc.

            
          THEMES
(1) The cankerous effect of bad leadership and corruption.
(2)  Ignorance equals destruction
(3) The chaotic nature of depraved citizens


              Poem

And finally, when the sun sets at our beginning 
and evil flawlessly be winning 
and we be loyal and willing 
then always the story will be known and royal 
how we the future sunrise reaped a bountiful harvest of betrayal. 
             -Amabebe Alexander