Aremu's father, Adetoye, is set ablaze with 2 of his children by thugs from
a rival political party. Only Aremu survives.
Later on, the military takes over. When the military decides to hand over
to the civilians, Aremu surprisingly goes into politics despite his wife
Funmilayo's pleadings that he remembers the circumstances of his father's
death. Aremu is the main campaigner for his party and is promised the post
of Petroleum Minister if the party wins. He meets Clara (from Edo State)
and eventually brings her in as his second wife.
Funmilayo travels to complain to her mother but is crushed to death by a
speeding trailer in front of Obafemi Awolowo University , Ile-Ife.
Funmilayo's mother, Moradeyo, dies of shock because Funmilayo is her only
surviving child.
When Ajagbe passes his SSCE in flying colours, Clara tries to poison him
several times but fails. His late mother's words of caution makes him lock
his room even when he wants to spit, thus preventing Clara from entering
his room and poisoning his foodstuffs. He cooks his own food because Clara
refused to cook for him. Eventually, Clara gets Aremu to kick him out and
disown him by lying that he has kicked her in the belly. Aremu doesn't
listen to Ajagbe's side of the story.
Ajagbe's maternal grandfather borrows money to sponsor his education,
promising to pay back 7 years later after he has graduated and gotten a
job. Ajagbe graduates as a medical doctor but can't get a job. He is asked
to get a politician's endorsement letter or give them money. Ajagbe's
grandpa's creditor gets tired of waiting and brings thugs who club the old
man to death.
Meanwhile, Aremu's party wins but someone else is made the Petroleum
Minister , with no other post for him. When he goes to the house of
Gbádégẹṣin(a party chieftain) to protest, the latter brands him a thief and
gets him imprisoned. Clara sells off all his property and leaves with her
son.
Ajagbe goes to Lagos and eventually joins a gang of armed robbers, most of
whom are also unemployed graduates. He meets Kẹ́mi , a fellow unemployed
graduate of the same university, who has become a prostitute and confides
in her. When a radio broadcast alerts them of a police hunt for armed
robbers, the gang members leave Lagos for their various hometowns.
Kẹ́mi hears of the mouth-watering price promised the informant and squeals
on the gang. Fortunately for Ajagbe, he is returning to their hotel base
after dropping his girlfriend Ṣèyí at her home. He hears gunshots and
drives away from Osogbo to Maiduguri. He gives his life to Jesus and
becomes a pastor. While doing prison tours with fellow church members, he
meets his father Aremu in prison and the latter collapses and dies on
seeing him.
As if jinxed, Ajagbe decides to return to his hometown, Èjìgbà-ìlẹ̀kẹ̀, for
politics. He witnesses the execution of his former comrades-in-crime,
"Sergeant" and "Kọ́bùrù "("Corporal") . His eyes meet Kẹ́mi's and he
discovers from her conversation with someone else that she is the squealer.
Kọ́bùrù gives a touching speech before his execution on how politicians'
embezzlement and widespread corruption pushed them into crime. According to
him (on page 92 of the book) , "Ọmọ ènìyàn ló k'ẹ́sin lóró ; ẹṣin ò níkà
nínú " (i. e. man taught a horse wickedness; a horse is not basically
wicked).
Two weeks later, Ajagbe is shot dead on the podium while campaigning for
his party. Kẹ́mi leaves the campaign venue and drinks poison on getting to
her room. Her father's efforts to save her life fails.
▪
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