TENANTS OF THE HOUSE
BY WALE OKEDIRAN
The book’s uncontested star is ofcourse, the president; a Chief Ambrose Oneya, a caricature; sloppy, foul-mouthed chief executive whose only ways to do things was to stampede everyone into doing whatever he wanted done, done his way and who never believed, until he was humiliatingly humbled, that Nigerian and Nigeria as a country was not an extension of his play thing and back-yard, where he could with careless abandon wax his wand. The portrayal of the cleverness with which his aids and confidant helped to undo him is particularly refreshing, given what he thought was his benevolent status to all and sundry.
Wale Okediran’s crafting of the role of the speaker and his deputy as clever, independent, determined, focused but most of all as politician with ‘no permanent friend or enemy’ is very touching: the poetry reading, counter espionage speaker, the fun loving and cocaine sniffing deputy, the bribery and sleepless nights they all were involved with, all helps the story along nicely. Of note is also the bungling security network, exposed as confused lots, unreliable, open to manipulation and being used.
The ‘Tenants of the House’ is a lovely and enjoyable read. One thing is clear - the book is plated so flawlessly that it is hard, if not impossible to be sure where the fictional fabricating stops and reality sets in. And this is so because of the smart tactic of cleverly manipulating and working vital information into the historical descriptions. So, for every reader, say for instance, those with high interest on historical facts or conspiracy theory ,... would find enough to feed their curiosity;...filing and filling the gap on some of the happenings that only an insider can reveal but for majority others out to read a fictional novel for fun, surely, Okediran has freely, deftly and beautifully made things up to make their day. For examples, to mention few characters, - honourable Samuel Bakura who without doubt livens things up with his resolute, stubborn, persevering and painful pursuit of a nineteen year old Fulani girl he falls in-love with but yet has to cope with an old flame; the sizzling Elizabeth Bello, a fellow honourable, who, on discovering Bakura’s plans to marry his ‘tomato-faced Fulani girl,’ would do whatever it takes to stop it. So, having to be trapped and torn ... in the middle of two very beautiful women and grappling with the grueling work load of being a honorable member ... and in a crisis ridden house, ... his world and work was certainly cut out— “Tenants of the House” is truly, a clever fictional invention indeed.
The book is written with distinct point of views and each character is shown to express this richly; the president, chief Ambrose Oneya, speaks and is seen in his riotous state and shown as clearly as the loose and dangerous cannon with whom everyone had to thread carefully and cleverly. Then there is Elizabeth Bello; manipulative, vindictive, shrewd among other characteristics. Also is Samuel Bakura; depicted as intelligent, determined, honest but naive. Every major character, majority of whom are men, unexpectedly displaying the manipulative instincts and rivalry that is disorderly and fierce indicative of men's play ground.
Writers and readers of this book will notice Okediran’s deft and unusual way of, satirically, skirting cleverly around and touching on areas of sensitive issues; there is for instance the reference to how the office of the president through his aid fragrantly was looting the treasury and the banality of distributing the nation wealth to entertain family. There is also the the security operative, meant to protect the public, shown at their duty post and during operation as dreadful incompetent, bungling and careless - all very serious issues then and now and bothering on the state of the nation, leadership quality, integrity, trust and a host of other issues. And in the mix of all that is the important role expected of but badly played out by the fourth estate; the press. The book took a pertinent swing at journalists for leaving themselves open to manipulations by the different parties but such blip was made up, thankfully, by the electronic media that ensured the proposed constitutional amendment is not seen through because of the presence of the cameras in the House Chambers. Some of the mocking in the book is ruthless, never more so than how the debate on the need to investigate the missing 40 billion dollars Nigerian Communication satellite - where a member suggests that the investigating house members go on a shuttle visit to space. Or where the president, used to indulging in his usual habit of eulogizing his mother, starts a state executive meeting with the same nonsensical crack.
In this beautifully crafted political novel, Wale Okediran has fictionally invented the affairs of the House of Representative with all the sparkle, glamour, excess, suave, charm, flavour and intricacy that the general public has always sensed. He has shrewdly like the clever writer he is, succeeded in mixing tell-all and facts in a tango every reader would find mouth-watering.
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