THE VOTER CHINUA ACHABE 2. Write a note on Marcus Ibe.

• Marcus Ibe was an influencial

1. Who was Rufus Okeke? Write a note personality of Umoufia.
on him. • He was a mission school teacher earlier.
• Rufus Okeke was ayouth from Umoufia. • He was not a successful teacher.
• He went to Port Harcourt to to work. • He had a dispute with a lady
• He worked as a cycle repairer’s teacher.(The same lady he married
apprentice. later)
• He worked in that city for two years. • He was likely to be dismissed.
• Then he returned to his village again. • So he resigned, to escape the insult.
• He was not a village lout. • Politics was a new entry there.
• Having spent two years in the city, it • He joined politics to try his luck.
was not tough for him to settle there as • He was elected.
other youths do. • He belonged to People’s Alliance Party”.
• So the villagers thought , he had come • His symbol was “motor car”.
to help them in their crisis. • He became the Minister for culture.
• So they loved him. • He was an ordinary man earlier.
• But Umoufia already had a leader. • Suddenly his status changed.
• He was Marcus Ibe. • He became rich.
• He was the Minister for culture in the • He amassed huge wealth.
out going government. • He had two long cars.
• Roof joined his service. • He built a huge house- Umoufia
• Roof became Marcus’ right hand man. Mansion.
• He was an expert campaigner. • The house had water and electricity
• He could read the mind of the voters. facility though the village had none.
• He guided Marcus Ibe. • He gave a grand feast on the opening
• He informed Marcus that the voters ceremony of his house.
have changed after the first election. • He won so many titles and awards.
• He advised Marcus to bring money and • But he did nothing much for the people
give it to the voters before the elections. ,his voters who chose him.
• He bargained hard with the voters. • He had a full majority in politics so far.
• He grabbed everything from Marcus • He was confident of a landslide victory
whenever he had a chance to do so. in the coming election.
• He got wine and drinks. • So he had already hired a highlife band
• He got costly robes. from Umuru on the election day, to
• He won a land case with Marcus’s celebrate the victory.
influence. • But now there was a little dis-
• Though he seemed to devoted to the satisfaction among the voters.
master, he was not loyal to him.
3. Write a note on the whispering
• He didn’t miss a chance to earn from
the opposition party too. campaign of Roof.
• He was very cunning like a true • On the opening ceremony of Umoufia
politician. Mansion, Marcus gave the villagers a
grand feast.
• Even after accepting money from
opposition, he made a nice pretence of • On attending the feast people realized
canvassing on the election day. that they had underrated the power of
ballot paper.
• So they decided to come on hard • The election was fast approaching.
bargain this election. • Everything had been moving according
• Marcus too was prepared for this. to the plan up to the last night.
• He drew five months’ salary in advance. • Then Roof received a strange visit from
• He changed a few hundred pounds into the leader of the POP campaign team.
shillings. • Both were known to each other.
• He armed his campaign boys with • But the time was quite improper.
eloquent little jute bags. • No words were exchanged.
• In the day he made speeches. • He kept five pounds in front of Roof.
• At night his stalwarts conducted their • He said, “We want your vote.”
whispering campaign. • Roof was in a fix as to what to do.
• Roof was the most trusted campaigner. • Roof got up from his chair, went to the
• One night they visited the house of outside door, closed it carefully and
Ogbuefi Ezenwa, a man of high returned.
traditional title. • The brief exercise gave him time to
• Roof told the elders gathered that weigh the proposition.
Marcus is the son their village. • All the time his eyes were fixed on the
• They must be proud of it. notes.
• There were many advantages if he got • He was mesmerized by them.
elected again. • First he hesitated.
• He assured the pipe borne water facility • The opposition leader told that they
to the village. were after votes and not after gossip.
• Then he placed two shillings in front of • He told that the matter would be kept
each of them. secret.
• The elders admitted that Mircus was • Now Roof was tempted.
the pride of their village and want him • He agreed and accepted.
again. • Then they brought the Iyi of Mbanta to
• All of them and their women folk will make Roof swear on it.
vote for him. • Again Roof was on dilemma.
• But the amount offered is too small. • Then he convined himself that his one
• They didnt demand money during last vote would not affect Marcus’ land slide
election. victory.
• Because Marcus was an ordinary man. • Finally he promised to vote for Maduka.
• Now he has amassed a huge wealth. • He told them that Marcus was sure to
• So needed more for their votes. win.
• That was the only occasion to get • The opposition leader told that it was
something from Marcus. enough if they got a few votes this time
• Finally after hard bargain Roof added and will get more next.
two more shillings and told angrily that
nothing more can be given. 5. Describe the great day- the day of
• He also added that if they were not yet election.
satified they could vote for the • It was a great day once in five years.
opposition. • The day when people exercise power.
• The elders assured that they were • The weather beaten half torn posters
happy and vote for Marcus. were seen on the walls of the
houses,tree trunks and telegraph poles.
4. Roof’s meeting with the leader from • The few that were still whole called out
POP campaign team. their message to those who could read.
• Vote for People’s Alliance Party! Vote for • Mustering courage, he went to th box.
Progressive Organization Party ! Vote • He was confronted by the car(PAP) and
for PAP! Vote for POP ! the head(POP).
• As usual Chief the Honourable Marcus • He took out the ballot paper from his
Ibe was doing things in grand style. pocket and looked at it.
• He had hired a highlife band from • He felt not to betray his master Marcus
Umuru and stationed it at a even in secret.
permissable distance. • He decided to go back and return five
• Many villagers danced to the music. pounds.
• Marcus was sitting in the owner’s • But he felt upset to part with five
corner of his enormous green car. pounds.
• He smiled and nodded to the voters. • Then there was the swearing on the Iyi.
• One enlightened villager came to • Suddenly a thought crept into his mind.
Marcus and shaking hand, wished • He folded the paper, tore it in two and
“Congrats” in advance. put one half in each box- one for
• Others followed the suit by Maduka and one for Marcus.
mispronouncing the word as • It was the only way left for him.
“Corngrass”. • He voted for Maduka as sworn.
• Roof with his band gave the voters last • But he craved for Marcus’ victory.
minute advices. • His vote was invalid.
• They cut jokes with them. • But he balanced between his promise to
• They reminded them of the symbol of Iyi and his duty to his master.
PAP.
• All the time Roof was boiling within. ***********
• But he tried his best to hide his anxiety
by wearing a mask of over enthusiasm.
• Also he kept watching Marcus, if he had
any doubt on him.
• Marcus was cautious about each vote.
• He asked campaign boys to finish their
voting when there was not much rush
of voters.
• The atmosphere was festive combined
with a little anxiety within each one
concerned.

6. Roof’s Dilemma.
• Guilty consciousness bites the mind.
• Roof had accepted money from the
opposition party.
• So he was burning within.
• Verbally, he was making every effort to
canvass for his master Marcus Ibe.
• But the anxiety within was peeping out
now and then.
• He was making every effort to veil it.
• When his turn to vote arrived, his
spirits fell.