THE VOTER

(Chinua Achebe)

Summary

Roof (Rufus Okeke) is an educated person who returns to his village in order to help the
illiterate people in his own way. He had worked as a bicycle repairer’s apprentice in Port
Harcourt but out of free will he gave up his brighter future and returned to the village to help
his people. However their village Umuofia had already produced a minister of Culture Chief the
honourable Marcus Ibe in the outgoing government and was now running for another election
with his party (People’s Alliance Party-PAP).

It was at the time of the elections that he involved himself completely both to meet his selfish
needs and a bit of social concern. Roof was the perfect adviser for Hon. Marcus during the
elections as he required a person of Roof's nature to act as the Campaign manager. We are
further told that;

The villagers had had five years in which to see how quickly and plentifully politics brought
wealth, chieftaincy titles, doctorate degrees and other honours...” (p.10)

They keep wondering how politics makes people very rich in a short time because Marcus had
been a mission school teacher before he joined the politics that came to their village. In a short
time he had become Chief the Honourable with two long cars, and had built himself the biggest
house ever in that area and christened it “Umuofia Mansion” in honour of his village. However,
he is credited that despite his success he was still devoted to his people. At times he left the
good things of the city and returned to his village which had neither running water nor
electricity. He had just installed a private plant to supply electricity in his new house.

On the day it was opened by the Archbishop he slaughtered five bulls and countless goats to
entertain the village people. They all praise him but after the feasting they become aware of
how they had underrated the power of the ballot paper. Marcus was prepared for satisfying his
voters this time around. He had drawn five months’ worth of salary in advance and changed a
few hundred pounds into shillings and gave the money to his campaign boys so that he could
meet the expenditures. Roof we are told was the most trusted of these campaigners.

The hectic day right before the voting day was when Roof met five elders from the village in the
house of Ogbuefi Ezenwa and gave them 2 shillings each hoping that it would make them
canvass for Marcus. He reminds them that Marcus is a son from their own village and his part
that is in power has promised them pipe-borne water. They inform him that its true what he
tells them but it would be shameful to take two shillings from Marcus because he is no longer
poor. He is now rich and does his things as a great man. They give him a proverb that

“But today is our day; we have climbed the iroko tree today and would be foolish not to take
down all the firewood we need”

He understood what they meant by “firewood” because he too has been benefiting from the
firewood from Marcus. So he added one shilling for each but they still objected and finally he
gave each man another shilling. He said if they don’t like then they may go and vote for the
enemy, referring to the Progressive Organisation Party (POP). This was formed by the tribes
down the coast to save themselves from total political, cultural, social and religious
annihilation. It was said that the party had let loose so much money in Umuofia just for buying
votes.

On that same night, Marcus received a strange visit. A few of the POP campaign boys entered
Roof's house and tempted him with five ponds and ask him to vote for Maduka. He takes the
money then they ask him to swear by the local deity "Iyi" from Mbata. He was left with no
other alternative but to obey.

On the day of the election, Roof watched the reaction of Marcus quite often because he did not
want Marcus to suspect him. Marcus sat in his car shaking hands of the people who came to
congratulate him in advance. Roof and other organisers gave the last-minute instructions to the
voters. For example the author says;

Do not forget”, he said to a group of illiterate women who seemed ready to burst with
enthusiasm and good humour, ‘our sign is the motor car’ “Like the one Marcus is sitting inside”
discrediting the other part he says “Don’t look at the other with the man’s head: it is for those
whose heads are not correct”

He tell them that if they vote for the car they will one day ride in it. Although he was expected
to win Marcus never wanted to lose any vote after all had cast their votes he asked his
campaign boys to go for voting starting with Roof. When Roof was asked to cast his vote, he did
not know what to do. He did not want to betray Marcus even in secret. He thought of returning
the five pounds but it was too much money to turn down just like that.

All of a sudden, a grand idea struck him. Without a second thought, he tore the ballot paper
into two halves and put the first half into Maduka's box and verbally proclaimed that he has
first voted for Maduka and put another half in Marcus box and moved out.

The title of the story

“The Voter” is a short story written by Chinua Achebe where he highlights the entire election
scenario in his home country Nigeria in the society of Umuofia. The voter is none other than
Rufus Okeke popularly known as “Roof”. He is a person, considered to be knowledgeable and
successful in politics but he fails to exercise his loyalty to his friend Marcus after receiving a
bribe of five pounds from Maduka. He remains in a dilemma in the ballot booth until he gets an
idea of splitting the ballot paper into two halves and puts each peace in each box rendering his
vote spoilt.

Setting

The story is set in Umuofia society in Nigeria featuring a post-colonial Nigeria and the
challenges of corruption and superstition that dominate the post-independence politics in most
African states.

CHARACTERS

Rufus Okeke

Ø He is corrupt. He is used by Marcus Ibe as his campaign manager but he uses corruption to
bribe the voters to be canvass for Marcus. He also takes corruption from the campaign boys of
Maduka to vote for him. As a result he ends up spoiling his vote.

Ø He is a betrayer. Rufus Okeke betrays his friend Marcus Ibe by taking bribes from the
campaign leader of the POP. The author explains this by saying, “no words were wasted. He
placed five pounds on the floor before and said, we want your vote”

Ø He is an active politician and a member of PAP. Rufus is a successful politician who knows
how to exploit the ignorance of the masses for his benefit. On the election day for example he
says to the women ““Do not forget”, he said to a group of illiterate women who seemed ready
to burst with enthusiasm and good humour, ‘our sign is the motor car’ “Like the one Marcus is
sitting inside”

Ø He has a strong convincing power. It is said of him that he had become a real expert in
election campaigns at all levels – village, local government or national. He uses tricks to
convince people to vote for Marcus saying that those who will vote for the head are the ones
whose heads are not correct.

Ø He was a bicycle repairer’s apprentice. He is cited as a good man who returned to the village
to help his people unlike his fellows who abandoned the village to seek any work in town. For
him he worked for two years as a bicycle repairer at Port Harcourt then gave up this brighter
future and returned to the village.
Ø He is not trustworthy and has no stand. Rufus has no stand because he convinces others to
vote for Marcus who by the way has helped him in many things including winning a land case,
he finally betrays him. Again in the ballot booth he failed to vote for Maduka thus spoiling his
vote..

PROTAGONIST: He is the protagonist/main character in the story.

POPULARITY: He is a young, energetic and popular man in his village.

POVERTY: He is poor as he works as a bicycle repairer.

LEADERSHIP: He is a leader of the PAP campaigning team. He is a campaign manager for the PAP, party
of Marcus Ibe.

PERSUASIVENESS: He has a great convincing power such that he can be listened by all people in the
village.

MONEY: He is just a money monger; that is why, he betrays Marcus Ibe because of money (five pounds)
from POP.

TRUST: He is also seen as a trustworthy person.

CORRUTION: He is also corrupt though he still thinks about Marcus Ibe.

Marcus Ibe

Ø He is a member of PAP. Marcus is a member of the People’s Alliance Party which is not in
power and is running for another election representing his Party.

Ø He is a corrupt leader. He uses his money to bribe people to vote for him. Since he was the
minister he should have helped the people to a point that he had no need of giving corruption.

Ø He is an irresponsible leader. We are informed that he is a minister of culture but his village
Umuofia has neither electricity nor running water. He is still asking for re-election promising to
supply pipe-borne water to the village.

Ø He is selfish. We are informed that his village has neither running water nor electricity but he
owns two long cars and has built himself a very large house and installed a private plant to
supply electricity in his own house.

Ø He is a minister of Culture. We are informed that already Umuofia was lucky to have Chief
the Honourable Marcus Ibe who was a Minister of Culture in the outgoing government and he
had no strong opposition for being re-elected.
Ø He is professionally a teacher. Marcus was a poor mission school teacher but he quitted
teaching and joined the politics under the People’s Alliance Party and became a minister.

Ø He is a rich politician. Marcus was once a poor teacher but since he joined politics he has
become rich over-night. That’s why the elders refuse his two shillings he offers to buy their
votes. They say “If Marcus were a poor man – which our ancestors forbid – I should be the first
to give him my paper free, as i did before. But today Marcus is a great man and does his things
like a great man” (p.12)

POLITICAL CANDIDACY: He is a candidate for PAP.

TEACHER: He was formerly a professional mission school teacher.

POLITICIAN: He later enter into politics and become MP and Minister.

BETRAYAL: He does not help his voters.

CORRUPTION: He is a corrupt person.

IRRESPONSIBILITY: He is irresponsible leader for his people.

SELFISHNESS: He is selfish.

HYPOCRISY: He is hypocritical leader.

POLITICAL CAMPAIGN: His campaign is led by Roof and it supplies money to bribe the people.

Maduka

Ø He is corrupt. Like his competitor Maduka uses corruption to buy the votes from the voters.
He gives a lot of money to his campaign boys to buy the voters including Roof himself.

Ø He is a member of POP. He is a member of the Progressive Organisation Party formed by the

tribes down the coast to fight against PAP.

Ø He is superstitious. He instructs his men to carry ‘iyi’ with them so that those who take his
money may swear to vote for him or else ‘iyi’ will take notes.

Ø He is rich. He uses a lot of money to bribe the voters to the point that the author says “No
one knew for certain how much money POP had let loose in Umuofia but it was said to be very
considerable. Their local campaigners would end up very rich, no doubt”.

POLITICAL CANDIDACY: He is a candidate who contested the seat for POP.

CORRUPTION: He is corrupt as well as his party has supplied the money to bribe the voters.

WITCHCRAFT: He believes in witchcraft because his campaign manager forces Roof to swear before iyi.

BRIBERY: He bribes Roof by giving him five pounds when he sends his campaign manager to Roof.

SELFISHNESS: He is selfish.

IRRESPONSIBILITY: He is also an irresponsible leader.

Ogbuefi Ezenwa

CORRUPTION: He is corrupt.

IGNORANCE: He is ignorant.

IRRESPONSIBILITY: He is irresponsible as a high traditional leader.

TRADITIONAL LIFE: He is traditionalist.

SELFISHNESS: He is selfish as he cares for money.

BAD EXAMPLE: He is a bad example to the society as he is an elder and he stills behaves in bad manners.

OTHER CHARACTERS:

Campaign managers

Elders

Villagers

NARATIVE TECHNIQUES

POINT OF VIEW.

The story is told from a third person omniscient point of view in which the author is the
narrator of the story. He seems to know everything in the plot of the story even the thoughts of
Characters like Roof.

DIALOGUE/CONVERSATION
Dialogue or Conversation is used to bring the characters and events to life. For example the
dialogue between Maduka’s campaign boys and Roof;

‘You Know I work for Marcus,’ he said feebly. ‘It will be very bad…’

‘Marcus will not be there when you put in your paper. We have plenty of work to do tonight;
are you taking this or not?’

It will not be heard outside this room?’ asked Roof.

‘We are after votes not gossip’

‘All right,’ said Roof in English. (p.13)

LANGUAGE

The author has used a simple language for everyone to understand. His choice of words reflects the use
of everyday language to the people of Umuofia Village and other contemporary societies. The author
has also applied the following figures of speech:

(a) Simile

§ Then bent down like a priest distributing the host… (p.12)

§ Quick as lightning a thought leapt into Roof’s mind (p.16)

§ Opposition to him was like the proverbial fly trying to move a dunghill. (p.10)

(b) Understatement

§ Chief the Honourable Marcus Ibe was not unprepared. (meaning he was actually prepared)
(p.11)

(c) Exaggeration

“He had become a real expert in election campaign at all levels – village, local government or national.”

In this statement, the writer explains Okeke’s fame in the world of politics in an exaggerated way.

(d) personification

§ Roof’s heart nearly flew out when he saw the iyi. (p.13)
§ Outside beyond the fastened door, the moon kept a straight face. (p.11)

PROVERBS

§ We have climbed the iroko tree today and we would be foolish not to take down all the
firewood we need. (p.12)

CONFLICT

The story has several conflicts. The following are some of them:

Intrapersonal conflict. Rufus Okeke suffers intrapersonal conflict when he is confronted with
the dilemma on who he has to vote for.

Maduka’s Progressive Oraganisation Party (POP) vs Marcus Ibe’s People’s Alliance Party (PAP)

POP Campaign team vs PAP Campaign team.

Marcus Ibe vs Mr. Maduka

Rufus Okeke vs Mr. Maduka’s campaign manager

THEMES

BETRAYAL.

§ Rufus Okeke betrays his friend Marcus Ibe by taking bribes from the campaign leader of
the POP. The author explains this by saying, “no words were wasted. He placed five pounds on
the floor before and said, we want your vote”

§ They then made him swear before the iyi that he will vote for Maduka. If he failed them he
will receive his punishment from the iyi. So on the Election Day Roof tore the ballot paper into
two pieces and put one for Maduka and another for Marcus. Nevertheless his vote was a spoilt
one.

§ The author says “Quick as lightning a thought leapt into Roof’s mind. He folded the paper,
tore it into two along the crease and put one half in each box.”

§ Additionally, Marcus betrays his voters. As a minister for culture he would have helped his
people to solve most of the problems in his province of Umuofia. However he uses the funds to
enrich himself and invest in different places. The author says “Anyhow, these honours had
come so readily to the man they had given their votes to, free of charge five years ago that they
were now ready to think again”.
CORRUPTION.

§ Marcus Ibe from People’s Alliance Party (PAP) bribes the people to vote for him through his
campaign manager Rufus Okeke (Roof). This is very common in African politics especially for
those leaders who betray the people and only come back to them during elections. After
receiving the money they say “Tell Marcus he has our papers, and our wives’ papers too. But
what we do say is that two shillings is shameful”.

§ Maduka from Progressive Organization Party (POP) also uses bribes to buy peoples votes.
The author says “No one knew for certain how much money POP had let loose in Umuofia but it
was said to be very considerable. Their local campaigners would end up very rich, no doubt”.

§ The whole society is also corrupt. They have come to a point where they cannot vote for
someone unless he bribes them. This is very dangerous because it makes them get
irresponsible, corrupt and incompetent leaders who cannot bring them the desired
development.

§ They say “We did not ask him for money, yesterday; we shall not ask him tomorrow. But
today is our day; we have climbed the iroko tree today and would be foolish not to take down
all the firewood we need”

IRRESPONSIBILITY.

§ Marcus is one of those irresponsible leaders who don’t fulfil their promises to their voters.
He has been given votes by the villagers but he abandoned them and only returned to them
after five years to ask for their votes. Although he is the minister of culture, he has done
nothing to his people. His village has neither water nor electricity but he installed the electricity
only in his own house. This is highest level of irresponsibility. He only returns to the village
occasionally. The author says;

“Whenever, he could, he left the good things of the capital and returned to his village which
had neither running water, nor electricity, although he had lately installed a private plant to
supply electricity to his new house.”

CLASSES

There are two major classes in this society. The high (rich) class represented by Marcus and
Maduka and the lower class represented by poor villagers. The people from high class use their
money to buy votes from ignorant villagers who also take the election time as their proper time
to earn their living. As a result they end up getting leaders who are neither competent nor
committed to their voters. The voters say;
“If Marcus were a poor man – which our ancestors forbid – I should be the first to give him my
paper free, as i did before. But today Marcus is a great man and does his things like a great
man. We did not ask him for money yesterday; we shall not ask him tomorrow. But today is our
day; we have climbed the iroko tree today and would be foolish not to take down all the
firewood we need.

EMBEZZLEMENT OF PUBLIC FUNDS

§ Most leaders who are poor enrich themselves when they get political positions by
embezzling public funds. We are told that Marcus was a mere school teacher but when he
became Chief the Honourable Minister of Culture he has become a wealthy man just in five
years. This shows that most leaders embezzle the public funds to become rich suddenly. The
author says;

“The villagers had had five years in which to see how quickly and plentifully politics brought
wealth, chieftaincy titles, doctorate degrees and other honours...”

§ This proves that leaders misuse the public funds for their benefits. Marcus who was once a
poor man now drives expensive cars and has built himself a house named “Umuofia Mansion”
and slaughters five bulls and countless goats to entertain people on the day it is opened. The
author says:

“Today he was chief the Honourable; he had two long cars and had just built himself the biggest
house anyone had seen in these parts”.

IGNORANCE

§ Marcus uses the villagers’ ignorance to fool them. When he is opening his big house called
Umuofia mansion he prepares a very big banquet and he slaughters some animals for people to
eat. This is done partly as an election campaign. They praise him and comment that he is a good
man.

“Everyone was full of praise for him, one old man said; ‘our son is a good man; he is not like the
mortar which as soon as food comes its way turns its back on the ground’”.

§ Roof uses the ignorance of the masse to convince them to vote for Marcus on the Election
Day. POP was using the sign of the head while PAP was using the sign of the car. Now says Roof;

“Do not forget”, he said to a group of illiterate women who seemed ready to burst with
enthusiasm and good humour, ‘our sign is the motor car’ “Like the one Marcus is sitting inside”
discrediting the other part he says “Don’t look at the other with the man’s head: it is for those
whose heads are not correct”
AFRICAN TRADITIONS AND BELIEFS.

The iyi is often used by the politicians to get more people to vote for them in this society. For example,
POP campaigning team goes to Rufus to bribe him. It also gives him an iyi for him to swear that he’ll vote
for Maduka. The author says;

“The man nudged his companion and he brought forward an object covered with red cloth and
proceeded to remove the cover. It was a fear-some little affair contained in a clay pot with feathers
stuck into it. This iyi comes from Mbanta. You know what that means. Swear that you will vote for
Maduka. If you fail to do so, this iyi to note”.

Beliefs in gods.

Supersitions and witchraft.

ELECTIONS AND POLITICAL CAMPAIGNS.

The author shows how politics is practised in the village of Umuofia and other contemporary societies.
For instance, when the election times approaches, as usual, Roof plays a great role in the campaign to
make sure that Marcus Ibe returns back to his position. In the campaign, Roof collects the elders in the
house of Ogbuefi Ezenwa and bribe them to vote for Marcus Ibe during election. Ezenwa himself says;

“We shall every one of us drop his paper for Marcus. Who would leave an Ozo feast and go to a poor
ritual meal? Tell Marcus he has our papers and our wives’ papers too.”

LESSONS

§ We should fight against Corruption.

§ We should not betray those who have trusted us.

§ Leaders who are irresponsible are obstacles to development.

§ We should discourage classes in our societies.

§ Ignorance is an obstacle to building the future.

§ Embezzlement of public funds makes the majority live a poor life.

RELEVANCE
§ In our society most leaders use corruption to win the election and when they get power
and political positions they forget their voters completely.

§ Many politicians climb the leadership ladders while they are poor as Marcus was but very
soon indeed they become petty bourgeoisies by embezzling the public funds.

§ There are classes of rich people and poor people in our societies. The rich use the
ignorance of the poor to keep exploiting them.