term in relation to an understanding of certain ideological issues: what is a man of the people? whatdoes the title imply? The consideration of these questions is immediately carried forward by Odili's account of a congratulatoryfestival for Chief Nanga, the Minister. Odili sees the applauding villagers as being "not only ignorant but cynical." His view isexpressed in these terms: Tell them that this man had used his position to enrich himself and they would ask you - as my father did - if you thought that a sensible man would spit out the juicy morsel that good fortune placed in his mouth. (p. 2)Certain juxtapositions of values are implicitly present here. Good sense versus ideals, acceptance rather than protest, a conflictbetween 'normal' behaviour (apparently sanctioned by folk-wisdom) and an unusual integrity, between practical politics andincorruptibility: these are the contradictions that are clearly under consideration. Achebe broadens his approach to these issuesby introducing an episode where a white American searches for "authentic Africans" (p. 57). The issue is then raised - what,exactly, is an authentic African and, by extension, to what extent are Chief Nanga and Odili authentic men of the people? Thequestion of the relevance, or otherwise, of principled behaviour is raised by the lawyer-politician Max when he asks Odili:"Now do you expect a man like that (Nanga) to resign on a little matter of principle ...?". The moral concern about therelationship between those with power and those without is given focus by Achebe's use of initials. In opposition to V.I.P., aclassification of P.I.V. (Poor Innocent Victim) is posited. The reversal of the initials underlines the difference in socio-politicalstatus and introduces a sense of irrationality in regard to the value-judgements of those who would use them. Much the sameprocess is at work in the initials of the competing political parties: the governing People's Organizat...
