The Voter by Chinua Achebe: Biography

Achebe is s considered by many critics and teachers to be the most influential African writer of
his generation. His writings, including the novel Things Fall Apart, have introduced readers
throughout the world to creative use of language and form, as well as to factual inside accounts of
modern African life and history. Not only through his literary contributions but also through his
championing of bold objectives for Nigeria and Africa, Achebe has helped reshape the perception
of African history, culture, and place in world affairs. The first novel of Achebe, Things Fall
Apart, is recognized as a literary classic and is taught and read everywhere in the English-
speaking world. The novel has been translated into at least forty-five languages and has sold
several million copies. A year after publication, the book won the Margaret Wong Memorial
Prize, a major literary award. Like many other African writers, Achebe believes that artistic and
literary works must deal primarily with the problems of society. He has said that "art is, and
always was, at the service of man" rather than an end in itself, accountable to no one. He believes
that "any good story, any good novel, should have a message, should have a purpose.“ Continuing
his relationship with Heinemann, Achebe published four other novels: No Longer at Ease (the
1960 sequel to Things Fall Apart), Arrow of God (1964), A Man of the People (1966), and
Anthills of the Savannah (1987). He also wrote and published several children's books that
express his basic views in forms and language understandable to young readers. He also published
several collections of short stories, including Girls at War and other Stories, a collection from
which “The Voter” is taken. He was born in 1930 and died in 2013.
The Voter: Plot
“The Voter” is a short story written by Chinua Achebe where he highlights the
entire election scenario in his home country Nigeria, in the community 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
maintain his loyalty to his friend, Marcus Ibe, the current MP and Minister of
Culture for the People’s Alliance Party(PAP). Rufus receives a bribe of five pounds
from Maduka, Marcus’s opponent from the Progressive Organisation Party (POP).
Rufus remains in a dilemma in the ballot booth on the day of voting until he gets an
idea of splitting the ballot paper into two halves and puts each piece in each box
rendering his vote a spoilt one. This is because he has taken an oath before a god to
give his vote to Maduka; but also feels guilty because he has been the campaign
manager for Marcus all this while.
The Voter: 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. Umuofia community is a microcosm of contemporary Africa and how we
conduct ourselves during electioneering periods. The democracy in Umuofia is the democracy
of Nigeria and Africa and it reflects our failures as a people in choosing the right people as
leaders for our continent. The story is an indictment on African democracy and the lip service
we continue to pay to the processes that could enable us elect credible and serious minded
people with the development of the continent at their hearts as our political leaders. The
atmosphere of the story is charged with anxiety, suspense and expectation as the community of
Umuofia wait for the final day of voting that would see them elect one person as a their MP.
The story is, however, open ended as readers are left to guess what would be the outcome of
the elections.
The Voter: Characters
• Rufus Okeke
He is corrupt. He is used by Marcus Ibe as his campaign manager but he uses corruption to bribe the
voters to be canvassed for Marcus. He also takes a bribe of five pounds from the campaign boys of Maduka
to vote for him. As a result he ends up spoiling his vote.
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”. He also betrays the cause of democracy by engaging in tribal politics
and politics of corruption.
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”
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.
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 better 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.
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; but he finally betrays him.
Again in the ballot booth he failed to vote for Maduka thus spoiling his vote..
The Voter: Characters
Marcus Ibe
He is a member of PAP. Marcus is a member of the People’s Alliance Party which is now in
power and is running for another term. He is a corrupt leader. He uses his money to bribe
people to vote for him. He was a poor mission school teacher before he joined politics but
suddenly becomes rich after joining politics. The sudden and obviously, ill-gotten wealth is
what made the electorates to ask for higher price for their votes Since he is the minister, he
should have allowed his good works to speak for him. 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. The money spent on feasting the people on the opening of his new home could have
been used in providing a borehole to his people. 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.
He is a minister of Culture. We are informed that already Umuofia is lucky to have Chief the
Honourable Marcus Ibe who is a Minister of Culture in the outgoing government and he has
no strong opposition for being re-elected. He is professional 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. He is a rich politician. Marcus was once a poor teacher
but since he joined politics he has become rich over-night. That is 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 – Ishould be the first to give him my paper free, as Idid before. But today
Marcus is a great man and does his things like a great man” (p.12)
The Voter: Characters
Maduka
He is corrupt. Like his competitor, Marcus, Maduka uses bribery to buy the votes from the
voters. He gives a lot of money to his campaign boys to buy the voters including Roof himself.
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.
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 note.
He is rich. He uses a lot of money to bribe the voters to the point that the narrator 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 Voter: Style
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 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 Iwork 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)
There is also the use of satire, irony and humour as well in the narrative. Satire because the story indicts
modern African politics and democracy through the actions of Macus, Rufus, Maduka and the
electorates as well for their greed and irresponsibility. Instances of humour abound as in when the
villagers say “congrass” instead of congrats and Rufus’s demeanour when he is asked to go and cast his
ballot. There is irony in the story because Rufus thinks that by tearing the ballot paper into two and
putting each in a different box, he has voted for both Marcus and Maduka. There is irony in the actions
of Rufus: on the voting day, he is seen busily convincing people to vote for Marcus and that those who
will vote for Maduka, their heads are not correct. Does it mean that his own head is not correct?Is it not
ironical that the campaign manager of Marcus ends up taking bribe from his opponent? It means the
whole process of voting is a sham since they are not voting based on issues but based on tribal politics,
corruption, dishonesty etc. That is why true development will continue to elude us in Africa.
The Voter: Themes
BETRAYAL.
Rufus Okeke betrays his friend Marcus Ibe by taking bribes from the campaign leader of the
POP. The narrator 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 narrator 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 some, if not 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”.
Everyone in the story also betrayed the true cause of democracy by accepting bribes, voting
based on tribal politics or placing their personal needs first instead of looking at the bigger
picture and electing people who can help develop their community and country.
The Voter: Themes
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 the person 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” Even Roof, the whole campaign manager is bought with five pounds. This
explains why the politicians will not take the electorates seriously enough. After all, they can
steal all they can and use a small percentage of the stolen proceeds to buy votes and the
electorate will still vote for them. The correct thing to do is vote based on issues and remove
the incompetent ones from the system.
The Voter: Themes
• IRRESPONSIBILITY, GREED AND SUPERSTITION
Marcus is one of those irresponsible leaders who do not 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 for
his people. His village has neither water nor electricity but he installed the electricity only in his
own house. This is the 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.”
The residents of Umuofia are also guilty of irresponsibility to some extent. Thus, when they are
supposed to hold politicians accountable by voting the incompetent ones among them out of
power, they rather put their personal interest first thereby jeopardising the community and
national development agenda.
There are also other minor themes such as the theme of greed and superstition. Greed is
personified by characters such as Roof, Marcus and the community elders. Superstition is
personified by Maduka and his campaign team who believe that trust alone is not enough; it
must be accompanied by the voter taking an oath before the god so as to ensure people do what
they promised since they believe in power of the god.
The Voter: Themes
• 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 five bulls and countless
goats 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’”. But beneath this praise, the critical reader see and feel the criticism
involved; irony is at its peak here.
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”
The Voter: Language Use
• The language of the story is simple and straight forward, as is generally the characteristic
feature of Achebe in his writings. The simple nature of the language and the hidden irony can
easily make readers gloss over the message of the story. For instance, when the narrator is
praising Marcus for throwing a lavish feast for his people on the opening of his new mansion,
criticism is also implied in that instance. When Marcus is being praised for acquiring
chieftaincy titles, honorary degrees and wealth within a short period, criticism is also implied.
But beyond these disguised instances of irony, there also instances of some literary
techniques that are worth noting:
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)
Litotes/understatement
Chief the Honourable Marcus Ibe was not unprepared. (meaning he was actually prepared) (p.11)
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)
Proverb:
We have climbed the iroko tree today and we would be foolish not to take down all the firewood we need. (p.12)
• MESSAGE
There is the need for us to fight against corruption. We should not betray those who have trusted us
with their votes. Leaders who are irresponsible are obstacles to development and ignorance is also an
obstacle to building the future. Embezzlement of public funds makes the majority of us live a poor
life.
• RELEVANCE:
Democracy has come to stay with us and after every four or five years, we have to vote and elect our
leaders in most African countries. Democracy is a good cause but how we practise it in Africa is the
problem. We allow ourselves to be influenced by people without any proper development agenda and
this stagnates progress. Leadership should be held accountable for their deeds and words through the
ballot box; accepting bribe or voting on tribal or religious grounds cheapens our democracy. It makes
it a time bomb of anger and social upheaval for us.
In our society, most leaders use corruption and dubious means to win elections 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 in no time, they become petty bourgeoisies
by embezzling 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. All the scenarios painted here are a living
reality in most African countries. That is why Achebe believes that there is noting wrong with Africa
EXCEPT that our leadership constitute our major problem in our for development. In a word, what is
needed in Africa is true democracy and quality and dedicated leadership.