WAEC Literature in English 2016 Theory — Question 10

Model answer

Chief Haladu Ade Amaka is the Honourable Minister of External Relations. He epitomizes corruption in the play. Chief is described as having a protruding stomach and his friends fondly call him 'the pregnant chief.' He has a round face which is said to be constantly covered with sweat 'no matter the weather.' He breathes heavily whether he is awake or asleep. He 'walks like a man who has enlarged scrotum.' This vividly paints the picture of corruption and an image of social decay as represented in one person alone. Although Chief Haladu Ade Amaka is the Minister in charge of External Relations, the real nature of his job does not manifest in the play. He runs the company of girls, orders food and drinks at Akpara Hotel which he also uses as the hideout for his cocaine deals. He is painted as extravagant. He asks Madam Hoha to serve herself whatever she wants and add the bill immediately with the woman jocularly complains about money to settle her mother's hospital bill, he 'draws his portfolio nearer himself, presses the button open and pulls out a bundle of money' which he throws on her laps'. Once he sees Ahobo, he indicates readiness to give her a job in his Ministry and schedules a meeting at 4pm in his favourite Akpara Hotel. He later makes Aloho pregnant in the process. Chief both grows and harvests corruption in the play. He bribes the Police Commissioner and Justice Odili constantly so that they will protect him against the dictates of the law. With this, he runs his hard drugs business unmolested and when one of his carriers (Aloho) is caught, Justice Odili organizes a Kangaroo hearing and releases the culprit in a matter of days. He embezzles a whopping sum of 1.2 billion naira. He also authorizes the Administrative Officer (Ochuole) to apply, sign and collect about six million naira for the purchase of capital items. The chief engages in other criminal acts such as pen robbery or falsification of documents. He is eventually arrested and arraigned at the law court. The Chief is sentenced to serve the jail term of twenty five years.