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Role of all characters in "Harvest of Corruption" by Frank Ogodo Ogbeche

June 01, 2021


Character Analysis and Role of ALOHO In Harvest of Corruption


1. ALOHO
Aloho is the main character in the play. She is a young and naïve university female graduate desperately searching for a job. In her desperation, she ignorantly becomes part of a criminal network involved in drugtrafficking in spite of her friend’s constant warning to keep away from notorious Ochuole. Aloho is arrested and detained for drug trafficking. Upon her release, she suddenly realizes that she is pregnant for Chief Haladu- Amaka and eventually dies during child-birth. The author uses Aloho’s character to portray the ordeals of many young and jobless Nigerian graduates, how they are easily taken advantage of and lured into crime intheir desperation to eke out a living.


Character Analysis and Role of OCHUOLE In Harvest of Corruption


2. OCHUOLE
Ochuole is Aloho’s classmate in the University. She is portrayed as notorious and wayward. Ochuole works as Chief Administrative Officer at the Ministry of External Relations. She aids Chief’s sexually immoral lifestyle by providing him with ladies. She lures Aloho into drugtrafficking in the guise of helping her to secure a jobwith the Ministry of External Relations.


Character Analysis and Role of CHIEF ADE HALADU-AMAKA In Harvest of Corruption



Ade Amaka (a ka. Chief)
Chief has a protruding stomach that 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 (p l4). He is said to breathe heavily whether he is awake or asleep. As for his gait, he "walks like a man who has an enlarged scrotum" (p. 14). This no doubt paints a picture of corruption, the image of social decay as represented in one person alone.

He is the Hon. Minister in charge of External Relations. We are never treated to the real nature of his work as a Minister. We see him run after girls, order food and drinks in Akpara Hotel which he also uses as the warehouse for his cocaine deals. He is painted as a spendthrift who asks Madam Hoha to "just serve yourself whatever you want and add the bills" (p. 14) immediately the hotel proprietress complains that he has not been "fair" to her.
He enjoys the warmth of women's company. At Akpara Hotel he orders for "two bottles of big stout," (p. 14) and two mortars ofishi ewu for him and for Ochuole. When Ochuole complains of money to settle her mother's hospital bill, he "draws his portfolio nearer to himself presses the buttons open and pulls out a bundle of money which he throws on her laps" (p. 16.) he sees Aloho, he indicates readiness to give her a job in his Ministry and schedules a meeting at 4 pm in his favourite hotel-Akpara Hotel. We later learn that he puts Aloho in the family way shortly after coming in contact with her Chief is both the grower of corruption and the reaper of its outcome. He briefs the Police Commissioner and Justice odili on basis that they will protect him against the dictates of the law. This way he runs his hard drug business unmolested, and when one of his carriers Aloho is caught at the airport, Justice Odili organizes a Kangaroo hearing and releases the culprit in a matter of days. He divests the Ministry of huge sums of money and converts government workers into his direct servants and agents in his nefarious deals. In the end, he receives a very long term. About to face the law, he loses his nerves. He asks the SSS people who come for him to give him "time to pull" himself together. Earlier, he had tried to be bold by asking them: "Who
are you and who the hell is your Chief that you should come into my office and behave as if the world is in your pockets?" (p. 89) The same loss of nerves is observed when the case is underway. "My Lord," Chief pleads, "I think I want to see a doctor. I am not feeling well'" (p109). When he is about to be sentenced, he pleads for leniency and informs the court that "my entire village and local government depend on me" (p. As if the jail for those who are not married, Chief further pleads, "Show mercy My Lord, I have a family p-l-e-a s e' (p. 118).


Character Analysis and Role of OGEYI In Harvest of Corruption


4. OGEYI
Ogeyi is Aloho’s friend and confidant. Aloho lives with Ogeyi in her small apartment in Pannya. She tries to discourage Aloho from taking Ochuole’s job offer and warns her to keep away from Ochuole. She seeks justice for Aloho by reporting Chief to the police. She is the voice of reason in the play.


Character Analysis and Role of MADAM HOHA In Harvest of Corruption


5. MADAM HOHA
Madam Hoha is the proprietress of Akpara Hotel. The hotel is where Chief perpetuates his criminal activities.She is sentenced to ten years imprisonment with hardlabour along with Ochuole and her hotel was sealed.



Character Analysis and Role of ACP YAKUBU Yakubu In Harvest of Corruption


6. ACP YAKUBU Yakubu is an Assistant Commissioner of Police. He stands out as an incorruptible and honest police officer. He withstood pressures from his boss, the Commissioner to stop investigating Chief’s activities at the Ministry of External Relations. His investigations led to the arrest and prosecution of Chief, Ochuole, Madam Hoha, the Commissioner of Police and the corrupt Justice Odili. 

Character Analysis and Role of Ayo In Harvest of Corruption


Ayo (p. 26)
We are introduced to Ayo as a clerk in the Ministry of External Relations. He is a bare-faced liar who claims not to know about the embezzlement in the Ministry until he is bribed hank you. You should 
expect me tomorrow evening unfailingly," (p. 28) he assures Inspector lmaka. We are informed that he is "slim and hungry-looking, but well-dressed with a white shirt over apair black trousers and a black tie to match." His front ket is lined with an array of biros of three colours. His shoes are slightly needful of repair at the sides, having been "chopping alignment (p 26. No wonder he quickly accepts a two thousand naira bribe to augment his monthly pay of two thousands five hundred naira take home. An ignorant fellow, in revealing the sleaze in the Ministry after receiving a bribe, Ayo is not aware that he is culpable for exposing official secrets and also for receiving monetary inducement, Dragged to court along with his Minister boss and the latter's accomplices, Ayo receives a five-year jail term for corruption as well. Free with his mouth; he informs Mrs Obi and Alice on what transpires between Aloho and Chief for which Alice calls him a gossip. His significance it the play is the role ho plays in unveiling the goings- on in the Ministry. The Jndge commetids hina for "exposing a crime" but goes ahead to condemn him "for receiving bribe" (p l 19) 



Character Analysis and Role of Alice (Tea Gir) In Harvest of Corruption


Alice (Tea Gir) 

She is the tea girl in the office of the secretary to the Minister of External Relations. She speaks Pidgin English. The first time she speaks she accuses Ayo, the Clerical officer of being gossipy for which the latter warns and taunts her. Although she is keen to hear Ayo's gossip she is not keen to meet a "man
we de gossip like woman" (p. 77) such as Ayo That way, Ayo accuses her of meddling in his affairs and asks Mrs. Obi to warn her desist from doing so. The gossip is that Alohi, the Protocol Officer,
had been pregnant for "oga (Chief) and had died from abortion Alice is used to typify what happens in government offices in developing country in which must of her time is spent on gossip and tittle-tattles 


Character Analysis and Role of Commissioner of Police In Harvest of Corruption


Commissioner of Police (p. 18)
He is said to be "a tall athletic young man of about forty years "dark in complexion, has thin and sender fingers'' and possesses "red lips with black sports his teeth is said to be "broken" and "coloured" probably because he is a chain smoker and an alcohol addict As we meet him first tme, Chief haladu is visiting him just as he did Justice odili with alot of goodies. The law officer is quick to point out to Chief your Ministry is getting some negative and disturbing publicity lately" and reminds his visitor that "nobody loves negative publicity you know This is an interesting comment because he was later to scream at ACP Yakubu with "public opinion my foot!" (p.62) when he sought to underplay Chief's atrocities against his country the comment is also interesting because the Police Commissioner seems to have made in order raise the value of the booty he is to receive from Chief We are informed that as Chief opens his portfolio and brings out bundles of naira notes and places them on the table, the Commissioner grabs them with the agility of lighting and puts them into his drawer (p. 19). Not only does be expect filthy money from Chief, the Commissioner of Police argues for "increased pay" for the "boys" (p. 20) so as to ensure their "absolute loyalty and excellent performance" (p. 21). Like Justice odili, he also asks Chief to be careful by being vague about what he means: "You have to be careful. I have sensed the signal and I know the danger sign when it appears on the dashboard" (p. 21)
The manner he is described which has been briefly referred to shows that the Commissioner has ugly habits, including his tendency to accept bribes. Once he has been mobilized like Justice Odili, he charges along like a lion sensing an attack on his territory. Just as Justice Odili intimidates the Registrar at the kangaroo hearing, Police Commissioner seeks to intimidate ACPYakubu without achieving much success. He warns the ACP to "steer clear of that Ministry or any other Ministry for that matter or you will be biting more than you can chew" (p. 62). But the ACP, sure-footed, fires back: "Sir, you cannot threaten me and do not bother at what hits me but I shall ask you this, since only those who have skeletons in their cupboard need fear" (p. 63).
The Commissioner and Justice Odili, each an agent of the law, are shown to be drawbacks to the law. It is people like them who weaken the law and prepare the way for corrupt people to evade the law. Both of them receive most the venom of the Judge at the court as he calls them "a big disgrace to our noble profession" (p. 119). The Judge accuses both of them of greed before sentencing each of them to twenty years with hard labour. They both represent agents of the law who work at cross-purposes with what society expects of them, and cause impunity to continue to reign. 


Character Analysis and Role of Constable Ojo In Harvest of Corruption


Constable Ojo (p. 54)
A lanky-looking young man possessing an athletic figure, Constable Ojo has very small eyes "which are hidden inside the sockets." We are told that when the Constable looks at a person "there is an uneasy feeling that penetrates through the person's very soul." He is often smartly dressed and "has the knack for breaking seemingly mysterious cases
(p. 54). He works with ACP Yakubu whom he observes as the latter talks to himself in a soliloquy as to the level of in society where "any or highly placed individuals will and can toy with the judiciary and get away with any crime committed Constable ojo in return is equally surprised that at the trial of Aloho for cocaine pushing, "the state prosecutor and the defence counsels both absent at the different times the case came up (p. 55). He is deployed in the play to show that the impunity exercised by Chief and his clique rattles the top (ACP Yakubu) intermediate (inspector inaku) and the low level (Constable ojo) policemen in Jacassa for which something has to be done, and pretty soon too.



Character Analysis and Role of Customs officer In Harvest of Corruption


Customs officer
Like Constable ojo, the customs oficer appears briefly too. He works at the airport and is the fellow who accosts Aloho with the suitcase of cocaine. Described by Chief as "that good-for-nothing Customs officer' (p. 48) because the latter does his job as he is supposed to and her contraband and promises to hand her over to JDLEA (acassa Drug Law Enforcement Agency). He announces to Aloho that she is carrying cocaine. He advises patience as she will enough time to call whoever you want later" By pulling out of chief's corrupt ring and exposing Chief's agent, the customs officer shows that it is better to side with society than with debased individuals.


Character Analysis and Role of Defence Counsel In Harvest of Corruption


Defence Counsel (p. 96)
He is said to be a tall, slim young man in white wig He pleads "Not guilty" for Chief, being his Defence Counsel. He is an astute lawyer who asks the proper questions in order to dismiss his client s charges. He questions the manner the Detective used to extract information for prosecuting the case. When the Prosecution objects, the Judge cries "objection sustained" (p. 101). All his subsequent objections" are unsustained by the Judge. Through his questions Ogeyi is able to give the details she knew about Chief and his collaborators. The Defence Counsel accuses Ogeyi of being "jealous of the fact that your friend (Aloho) was always coming home with plenty of money and gifts from Chief, the Honourable Minister" (p. 104). This comment draws tears from Ogeyi's eyes for which the Prosecution Counsel prays the Judge to restrain the Defence Counsel "from further vulgarism and insinuations (p. 105). As if he was meeting his client (Chief Haladu) for the first time, the Defence Counsel begins to ask him personal questions which soon irritate the Judge: "Don't continue to waste the time of the Court by (p. basis for those personal questions is to show that Chief, his client, is a man who has served the government o his country in one of the most enviable of a Minister..." (p. 110). He claims that "everybody has been satisfied and his staff in the Ministry speak eloquently of his magnanimity, generosity and 110). When he realizes that clients have been declared "guilty", he pleads both "elemency" and option of fine" (p116) The type of punishment meted out to Chief and his accomplices shows that the Judge does not reckon with the Defence Counsel's line of argument.



Character Analysis and Role of Doctor In Harvest of Corruption


Doctor (p. 65)
He is a young man of thirty-five, light-complexioned and slightly bald-headed. He works in Wazobia Hospital in Mabu. It is to him that Aloho goes for abortion when she discovers that she is Rather than contact Chief, she goes straight to this doctor with his fee in her handbag. He is reluctant to carry out the abortion of Aloho's pregnancy but does not reveal this until he had collected the large sum often thousand naira from his patient. It is after this ritual of money exchanging hands that he now asks Aloho if she wants to kill herself by insisting on the pregnancy ofthree months being suddenly aborted.
He postpones the abortion exercise a few times and on one occasion he was almost about to carry out the exercise when Nurse Halimatu rushes in to declare an emergency. From the Doctor's initial reluctance, it is safe to infer that he had arranged this "emergency" with Halimatu. Thus, the Doctor's dilly-dallying strategy stops the abortion and compels Aloho to have her baby, a girl. ordinarily Doctor is pro-life; however, his morality is questionable since he pocketsAloho's ten thousand naira fee without completing the contract between them. His dishonesty is evidenced by his asking Nurse Halimatu to leave us now and please if anybody asks of me, say I am not in, okay!" (p. 75)



Character Analysis and Role of Inspector Inaku In Harvest of Corruption


Inspector Inaku 
Inspector Inaku is a detective dressed in mufti. His full name is John Odey Inaku who is a Detective Inspector in the Criminal Investigation Department of the Jacassan Police Force. In his determination to convict Chief and his accomplices, he obtains his evidence against them by bribing Ayo to secure the relevant documents. He secures Ogeyi's story with his "little tape-recorder gesturing for her to speak" (pp. 80-81). In court, he is firm and professional in the manner he presents his case against Chief and his cohorts which must have compelled the court to accept his evidence. Inaku gives the detailed information about Chief, his accessories and Ayo who accepts a bribe of two thousand naira in order to part with documents necessary for the case to be successfully prosecuted. Not withstanding Ayo's usefulness in the suit, he is prosecuted along with the other criminals.



Character Analysis and Role of Judge In Harvest of Corruption


Judge 
This Judge is different from Justice odili. He is a devoted law officer who is only out to do justice. He is sprite and business-like. He is keen to get to the heart of the matter as soon as it is possible. "What are the facts of the case?" (p. 96) he asks the Prosecution Counsel once the Defence Counsel submits a "not guilty" plea. At no point does he interrupt either the Defence Counsel or the Prosecution Counsel from explaining their positions fully. However, each time there is a triviality being pursued, particularly by the Defence Counsel, he steps in to nip it in the bud. He overrules unnecessary objections, insists on explicitness in the "choice of words" (p. 103) and demands that all points raised be apposite and relevant. A few times he is humorous in court without losing focus nor fails to ask the necessary questions to move the case forward. His remark before the Jury goes out to give their verdict shows that he stands for justice and fairness. He reminds the jury that "corruption is not a friendly word to the legal institution, therefore anybody who plants corruption should be ready to harvest it' (p. 114) He charges the jury to bear in mind that "justice comes first" (p. 115). In the end, the Judge fearlessly announces the verdict of the jury and goes on to impose the sentences accordingly. 



Character Analysis and Role of Lady
In Harvest of Corruption


Lady 
She is not described; he only stops on sighting the madman, calling him "Showboy!" she advises the madman against "disturbing the neighbourhood with your noise She asks the insane man to "stop your noise or else I shall call Police to arrest you for noisemaking and stealing from the neighbourhood" (p. 24). Although it is not clear if the madman has her in mind when he claims that "she used to be my darling wife wen I poor", her saying "when you are poor again you can come and marry me" (p. 25) indicates that the lady believes she is the one being referred to. She describes what "Showboy" is saying as "nonsense" and declares, "I can't waste my time listening to you" (p. 25).


Character Analysis and Role of Madman In Harvest of Corruption


Madman 
Called "Showboy" by Lady, madman is said to be dressed in tattered clothes and is "carrying a heavy bundle of tightly wrapped bits and pieces of junk drooping over his face He creates a scene by screaming and abusing no one in particular, while laughing from time to time. He addresses no particular audience when he says: "All of you there" (p. 23). Although his remarks seem uncoordinated they leave a lasting impression on ACP Yakubu. He says, for instance, "I be rich, I be rich man but I never steal anybody property." He also says that he is a rich man "as you see me. I dress fine" (p. 23). If appointed a President by the current President (which is a madman's talk) he will "run dis country well. No stealing" (p. 24). Moreover, he is interested in sanitation, "yes! Evrometa. Yes! Na sanitation we need abi na evrometa by ourselves not de country" (pp. 24-25). What the madman says impels ACP Yakubu into deep thought; the Assistant Commissioner considers the madman as having prescribed a cure for the country's "madness and lawlessness" (p. 25). The madman is a metaphor for the confused state, corruption and value overthrow in Jacassa.



Character Analysis and Role of Madam Hoha In Harvest of Corruption


Madam Hoha 
The proprietress of Akpara Hotel at Darkin, she is among Chief's accomplices. She is tall, bulky and "seems to be having a lot out of life" (p. 11). Her skin is said to be velvety, not too light and not too dark but "could pass for ebony description." A well-fed "cash madam", she has "achieved some degree of wealth." The playwright describes her looks as those of "the familiar sight of an eastern Jacassan woman of high society." On both hands there are gold bracelets and on her four fingers gold rings with both cheeks lined by "three parallel marks, which look like the whiskers of a cat' (p. 11). She calls ochuole "the chic", the Lioness" and "Bubbling Baby" and in a moment she gossips about Chief and how his likes will "never regret their retirement because of the chain of companies they float" (p From her comments on the Chief and his ilk and how "all they do is stashing government money somewhere through some conduit pipes for the rainy day" (p. 2), it is clear that she is into abetting Chief in his nefarious activities with her two eyes wide open. It also shows that Madam Hoha is a reckless commentator who does not weigh what she says. Making all that remark against the Chief in front of his mistress shows that indeed she speaks "hoha', meaning without restraint. She has a low opinion of Chief who will easily fall when "we'll dangle this babe (Aloho) before the Chief for a price" after all he will employ her and we can make use of her to get what we want" (p. 13) When she is called "Madam de Madam" by Chief, she responds "It's a matter of cash, Chief" (p l4. Chief orders for drinks and two mortars of ishi-ewu for him and ochuole, Madam Hoha that "she her own. When she receives her largesse, she then yields to Chief joining his girl, and remarks is dying have you already" (p. 15). Madam Hoha's Akpara Hotel is Chief's tryst with his lovers. He
tells Madam Hoha that his girls "are supposed to be here waiting for me and not the other way round" (p. 38). Although we treat her here as a minor character because of her limited role in the play she receives a similar as Ochuole's, having been described as having an insatiable appetit money. Her hotel is thus sealed up "as we cannot continue to be operating havens for criminal activities under the guise of beer parlours (p. 120). 


Character Analysis and Role of Market Woman In Harvest of Corruption


Market Woman 
We meet her in Wusa Market where she sells rice of various types- Gwari, Nupe and Uncle Ben's. She beats the price of Gwari rice with Ogeyi until they both agree on eighty naira per mudu. An illiterate woman, she speaks Pidgin English like Alice, the tea girl. She is used by the playwright to show how Ogeyi wisely uses her money in spite of the "little pay" which still compels everyone "to buy in the same market with everybody" (p. 70).



Character Analysis and Role of Mrs Obi In Harvest of Corruption


Mrs Obi 

Chief's secretary, Mrs Obi is a lady of average height, "slim with a good figure." She has on a pair of eyeglasses and is said to be light-complexioned. She is aware that Ochuole is a staff of the Ministry and is close to the Minister but she still insists on the protocol of how to see the Minister, yet without pretending to "risk it" (p. 31). Although Chief has instructed that no one sees him before 12 noon, Mrs Obi violates this rule since she knows the relationship between her boss and young women. Through her we know a bit about the Minister as one who violates his own instructions, and one who fails to follow protocol once women are concerned. Apparently Mrs obi hears little, quite ignorant of what is going on in their office until Ayo gossips to her. Informed that "Madam Aloho" has been caught at the.airport for cocaine-pushing and is "pregnant for oga (Chief, Mrs Obi snaps her fingers and remarks: thought as much. I know that all these games that have been going on will one to light" (p. 79). She describes her boss as "poor man" even as she thinks that he deserves whatever is coming to him whatever a man sows, same shall he reap. I pity (p. 79). Yet when the Sss men come for Chief, she bursts into his office, panting. She senses trouble for Chief bat e latter to be calm about it until he knows that his time is up.


Character Analysis and Role of Nurse Halimatu In Harvest of Corruption


Nurse Galimatu 
A nursing sister, Halimatu works with Doctor in the Wazobia Hospital in Mabu. As the play Scene Five is dressed in "well-standard white apron with a stopwatch and biros of two different
colours decorating the front left breast pocket She has three tribal marks on each of her cheeks, is dark-complexioned and of average height. She is a cautious nurse who speaks to patients in a gentle voice. She is unpretentious and apologizes to Aloho for not recognizing her when next the latter shows up. She is obedient to Doctor and comes to inform him of an emergency when Aloho is about to be handled in the abortion theatre. It is not clear if she precipitated the emergency or not; it is not clear if it had been a ploy since we had read some reluctance on the part of the Doctor to abort Aloho's baby. 


Character Analysis and Role of okpotu In Harvest of Corruption


okpotu (p. 90) Twenty-two years old, he is dark complexioned and has three tribal marks on each of his cheeks. He is Aloho's younger brother who comes into Jabu to see Ogeyi from his village. He brings the news of the death of Aloho and the survival of her baby girl. Okpotu is sent to Ogeyi by his father who would want to know the name of the man who had impregnated his daughter. He speaks in a conciliatory tone which suggests that he is not a trouble maker. Rather than be emotional that his sister had died, he asks Ogeyi who is sobbing on hearing Aloho's death to pull herself together, saying, "We all miss her. What can we relations reach Ogeyi whose name she continued to call until she gave up the ghost. He is a grateful fellow who thanks Ogeyi for "all that you did for my sister while she was alive" (p. 92). Without his appearance, it would have been difficult to have the full perspective of the Aloho subplot of the play. namely that she later had a baby, never forgot ogeyi and died thereafter.


Character Analysis and Role of Registrar In Harvest of Corruption


Registrar 
It is not clear if it is the same Registrar we meet at the cocaine trial as the one we meet at the Chief and his cohorts' assizes in Scene Eight. The Registrar we meet in Scene Three is a stout-looking, elderly man who is dressed in an "Elizabethan age" coat considered to be undersized for his build. Justice Odili asks him to call the first case of the day which he quickly does. Just for saying that the Prosecutor of the case is not present while the defendant's counsels are in court, Justice Odili takes umbrage at him. "Look here, Mr Registrar," Justice odili barks at him, "next time when I ask a question, I expecta direct answer" (p. 51). When next he reminds "My Lord" that the "state prosecutor came to your chamber this morn he is warned "to speak only when you are spoken to." Justice odili goes on to belittle him insisting that he should not "tell all that you see." The reason is that "you may not be able to explain the differences between what you actually see and what you imagined you saw" (p. 52). In Scene Eight the Judge treats him with more respect. There are no threats as he calls out Chief Haladu Ade-Amaka and five others. He reads out Chief's offences without any interruption and asks the jury if they are agreed on the verdict of "guilty" arrived at in the case of Chief and five others to which the Foreman of the Jury responds, "We are agreed'' (p. 116). It is the Registrar that addresses the accused persons and announces what they are convicted of: he it is too who seeks to know if any of them has reasons "why the court should not give you judgement according to the law"