Chinua Achebe · English Literature

In 'A Man of the People', the protagonist Odili Samalu is initially motivated to enter politics because of:

  1. A genuine desire to serve the rural poor and reform the corrupt postcolonial state
  2. A personal vendetta against Chief Nanga for seducing his girlfriend
  3. The prospect of a university scholarship offered through British Council funding
  4. His family's longstanding tradition and expectation of political involvement
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Correct answer: A personal vendetta against Chief Nanga for seducing his girlfriend

While Odili publicly claims to be motivated by reform, his entry into politics is sparked by Chief Nanga's seduction of Elsie, his girlfriend. Achebe uses this to show how personal ego and political idealism are inextricably entangled in the postcolonial state.

Difficulty: Medium Question 18 of 20

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