AFRICAN PROSE
ISIDORE OKPEWHO: The Last Duty
Comment on the theme of rivalry in the novel
Explanation
Rivalry is one of the themes explored in the novel, 'The Last Duty' This is more pronounced in the character of Chie Toje, who, out of pride and sense of self-importance brooks no rivalry to both his person and his business. His name according to him, is one that brings credit to Urukpe. He is the next in rank to the traditional head and has made his mark in the rubber business.
Both his name and his business must therefore be protected because, according to him "great names are rare and must not be wasted" as it has attracted to him a lot of attention and great respect. This is from the onset, Chief Toje is envious of Oshevire's success in business. Rather than improve on the output of his products by way of transparent honesty and increasing his workers' salaries, he resolves to get rid of Oshevire, thus crippling his business. To achieve his aim, he gets Oshevire arrested on trumped-up charges and pays Rukeme people r bear false witness against him. He is not worried by the activities of other competitors. Though he refers to Oshevire as an upstart, Toje knows that -e is more organized, pays,his workers better salaries and enjoys better government patronage than he, Toje, does. He goes further to covet Oshevire's wife in his .absence, believing that he will be able to use her to revive his swindling virility. He therefore entices her with gifts of food, clothing and other commodities to make her yield to his advances.
Odibo on his own part is deeply rankled by the constant abuse meted out to him by Chief Toje. He is always minded of his physical disability, which is seen by Toje as a weakness and sign of incapability. As a result, Odibo harbours a lot of resentment towards Toje and when he realizes his own feelings towards Aku, he begins to see Toje as a rival.
He goes all the way to having an affair with Aku, knowing the emotional and psychological effects this will have on Toje if it is discovered. He therefore does not hesitate to fight Toje almost to the point of death knowing that if he has the upper hand, he will be proving a point to himself and Toje at the same time he is not totally useless as assumed all As an extension, Okumagba, suffers from this unhealthy rivalry and feels cheated out of the action of the war.
He has joined the war believing he would be exposed to most of the action but he has been drafted to the menial job of having to merely watch over Aku and her son, more so as Aku is from the rebel tribe. He grudgingly carries out his assignment without enjoying it, being aware of Toje's moves on the one hand and that of Odibo on the other. There is also rivalry between the military personnel as demonstrated in the conflict over a girl between the sergeant and Private Sule leading to the shooting to death of the private.