AFRICAN PROSE
ISIDORE OKPEWHO: The Last Duty
Discuss the impact of the war on Toje.
Explanation
The war has a profound impact on Toje. Toje is the town’s pre-eminent citizen, a man of distinction who has made his mark in the rubber business. He declares that “the war has brought everybody low” including himself.
Toje even before the war was well respected among his friends and others. A rubber magnate of great repute, he has contributed immensely to the rubber industry. He argues that he could have, but for the outbreak of the war, attained great heights. The war has affected his rubber business. The violence of the war makes working in the rubber plantation risky. In his view therefore his prosperity as a businessman has been severely affected by the war.
Again, the war undermines Toje’s authority at home. He feels he no longer commands the respect of his wife which he did before the war. The impact of the war on Toje is not altogether negative, however. As the town’s most prominent citizen he maintains that anybody who comes to the town to do business of any sort must be on good terms With him. Even the military are not exempted from this. That is why he is able to persuade Major Bello Akuya to put Oshevire into detention on false charges of collaborating with the enemy.
The war provides Toje with the opportunity to make a lot of money in spite of his many protestations as to its negative effects. He uses his influence to secure the contract to supply the troops in Urukpe with food. Also it is money which he uses to attract Aku who has been reduced to penury by her husband’s detention.
The effect of the war is therefore both positive and negative on Toje.