To start with, ‘In the Name of Our Father’ is too good a book for a debut; major reason why it was nominated for the Nigerian Prize for Literature, 2021. But looking at Olukorede’s years of experience, and recognition in journalism, his narrative dexterity, and ability to capture the reader’s mind could finally procure some justification. A glimpse of a book with such a title, sitting somewhere on a bookshelf, is likely to trigger two sets of thoughts in the reader’s mind: either the book is about the church, and its importance in today’s society, or about miraculous activities in the House of the Lord. But Olukorede had defied all predictions. His debut had gone deeper than the average Nigerian novel. In a style quite peculiar to him, and a few other writers I have read, he had carefully explored pressing themes like poverty, moral decadence, bad governance, child labour, police brutality, bribery, cultism, corruption, prostitution, clerical insincerity, military dictatorship, and a host of other pertinent themes, in relation to the past, and present Nigerian society. What is more interesting about the story is the suspense, and the smooth flow, from the beginning until completion.
With the employment of a quite limpid prose, coupled with an apt embellishment using common literary devices, Olukorede had given virtually everyone a ticket to a sumptuous taste of his first contribution to Nigerian literature. He had specially used common words to create complex metaphors for everyone’s relish. Suspense-
Olukorede s. Yishau
filled, it would not be a sin to say that the story came with two protagonists, one that was cut short in the first chapter, and later reintroduced, and another, who had taken the larger space in this thrilling story. The first chapter of the book keeps the reader in an uncompromising state of curiosity as to who the sender of Justus Omoeko, a journalist-turn-novelist’s threatening letters was. Using the second protagonist, Alani, whose life had been afflicted by an obstinate poverty, and a quandary between living an adultery-free life and otherwise, Olukorede had carefully highlighted the complications of poverty, and its relation to making error-filled choices in life. Using Tosin, Alani’s girlfriend, and her predicaments, Olukorede had also gone ahead to talk about penury, and the state of our laws, especially those governing our healthcare system and its practice in Nigeria. Also, using Alani’s life as a case-study, how he had retreated to his old friend in search of solace, and all that had ensued after that, Olukorede had succinctly taken the reader on a tour into some pseudo-churches in Nigeria, and their questionable activities. This he has done quite well, without an iota of bias, and with a true sense of fairness and justice to the sacred Christian establishment in Nigeria. To strike a balance, and avoid ‘pointing fingers’, in his book, Olukorede had also written about the existence of some Imams and Muslim clerics in some secret occults, alongside pastors, and other notable figures in today’s world.
To the average northern Nigerian reader, this carefully-written 228 pages book, set majorly in the former capital of Nigeria—Lagos—is likely to give rise to accusations of chauvinism and ethnic supremacy on the part of the author. To the average Christian, anywhere in Nigeria, or around the world, Olukorede is likely to receive intense criticisms for dragging the name of the Christian faith, and its custodians in the mud. However, with any criticism that is likely to have sprung up, as a result of the characters and their roles in this story, it is commonplace that the reality in Olukorede’s claims are too genuine to be ignored. Except for few cases, like the part of the book where Georgina, a divorcee-turn-sex worker, had rented a kiosk belonging to a Hausa trader, in order to carry out her infamous dealing. For a person like myself, who had not only resided in Lagos for a considerable period of my life, but was born there, I can argue about the authenticity of such claims. Most extramarital sexual dealings in Lagos are being perpetrated in brothels, motels, and hotels, rather than what Olukorede had asserted. By using the word Mallam to refer to a Hausa trader, and associate him with such an underserving act, I am prompted to join a number of people who had criticized this book of sheer bigotry, and stereotype. Also, the identity of a Nigerian General in the closing chapters of the story, though fictionalized, is quite clear. The role given to this General can be said to have been slightly exaggerated. In this quite interesting story, Olukorede had not only eulogized, but idolized certain figures from a certain region of the country, and at the same time created holes in the reputation of others, leaving public opinion to hang them. The author seems to have taken a side in the political aspect of the story, where he was openly sympathetic to a part of the country, and harsh on the other. And I believe this can be attributed to how young he was, at the time the story was written. He was only twenty-four, glaringly bankrupt pertaining to chronology, and of course, issues of national concern as at the time.
To further avoid the consequences of a single story, the author had in the character, Pastor Hezekiah, cleansed himself of the dirt of dishonoring the Christian faith. He did that quite painstakingly, where he had written about how Hezekiah had rebelled against Pastor T.C Jeremiah’s church, The Amazing Grace Chapel, alias Headquarters of Heavenly Bliss. Hezekiah had gone against it, alongside all its dictates, and doctrines. Though containing quite a number of erotic scenes, the story can be said to be quite didactic in its motives, and for that, I doff my hat for the author. Asides the major setting of the story, which is Lagos, the story had other settings like Nguru, Abuja, and partly London. This says a lot about the brilliance of the author, and how much of a versatile individual he is. Asides the unrivalled power of his prose, he is also gifted with the ability to create characters and roles that can be quite synonymous with those in real life. This he had done perfectly with Rebecca, Pastor Jeremiah’s wife, who had put her past behind, and started on a clean slate with her husband. He had also breathed life into characters like General Sani Idoti, the cruel and power-drunk military dictator, who could do anything to remain in the seat of power. His depiction of Nkechi, the renowned pastor’s concubine is also close to excellent, where she had sent a letter to Rebecca, while in London, and had set the pace for the disaster that had ensued afterwards.
Everything is interconnected – the suffering of the masses, the unhappiness and insatiability of the rich, the recklessness of the night workers, and the worldliness of God’s representatives on earth. What will be the fate of Justus Omoeko, the journalist-turn-novelist who had received frightening letters, asking him to choose between his life, and publishing a book, which could also pass for an exposé? What will be the fate of Pastor T.C Jeremiah, and his miraculous days on the altar? This is a story of love, betrayal, anguish, despair, and all sorts of emotions that one can think of. What will become of Justus Omoeko’s relationship with the love of his life, Ayo, who had also sent him letters, and had threatened to terminate their protracted relationship? Was social mobility worth Alani’s decision, or poverty, a better option? All the answers are contained in this breath-taking story of dilemma, dishonesty, immorality, and quest for prosperity.
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Title: In The Name of Our Father
