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SUMMARY WRITE UP
ON
MUYIWA OJO’S ‘MEMOIRS OF A LUNATIC’ DRAMA BOOK IS A

TRUE REFLECTION OF POLITICAL AND SOCIAL MENACE IN
NIGERIAN SOCIETY.
PREPARED
KAYODE OLADIPUPO
MAY, 2010
INTRODUCTION
Indeed Muyiwa Ojo’s ‘Memoirs of a Lunatic’ is the true reflection of
political and social menace in our society. The story line particularly
reflects the Nigerian social and political experience since the inception of
democracy in 1999.
Before going ahead to juxtapose, there is need to give a brief
summary of the book “Memoirs of a Lunatic” by Muyiwa Ojo.
BRIEF SUMMARY
The drama, ‘Memoirs of a Lunatic’ focus particularly on chief Bayo
Oyewumi who was legally voted in as the local government chairman of
Igbatuntun Local government area. Discuss in the course of the drama
revealed that, chief Bayo Oyewumi was a man who knew the basic
principle of equity, justice and how good governance ought to be run.
Unfortunately, he misplace his priority having been caught up by
greed. Being determined to act against his own manifesto, he decided to
separate himself from and avoid person who are likely to give him lawful
counsels. Such persons included his long time friend, Tunde Aluta who also
2
played a major role in his political victory; and the NUT union leaders of
which he was formerly an active member.
Upon being enticed by a former school friend, Akin Smart, chief
Bayo Oyewumi diverted and misappropriated money meant for the
payment of teacher’s salaries, including funds meant for major
environmental projects. His greedy wife Segilola also partnered with him
in his vices. Hence, he diverted public funds to purchase a personal ship in
furtherance of his greed.
In order to silence the voice of his conscience, he threatened,
fought and tried to blackmail Tunde Aluta and the Union leaders who
approached him peacefully over the pending issues. Not being able to for
bear any longer, the protest and on an industrial actions.
Unknown to the local government chairman, Akin Smart was a
Fraudster and officers of the economics and financial crimes commission
had been monitoring their activities very closely. He was arrested at the
Lagos port in the company of his wife where they went to take delivery of
the ship. Of course, that marked the end of his political career because
he later ran mad.
3
LITERATURE IS A MIRROR OF LIFE. JUSTIFY THE TRUISM OF
THIS ASSERTION WITH CLOSE REFERENCE TO MUYIWA OJO’S,
MEMOIR OF A LUNATIC
In our society today, it is no longer news that the political leaders
have been failing and have failed woefully to deliver the dividends of
democracy to the masses and electorates. Major headlines on newspapers
and magazines have revealed several cases of money laundering,
misappropriation of public funds and betrayal of oat of office at the
federal state and local levels. There have been countless instances where
political office holders in our society have acted like chief Bayo Oyewumi
in diverting public funds and wages for personal business projects. Some
years ago, a governor in one of the Niger delta states, where most of the
masses live in abject poverty was arrested hat the United Kingdom by
officers of the Economic and financial Crime commission on millions of
dollars that were discovered in his foreign bank accounts and he was later
impeached. A lot of governors, ministers, Commissioners, Contractors and
even political god-fathers had been summoned by the EFCC for
interrogation which have led to several shocking discoveries.
4
Similarly to what ensued in the drama, the educational sectors in
Nigeria have suffered particularly, since the inception of democracy. The
public media must have lost count of mass protests and industrial actions
already embarked upon within the educational sector. It is very pathetic
that even the few leaders who have been voted in through a free and fair
election just like the election of the chairman of Igbatuntun local
government in the above drama, have ended up disappointing every
electorates who voted them in and even made life so difficult for them.
In our society today, the rights of people guaranteed by section 36
of the 1999 constitution is constantly being trampled upon by political
leaders. These leaders make use of the law enforcement agents to
unleash terror on the people in order to prevent them from exercising
their right to freedom of association, speech, movement and other rights
as entrenched in the constitution. This was exactly the method used by
Chief Bayo Oyewumi, the local government chairman, to stop the people
from embarking on the peaceful mass protest as planned.
The only distinction noticed between this drama and our present
political and social experiences is that there were no group of persons
5
who betrayed their fellow masses by acting as thugs to oppress people on
behalf of the local government chairman. All the people of Igbatuntun
local government council spoke in unity with one voice against all
oppression from their chairman.
CONCLUSION
In conclusion, the drama “Memoirs of a Lunatic” by Muyiwa Ojo
ended properly because it reflected the exact heart desires of masses
who have suffered all forms of oppression under a bad political
leadership. Indeed, the desires of the masses is that political leaders who
have acted wickedly like chief Bayo Oyewumi must not go unpunished and
that such leaders should be succeeded by honest, humble and
approachable leaders like Tunde Aluta.

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SUMMARY WRITE UP

MUYIWA OJO’S ‘MEMOIRS OF A LUNATIC’ DRAMA BOOK IS A

Indeed Muyiwa Ojo’s ‘Memoirs of a Lunatic’ is the true reflection of

Before going ahead to juxtapose, there is need to give a brief

summary of the book “Memoirs of a Lunatic” by Muyiwa Ojo.

The drama, ‘Memoirs of a Lunatic’ focus particularly on chief Bayo

Oyewumi who was legally voted in as the local government chairman of

Igbatuntun Local government area. Discuss in the course of the drama

principle of equity, justice and how good governance ought to be run.

Unfortunately, he misplace his priority having been caught up by

greed. Being determined to act against his own manifesto, he decided to

which he was formerly an active member.

Upon being enticed by a former school friend, Akin Smart, chief

Bayo Oyewumi diverted and misappropriated money meant for the

payment of teacher’s salaries, including funds meant for major

in his vices. Hence, he diverted public funds to purchase a personal ship in

furtherance of his greed.

In order to silence the voice of his conscience, he threatened,

bear any longer, the protest and on an industrial actions.

Unknown to the local government chairman, Akin Smart was a

Fraudster and officers of the economics and financial crimes commission

he later ran mad.

In our society today, it is no longer news that the political leaders

democracy to the masses and electorates. Major headlines on newspapers

and magazines have revealed several cases of money laundering,

misappropriation of public funds and betrayal of oat of office at the

officers of the Economic and financial Crime commission on millions of

impeached. A lot of governors, ministers, Commissioners, Contractors and

even political god-fathers had been summoned by the EFCC for

interrogation which have led to several shocking discoveries.

Nigeria have suffered particularly, since the inception of democracy. The

already embarked upon within the educational sector. It is very pathetic

election just like the election of the chairman of Igbatuntun local

government in the above drama, have ended up disappointing every

In our society today, the rights of people guaranteed by section 36

of the 1999 constitution is constantly being trampled upon by political

leaders. These leaders make use of the law enforcement agents to

unleash terror on the people in order to prevent them from exercising

their right to freedom of association, speech, movement and other rights

as entrenched in the constitution. This was exactly the method used by

from embarking on the peaceful mass protest as planned.

political and social experiences is that there were no group of persons

behalf of the local government chairman. All the people of Igbatuntun

oppression from their chairman.

In conclusion, the drama “Memoirs of a Lunatic” by Muyiwa Ojo

ended properly because it reflected the exact heart desires of masses

who have suffered all forms of oppression under a bad political

that such leaders should be succeeded by honest, humble and

approachable leaders like Tunde Aluta.

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