TEARS FOR SACONDA: A REVIEW

Joe Akagu, Tears for Saconda, Evergreen Publications. 2013 pp 112.

The novel “Tears for Saconda” has a central message of corruption, injustice and bad governance. The author Joe Akagu relates the story with a character to bring out effectively the message of this novel.

Ibe, the main character stood his ground against the test of time, he was an avid campaigner against all forms of injustice, an unrepentant optimist and a social crusader, but reasonable minds pondered about how long he would carry on, they wondered if he can overcome the society to change it or would he be doomed by that same evil that made obsolete the efforts of other optimists that came before him.

He graduated as the overall best graduating student in the University, a fit everyone believed was a ticket to heaven, but that was not to be in Saconda because there was no job to absorb him.

Looking at the situation of things around him, the frustrations fellow young people like him were subjected to in Saconda which made many of them go back to the village and get married or secure teaching jobs in the few local schools after graduating to at least keep their hopes alive. He could not take it, he traveled to the city for a greener pasture.

In Majuga the capital city of Saconda, he observed the high and the mighty cruising in their luxurious cars, posing in their expensive mansions and wondered if they live in the same country as him. At the other corner were beggars in the slum who have been chased away from the main city because they constituted nuisance. 

In this amazed state he glanced at a lorry moving past him which had an inscription “if you can’t beat them join them.” 

With an excellent and enviable certificate, he still couldn't secure a reasonable job. Frustration started creeping in, but he vowed never to be a part of the problem that he wants to solve. He gave his best in being honest and struggled to salvage his society.

Unfortunately, when he needed Society the most, when that perfect time came for him to effect that change, the same society he fought to save deserted him. He lost everything, they choose those with big cars and a lot of money to share, those he had warned them against, those who spend everything to win election with the sole aim of gaining everything back when they take over the reins of power thereby leaving the people below where they found them, more hungry; more corrupt, poorer than before.

Again, he set out on his survival mission back to the city, this time a second chance came through an old school mate with whom he contested and won the Saconda presidential election.

The people rejoiced, the society danced that a messiah has finally found his way to the top, but did he become what the society expected? Find out.