NASA principal Raila Odinga. [Photo: The Star]
My friend Kiplagat Sabulei has drawn my attention to the tragic tale of Okonkwo in 'Things Fall Apart'. He draws a parallel between the life of Okonkwo and that of Raila Odinga.
Okonkwo is a tragic hero who attempts to fight a new system imposed by the white man in the land of his forefathers- Umuofia. However, when he realizes that things are too thick for him, Okonkwo chooses to hang himself rather than witness the erosion of his cultural values by the white people. I see Raila heading down the same path of self-destruction like Okonkwo. I suspect that his much pronounced magical last bullet is the rope of self-extermination!Somebody, If you meet baba, take away that rope firmly held in his feeble hands. Tell him that the journey of no return is not worth it. Convince him that he has a bright future telling narratives to his grandchildren around the shores of Nam Lolwe as he nostalgically watches the sun kiss the shores of the lake.I beseech baba to save the last bullet for the land yonder. In so doing, he will, in the words of Ola Rotimi, save the gods from blame for 'The gods are not to Blame' for his current predicament with one Chebukati of IEBC.I suggest that baba pens ' So Long a Letter' to bid his ardent supporters a warm bye. He should 'A Grain of Wheat' in their hearts at this painful moment. Obierika stands next to the tree saying the famous words to the white administrator:" You see this man hanging here? He was a great man. You drove him to kill himself."