Chapter 1

The people of Anata village host a party for Chief the honorable, M.A. Nanga, MP. The event takes place at Mr. Nwege's school, Anata grammar school. Many villagers gathered at the assembly Hall Even before the minister came. The women sang with 'grammer phone' their soloist taking the lead, the hunters who don't normally come for functions came for this one fully clothed I their regalia and many of them shot their bullets aiming at a far tree while others kept their gunpowder for the arrival of the minister.

The students and teachers formed a long guard of honor and when the minister arrived Mr. Nwege introduced all the teachers to him, except one. The minister stopped Mr.Nwege from introducing Odili for he had taught Odili while he was still young. The minister asked about Odili's welfare and was pleased to see that he was pursuing his degree still. The minister and his aides walked into the Hall and everyone followed suit. The Minister danced and sprayed money on people after he and Mr.Nwege's speeches. He then retired to the principal's quarters with his aides, Odili, the principal, and some villagers.

Chapter 2

Odili explains his reasons for wanting to become a teacher and also talked about going back to school and the minister invites him to his home so that he can speak with the minister of overseas training for a scholarship for Odili. While Odili is still in the village Andrew, his friend, visits him and  their conversation ventures towards the opposite sex, and Edna in particular.

Chapter 3

Odili travels to Bori, the capital, to stay with the minister. Odili is given a room and soon enough they leave to go and see Chief Koko concerning Odili's scholarship but before they can begin talking about the scholarship, the chief believes he has been poisoned not knowing he was drinking a different brand of coffee.

They go back home and Odili speaks with the ministers wife, Mrs. Nanga, and as he did before with Andrew although now less uncouth he spoke with her about Edna.

Chapter 4

Odili learns about Mrs Nanga and her childrens voyage to Anata, which he is helplessly giddy about. The minister returns for lunch and takes a call from the minister of public corporations. Odili eavesdrops and hears some parts of their conversation in which he learned that the ministers are keeping something away from the media and that Mr. Nanga likes to work with the Europeans more than the locals.

Jean and John visit and while John and Odili interest themselves in broad talks, Jean indulges herself in flirting with the minister.

Chapter 5

John and Jean invite Odili and Naga to their house for dinner, but both John and the minister could not make it as John had to travel back to America and the minister entertains an attorney. Odili and Jean attended the dinner with some other guests and danced intimately afterwards.

Odili and Jean sleep together and after midnight Jean drives Odili back home.

Chapter 6

Odili goes to the hospital where Elise works and invites her to the minister’s house and invites her friend as well, as a companion for the minister. On the day Odili left to pick Elise and her friend from the hospital, her friend cancels their appointment and the minister decides to follow them, so as to speak at an African art exhibit for authors. The minister and Odili have a discussion about Elise and Odili makes it clear that they are not serious. The three of them attend the event but Odili spends the whole day whispering with Elise, who didn't seem to mind.

Chapter 7

Odili sees the minister give the editor of the daily matcher five pounds in keeping sealed a matter of interest which the minister wasn't aware of. The editor was grateful for the five pounds promised to print the minister’s speech on the front page of the magazine. The three of them (the minister, Odili, and Elise) return to the minister’s home.

Odili was angry at the sight of the minister in Elise's room because he had intentions of speaking with her in private. Odili leaves the house and walks round Bori, the capital, for many hours before finally returning back home. When he did he and the minister argued and Odili left the ministers house, having no thought of returning.

Chapter 8

Odili stays with his friend, Max kuramo, who is a barrister in Bori. Odili plans on getting hos revenge on the minister by sleeping with Edna, the minister's intended second wife.

Max tells Odili of the common people's convention and invites him to join, Odili then have it some thought and decided that he would get more revenge by taking the ministerial position from the minister.

Chapter 9

Odili goes back to Anata village and upon getting there he noticed a ruckus involving a local merchant and some villagers, the merchant has tried to trick a blind man. Odili left to visit Mrs.Nanga who then informed him of Edna's whereabouts. Odili met Edna's father and found out that her mother was sick in the hospital. He offered to take Edna there in order to bring food for her mother but on the way to the hospital some sheep got in the way and they had a mild accident. They were not hurt but they couldn't say the same for the food they were carrying, Odili then offered to buy Edna's mom some food when they got to the hospital.

Chapter 10

Odili meets Edna in Mrs. Nanga's house and advised her not to be hasty in marrying the minister which leads to an argument. Corruption is spotted with exceeding clarity in the government and Max calls Odili to come to Boris in order to launch the political party. Odili returns to Anata rich and looks for Edna and after finding out that she was in her grandmother's house he wrote to her. He declares his will to run against the minister in the upcoming election and Josiah, the disgraced merchant, tries to gain employment under Odili but he refuses and after being harassed gets a bodyguard. He is fired from his job as a teacher and he goes back to say goodbye to Mrs.nanga but she treats him with resentment. He says adiue to Edna to and she seems sad to see him go.

Chapter 11

Odili decides after some thought that he wants to have Edna not just for revenge but for love and he receives a friendship letter from her. Odili is forced to hire a good measure of bodyguards led by Boniface in order to protect himself from thugs loyal to the minister, who go by the name Nanavanga. Odili returns to his home town in Urua where he stays with his father, the minister tries to bribe him from campaigning against him but he refuses to take the bribe.

Chapter 12

Max announces Odili's candidacy  and told him he should have taken the ministers money as he himself took the chief Koko's money, but Odili made it known that he doesn't like dirty money. Odili tells Edna he loves her but she shouts at him and makes him leave. Odili's father is outrageously taxed and sacked from office because he housed Odili and Max.

Chapter 13

The people are told they will vote for the minister and Odili how for his campaign meeting where he Is identified and beaten up by the Nanavanga, he misses the election as he is in the hospital, he learns Max was killed, national security was breached as thugs continuously committed acts of violence throughout the country. The army reclaims the country after which the minister is arrested, Max is declared a hero, and Odili and Edna receive their fathers’ blessings to marry.