The consequence of neglect, by Michael Olatunbosun |

The book for today is a work of fiction. It is a novel titled: “Negative Courage,” written by Akeem Adebiyi and published in 2012 by Kraftgriots, Ibadan.

Adebiyi is a teacher, politician and social commentator. He also writes articles for newspapers on contemporary issues and trade unionism.

In the novel, we are introduced to the Longley family. It is a family of a diplomat father, a mother given to business, and four children. We also meet one of the Longley’s children. He is an undergraduate in the university and a highly sociable young man. Tobi Longley is also known as Biggy, and he is depicted in the novel as a spoilt child who lavishes money and lives recklessly, even on campus.

In the novel Negative Courage, Biggy is a star among his friends. His group is known as “Octagon” and it comprises eight students – six males and two females. The group parades members who are from rich and elite backgrounds. Sandra is a member of the Octagon. She is also Biggy’s girlfriend, but her real name is Amope Nelson. She is voted into the office of Director of Socials in the executive council of the Students Union Government in an imaginary Fara University. She is able to achieve this solely because of the support of members of the Octagon, especially Biggy.

Akin Leleji, a handsome and easy-going chap, is the Secretary of the SUG. As a social pest, Akin has affinity with luxury, owing to his father’s status as the chief executive officer of a blue chip company in Lagoon.

Akin Leleji desires to have Sandra as his girlfriend. Then trouble starts.

In Negative Courage, Akin starts by sending love notes to Sandra, and one day, Biggy stumbles on one of the messages. Upon inquiry from Biggy, Sandra denies having any romantic affair with Akin, but Biggy is not convinced. So he concocts a plan to get back at Akin. And Sandra’s birthday is a good opportunity. Biggy attacks his presumed rival in the middle of the night during the birthday bash. At the party, Akin Leleji is lured out and he is attacked.

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After a couple of days, Biggy turns himself in. He is arrested and tried. The court convicts him of murder. And he is sentenced to death. 

Afterwards, Chief Afaro Longley makes frantic efforts to get his son out of the mess. He meets the Minister of foreign Affairs, and he gets to meet the Justice Minister too, appealing to him to wade into the matter and use his influence to set Biggy free. However, the Justice Minister, Chief Danley Shamia tells him that there is nothing he can do to rescue Biggy. Dejected, depressed and disappointed, Chief Longley dies in the course of seeking an escape route for his son Biggy. 

The novel Negative Courage throws up quite a number of motifs and themes. One of such is the recklessness that defines the pattern of life of unattended children of the rich elite in society. From the novel, the reader will observe that when parents don’t have time to train their children, these children end up becoming social misfits and harbingers of misfortune for their families.

The role that corrupt people play in truncating the justice system in societies gets a substantial space in this novel as well. The author goes the whole hog to show the reader the gamut of intrigues and manipulation that go into slowing down the wheel of justice so that the high and mighty can get their way.

In the novel, Akeem Adebiyi draws our attention to the fact that parents need to check up on their children who are in school, especially higher institutions. This will go a long way to show that they are being watched and it will keep them on track. The work is a great text on parental alertness. It is both didactic and entertaining, and beautifully written for both the young and the old. 

. Olatunbosun, a broadcast journalist, fact-checker and book reviewer at Splash FM 105.5, Ibadan, can be reached via 08023517565 (SMS and WhatsApp only) and email: [email protected].