The narrator and protagonist of A Man of the People, Odili is a native of Urua village, where his father Hezekiah is a wealthy and widely hated district interpreter and head of the local chapter of the People's Organization Party (POP). Odili has graduated the Anata Grammar School, where he is Nanga's favorite student and is a disaffected member of the student's branch of POP. Having chosen to teach at his alma mater rather than in a government school, Odili wants to continue his training in London, but without accepting any political help in getting a scholarship. Odili arranges to spend the holidays with his lover since university, Elsie, now a nurse near the capital. Nanga's invitation to stay with him and explore scholarship opportunities makes getting together with Elsie at Christmas more convenient......
