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In the Courtroom
Everyone in Lagos was talking about the trial. On the last day of the train, the courtroom was full.
The young man on trial was Obi Okonkwo, a Senior Civil Servant. Obi Okonkwo was accused of taking a bribe. After Okonkwo was found Quilty, the Judge spoke to him.
“I cannot understand why you took this bribe,” saide the Judge. “You are an educated young man. You are a young man of great promise. I cannot understand why you did this.”
When Obi heard these words – a young man of great promise – tears suddenly came into his eyes. The tears began to run down his cheeks. He quickly took out a handkerchief and wiped his face. He did not want anyone to see that he was crying.
Obi had lost everything. He had lost his mother. She was dead. And he had lost Clara – the women he loved. She had left him,for ever Obi Okonkwo had nothing more to lose.
But when Ob heard these words – a man of great promise – he started to cry.
At the Officials’ Club
There were many Europeans at the Officials’ Club that evening. Mr Green was there. Mr Green was Obi Okonkwo’s boss in the Civil Service. Mr Green had been in Nigeria for many years.
The man from the British Council was there too. He had not been in Nigeria very long. He and Mr Green were having a drink together.
“I can’t understand why he took the bribe,” said the man from the British Council.
“I can,” said Mr Green in a loud voice. “I know why he took the bribe. The truth is that all Africans take bribes.”
The other people at the bar stopped talking and listened to what Mr Green was saying.
“We have given the Africans an English education,” went Mr Green, “But what have they done with it? Nothing at all. They don’t understand that it’s wrong to take bribes. They have always taken bribes. The young man in count today took a bribe. Why not? He was doing what every other African official dose. Why can’t you understand that?
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