The novel Fathers of Nations by Paul B. Vitta exposes several incidents of conflict essay

The novel Fathers of Nations by Paul B. Vitta exposes several incidents of conflict.

“The novel Fathers of Nations by Paul B. Vitta exposes several incidents of conflict.” With close reference to the text, write a composition to support this statement. (20 marks)

Conflict is a major theme in Fathers of Nations by Paul B. Vitta. The novel presents many forms of conflict—ideological, interpersonal, and political. These conflicts help to show the challenges that African countries face in trying to find a common path for development.

One of the main conflicts in the novel is the ideological conflict between Way Omega and Path Alpha. Way Omega is a development strategy proposed by Nobel laureates and is supported by most presidents. On the other hand, Path Alpha is introduced by AGDA and is seen as more people-driven. The two documents offer different strategies for Africa’s development, causing confusion and disagreement among the summit delegates.

Another conflict occurs during the summit itself, where presidents disagree sharply over the best development strategy. For example, President Bangoura feels that Dr. Afolabi’s introduction is not helpful. President Ibarosa complains that Way Omega does not limit presidential terms, while President Dibonso accuses the chair of letting the debate go off-topic. These disagreements show that the presidents have different opinions and interests, making it hard to agree on one strategy.

There is also personal conflict between Abiola and his wife Pamela. They disagree on whether to have children naturally or adopt. Abiola wants children “from his own loins,” while Pamela wants to adopt because she believes Africa already has too many children. This leads to frustration and finally causes Pamela to divorce Abiola.

Still on personal matters, there is conflict between Abiola and Pamela about his relatives. Pamela wants Femi and Nimbo to leave the house immediately, even though it’s late at night. Abiola, being considerate, wants them to sleep over. This disagreement becomes so serious that it adds to their marital problems and contributes to their final separation.

There is also conflict between Comrade Melusi and a young security guard at the summit. The guard wants to take away Melusi’s hypodermic needle, fearing it could be used as a weapon. However, Melusi refuses, saying he needs it for his diabetes. This is a clash between personal health needs and security measures.

Another major conflict happens after Path Alpha is chosen as the winning strategy using the Choice Matrix. President Dibonso strongly disagrees with the decision. He even threatens to shoot the Summit Chair for closing the summit. The situation is only calmed when the Chair calls in commandos to arrest Dibonso. This dramatic moment shows how deep the disagreements among the leaders are.

Finally, there is a general conflict of interest among the presidents. Most of them do not support the Choice Matrix method and think it is a trick. Even though Path Alpha is chosen, many presidents accept it grudgingly or with suspicion, showing that they are not united in their decision.

In conclusion, Fathers of Nations clearly shows that conflict exists at all levels—between ideas, between leaders, and between individuals. These conflicts highlight the struggles Africa faces in trying to move forward with a united voice.