Roof is an energetic young man of Umuofia, who has come back to his village giving up a bright future in the city. People believe that he has come back to guide them in difficult times and hence hold him in high esteem. When we read about the election, the writer tells us that the village of Umuofia already belonged en masse to the People’* Alliance Party and had elected Chief the Honourable Marcus be as their representative ¡n the previous election and nobody doubted his re-election this time also. The man behind Marcus’ success is Roof.
Roof was his election campaign manager and had become a real expert in election campaigning at all levels. Having already seen a change in Marcus’ status and wealth, Roof is able to gauge the people’ mood and the change in people’ perception of Marcus Ibe and had conveyed to his leader that a *** change had come in them. This way he prepares Marcus to plan his strategy to woo the voters ¡n the coming elections.
After feasting in Marcus’ house on the day of the opening of his new house, people had realized what good things politics had showered on Marcus. They also regretted to a little extent that they had given their vote to Marcus free of charge in the previous election. Therefore, this time, they decided to demand a price for their vote. As expected, Roof, being an expert in election campaigning, comes armed with money to his whispering campaigns.
During his whispering campaigns, Roof uses a lot of political rhetoric and tells the people convincingly that PAP favours the people of Umuofia. He says, “What greater honour can a village have? Do you ever stop to ask yourselves why we should be singled out for this honour? Think of the pipe-borne water they have promised us. This way Roof manages to mesmerize the naive people into believing that Marcus Is a great man and is going to do great things for their village.
Besides, Roof satisfies their ** for a share of Marcus’ earnings by giving them four shillings each. On the day of the election, Marcus entertains the people hiring a highlife band from Umuru. He sits in an enormous car and tries to impress the people with his wealth and eminence. He coins catched slogans like ‘Vote for the car, and you will ride in it It is these strategies planned by Roof that ensures Marcus’ victory in the elections.
