Sexual Immorality And Social Decay

By Promise Adiele

Isidore Okpewho’s novel, The Last Duty illustrates the grim demand for sex in exchange for money and sundry items of survival in a war situation. In the novel, Toje, the conceited, narcissist Urukpe chief, in a dire demonstration of callousness, incriminates his business rival Oshevire for allegedly conspiring with rebel soldiers. While Oshevire is in detention leaving his wife Aku and only son Oghenovo, Toje unconscionably takes advantage of his absence, offers Aku food and money in exchange for sexual gratification to revive his infirm manhood.

Faced with hunger and starvation, Aku gives in to Toje’s morbid sexual request much against her own convictions. In the same vein, the sub-plot of Festus Iyayi’s novel, Violence recounts how Adisa, Idemudia’s wife succumbs to Obofun’s sexual demands in order to raise money to pay her husband’s hospital bills. Her immoral act becomes inconsequential as the hospital bill is paid by her husband’s friends Osaro and Omoifo by the time she arrives at the hospital with the filthy lucre.