NATION OF DEAD PATRIOTS

About the Book

An imaginary African country Mungeruun gains its independence from the colonial authorities after a fairly protracted but bloodless struggle. An internal struggle for power between a few of its politicians is amicably sorted out in the interest of national cohesion. An army coup d’état that involved a lopsided assassination of principal officers and civilian leaders is followed by a countercoup with indiscriminate killing of officers and civilians alike. A devastating civil war in which the former colonial master plays less than an impartial role follows. An unusual collaboration between the Eastern and Western world power blocks ensures the defeat of the rebellious section of the country. That section had declared that its military technology was light-years ahead of that of the other side, perhaps thereby, provoking cooperation against her by strange bedfellows. The acclaimed leader of the free world is apparently persuaded to play a mere observer role under the persuasion that the conflict is an “internal affair” of the concerned country. The discovery of massive reserves of oil places the reunited country in an unprecedented economic advantage. But the “new rich” status of the country does not translate to a better life for the majority of the country’s peoples as monumental and unimaginable levels of corruption bedevils the framework of the once promising nation whose patriots of old had sacrificed so much to ensure its independence and progress. What went wrong? With the corruption of the young, even from the cradles, are there hopes for a return to the path of good and patriotic governance?

About the Author

Oliver Akamnonu is a physician, with specialization in anesthesiology. An author and poet, Dr. Akamnonu had his early education at St. Brigid’s School Enugu, Nigeria, and Government Secondary School Afikpo, where he was the School Captain . He finished his education at the University of Ibadan medical and postgraduate schools. A former state chairman of the Nigerian Medical Association, former member of the Medical and Dental Council of Nigeria MDCN, member of the Board of Federal Medical Center Owerri, recipient of the Distinguished Medical Practitioner (DMP 2005) award, chairman of the Akamnonu Foundation for the Poor, he became an author after he immigrated to the United States and has over eighteen published books to his credit. Dr. Akamnonu’s published books include Suppers of Many Dishes Part I; Suppers of Many Dishes Part II; The Gods Have Not Yet Spoken; Taste of the West; Nation of Dead Patriots; Bature; The Honorable; Coming Late to America; Earth’s Man of Color: Genes, Agenda, or Jeans; Soldier Ants of War; The Trial of Monogamy; the award-winning book Rap to Mars; A Spot to Perch; Comedy of Naked Vampires; Konganoga: Mauling the Polity; and the widely read book Arranged Marriage and the Vanishing Roots. He is also the author of several short stories and literary contributions in several blogs and newspapers. A Nigerian-born citizen of the United States, Dr. Akamnonu lives in Massachusetts, USA, with his wife, Dr. Chika Agnes Akamnonu; and they have four children.