The Excrement Problem (Situational Irony)
Odili ruminates on the endless surprises and contrasts between his country's elite and the poor. As he lounges and eats exquisite chef-prepared meals in Chief Nanga's palace, it is brought to his awareness that the nation is facing a significant excrement problem. This is an ironic reminder of how far the politicians are removed from the people they aim to represent. Chief Nanga's luxurious life is entirely predicated on the suffering and abuse of the common citizen—problems that are masked by his claim to be a "man of the people."
Chief Nanga's Personal Library (Situational Irony)
While Odili is at Chief Nanga’s house, he notices that the Minister's personal library is incredibly sparse. Additionally, the library only features works of American literature. This is ironic because as the Minister of Culture, it is Chief Nanga's job to embrace and support works that support and bolster his nation's art scene. Although Chief Nanga ostensibly fights against Western influence in an effort to preserve African cultural autonomy, we find that he does not "practice what he preaches."
The "Common People's Convention" (Situational Irony)
Odili finds it ironic that the mobilizing figures of the Common People’s Convention are intellectuals who themselves are quite far from "common people." Not one member of the organizing affiliation is a worker. All are lawyers, doctors, or activists. However, the committee defends their identities. They reference Karl Marx and explain that all revolutions must begin with the intellectual elite.
The Writers' Society Incident (Situational Irony)
Odili and Elsie accompany Chief Nanga to the Writers’ Society to hear him give the speech at a book exhibition for the novel The Song of the Black Bird. Odili realizes that he knows the author from his time at the University. Soon, Odili also realizes that the Minister of Culture is ignorant of the author and his body of work—another instance of situational irony related to Chief Nanga's position, since, as the Minister of Culture, he should be familiar with this honored author, especially since he is supposed to be the one honoring him. Chief Nanga quickly starts criticizing the author for his flippant attitude and unusual physical appearance. During his speech, Chief Nanga forgets the name of the author’s book. However, the audience cannot believe that the Minister of Culture would make such a mistake, and his error is treated as an intended joke. This highlights Chief Nanga's intolerance and ignorance. Through these situations, it becomes clear that Nanga is unfit for his position.
