Friendship
Sam, Ikem, and Chris were friends since their school days and by that friendship the three men all became entangled into the leadership of Kangan. But it is their friendship that leads to suspicion among them. Sam as a leader becomes suspicious of his two friends because they are the ones who know him the best and they are the ones that could hurt him the most. Sam didn't mean to serve as the leader forever but he becomes addicted to the power and changes his views. He starts to view his friends as a threat to his position and, whether intentionally or not, is the cause of their deaths.
Students and Workers
In his final speech on the issue of the oppression of the lower classes in Kangan, Ikem points out the irony of students and workers who claim to be oppressed by the system. In a witty manner, Ikem accuses the workers as being on the side on the oppressor rather than the oppressed because they feed the corruption and fraud. He calls them parasites. He accuses the students of being like parrots, copying the corrupted system within themselves and mimicking everything their professors tell them. There is a lack of individual thinking to bring change.
Ikem's Lecture
The irony of Ikem's lecture also lies in its audience. His lecture was intended for bettering the situation of the lower classes, peasants, and working women. However, there are no peasant or working women present during the lecture.
Chris's Death
After Ikem's death, there was a hunt for Chris by the military. En route to Abazon, Chris avoids them only to be killed for defending a young girl's honor.
