Today, we have before us, a book that extensively exposes the tragic consequences of money rituals and the deep-seated corruption in our nation’s policing system. It is a novel titled: “A Drink with the Devil,” written by Dr. Tunde Akinlotan, and published in 2021 by Ebony Books and Kreations Ibadan.
The author introduces us to Adan, a powerful nocturnal herbalist who lives in the village called the Eyes of the Gods. Adan is so powerful, bold and rude.
He makes Kings and even demons bow to him. Many people come from big cities to Adan who make money rituals for them.
In the book, we are also introduced to Mr Charles Olumofe, a man wallowing in bankruptcy from Lagos. He is a man whose previous way of life is characterised by luxury, having been involved in oil bunkering before. Olumofe is seeking to return to reckoning after he previously failed in a money ritual outing. In his first attempt, he fails, and altogether comes down hurt, defeated, and cheated by his girlfriend Bisi and best friend, Frank.
In his second attempt, we see him with Adan for money rituals. He is now given a second chance, but he has to produce ritual materials which seem impossible. And it finally dawns on him that there is no free meal with the devil. When you eat with him, you will pay more than you ever imagined. However, he is determined to proceed; otherwise, he will die or run mad.
In this book, Olumofe and Frank are members of the Young Millionaires Club, a famous group of 12 men with dark businesses. Most, if not all, members are involved in money rituals as their main source of wealth. The club has a hand in the disappearance of many university girls and prostitutes. The members have a way of covering their bloody tracks, and no crime is ever traced to them, special thanks to their mole in the police. Of course the police officer and his co-conspirators, very senior police officers are found out and heavily dealt with. But this book vividly exposes the deep corruption that holds sway in the country’s security agencies.
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But things start to take mysterious turns after Bisi’s death. Olumofe is able to crawl into the church where his mother and the prophets work on his deliverance from the table of the devil. Frank is arrested but his record in the national database is unavailable.
In the final analysis, Adan, the notorious medicine man, Frank and the Young Millionaires Club, their enablers and patrons in the police, get the outcomes that fit them. Olumofe eventually meets a tragic end of his various escapades and it all ends with his death.
The book powerfully shows that when people try to ride too early on the fast lane to wealth and prosperity, and they’re blind to all warning signs and deaf to all homilies, their tragic end is guaranteed.
Essentially, the work shows the bitter consequence of greed and haste for hot money. It also exposes the fatal end of young girls who are hasty to fall for questionably rich men especially in their craving for life on the fast lane.
The book: “A Drink with the Devil,” is loaded with a heavy dose of suspense, lots of punch and panache. The author’s fast-paced narration is top-notch. For those who are familiar with the Fagunwa type of writing, this author seems to have been heavily influenced by Fagunwa in the way the dark forests and the ghostly creatures are described in this novel.
. Olatunbosun is a broadcast journalist, fact-checker and book reviewer at Splash FM 105.5, Ibadan. He can be reached via 08023517565 (SMS & WhatsApp only) and email molatunbosun@splashfm1055.com.
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