A Review of Azunwo’s Panel of Guts

Title: Panel of Guts

Genre: Drama

Author: Eziwho Emenike Azunwo

Year of Publication: 2026

Edited & Published in Nigeria by: Covenant Daystar Publishers, Port Harcourt

Pagination: 61

Reviewer: Nuan, Jemimah

Institution: Rivers State University, Port Harcourt, Department of Theatre and Film Studies

Introduction

In Panel of Guts, Emenike as a dramatist committed to writing about the ills of society and discussing through drama issues that confront us as a people adresses yet another disturbing issue of corruption, bad leadership, impoverishment, insecurity and senseless murder of innocent citizens by the rich and powerful in their bid to achieve their selfish ambition at the expense of the people. In Panel of Guts, Chief Abdul stands out as the man who will not sell his conscience or his people’s right even when a fat cheque was presented to him privately by Hassan, Lawal, and Ali who act as agents of the oppressors of the people.

It is important to state that this story is a battle of conscience as can be seen in this statement by the author; 

This is a story of courage, integrity, and the high cost of standing against corruption. It forces us to ask ourselves:  How far would we go to protect what is rightfully ours? At what point does ambition become destructive? And when greed tramples justice, who bears the burden of its consequences?”  (Azunwo, 2026, p. 8).

Although in the end, the forces of darkness in the persons of Alhaji Usman, Harcourt and Crownbell and their co-conspirators succeeded in their evil agenda, Chief Abdul was the real winner in the sense that after the whole battle, he did not stain his hands with innocent blood or part take in the blood money from the evil crime. 

Synopsis of the Scenes

SCENE 1

This is the scene that open the direction of the story snd the point of conflict. It is set in the night time in Chief Abdul’s sitting room. Lawal and Ali, sent on a mission to Chief Abdul to tempt and convince him to betray his people a a leader. They even present him with a fat check from Alhaji Usman. Abdul is disturbed first by the timing of the visit which is late in the the night and he boldly voices his suspicion; 

CHIEF ABDUL: (Calmly) You are welcome… (Pause) 

Forgive me for saying this, I don’t receive visitors at this 

12hour of the day. As our people commonly say, ―Gidan da ba 

a shiga ba, kar ki zama bako.‖ (Pause, looks into their faces 

as silence rains on stage.) Simply put… 

LAWAL: (Cuts in) A house you don’t visit regularly 

shouldn’t be the one you choose to visit at night… (Pause as 

tension fills the stage.) Alhaji, we know what the adage 

means… (Pause) But our people also say, ―Bako na dare, shugaba na gari…‖ (Forces a warm smile.) A night visitor signifies an important guest or a serious matter…                                                                                                      (Azunwo, 2026, p. 13).

Hard as the messengers tried to convince Chief Abdul to compromise his stand on integrity, he was firm and defended his people as a true leader. Lawal and Ali eventually left his house having failed in their mission from Alhaji Usman their boss. 

SCENE 2

Alhaji Usman receives a report from Lawal and Ali on the errand he sent them. They appeared before him disappointed and too afraid to say they failed in the assignment. Alhaji Usman was equally disappointed in them and their inability to convince ‘unknown’ Chief Abdul. But what stands out in this scene may be the realisation by Alhaji Usman that Chief Abdul is a man of integrity; 

ALHAJI USMAN: (Thinks) I haven’t heard of him, but from what I’m hearing, he must be a man of strong integrity (Azunwo, 2026, p. 24).

SCENE 3

Alhaji Usman is unrelenting in his recruitment exercise as he goes ahead to implicate innocent but gullible people in the community in his evil scheme. Hassan is the next to be visted by Ali on behalf of Alhaji Usman. Ignorant of Alhaji Usman’s plot, Hassan allows his poverty get the best of him, coupled with fear and his inability to ask questions without fear. He implicate himself in the evil plan through his acceptance of the fifteen million naira cheque.

SCENE 4

Alhaji Usman engages naive but greedy Hassan. Hassan allowed money to blindfold him from asking critical questions that becomes his downfall. He had received money fifteen million in advance for a job that brought destruction of lives and the disaster to the community also insecurity and crisis. He is used to recruit innocent, unemployed and jobless youngmen who were used to bring disaster and tragedy in the community so that Alhaji Usman and his conspirators will achieve their wicked sheme.

We must however take note of Alhaji Usman’s statement as the end of the scene, he seems to justify his selfish attitude even though he knows the consequence of such action is terrible;

ALHAJI USMAN: You’re welcome… 

(Hassan exits excitedly. Alhaji Usman rises, turns to the audience.) 

Most times, selfishness is all that is needed to get things done. Once opportunity appears, seize it—because when consequence arrives, it never comes with mercy…

SCENE 5

Harcourt and his assistant Crownbell show up to be sure that all their plans for the exploitation of the lands resources to their selfish advantage. Ali and Lawal were also there as facilitators of the evil plot and serve as foot soldiers for the exploitative venture. 

SCENE 6

The reintroduction of Chief Abdul as a beacon of hope and a community mobiliser give the much needed hope at a critical time in the life of the community. His timely intervention speaks of his consistent character as a leader who is not given to despondency when hope becomes scarce. He didn’t abandon the people either. He stood for the land and the people assuring them that it is not over provided they still are alive. Endorsing unity of the people as a weapon against their common enemy. He declares; “So, we have also committed some strong men to watch over our community against any adversity… even though we do not expect any… but a man who carries an extra cutlass to the farm isn’t intending to use them both 

at once, but -” (53).

SCENE 7

This scene exposes the execution of the final plot and the careless disposition, the celebration of the evil intention of greedy men and the regret of Hassan. Harcourt’s declaration seems to sum up the scene and the text; 

HARCOURT: (Turns to the audience) We are not bad people… But the men who trade their own people to feed their greed—those are the bad ones… (Pause) 

I’m just a businessman who trades in commodities that need to be traded… and as a trader, it doesn’t matter where the commodity comes from or how it is obtained…

If it involves taking lives, we still call it business and move on… (Pause) 

(Azunwo, 2026, p. 60).

Character analysis 

Chief Abdul

Chief Abdul comes is a careful and responsible leader. He is suspicious of the late visit, which shows that he is alert and not easily fooled. His use of a proverb suggests wisdom and respect for tradition. Most importantly, he is a selfless person. His loyalty to his community isn’t hidden. Overall, he is thoughtful, principled, and protective of his people. 

From what Alhaji Usman says about him, he is a man of strong integrity who would even reject wealth or a bribe to defend his community. He is also respected and trusted, which makes fim an influential leader. 

Hassan

Hassan is presented as a humble, naive and innocent member of the community who is unaware of the larger greed and exploitation connected to the rare mineral in the community. His lack of awareness makes him vulnerable, and he ends up being used by more powerful people like Alhaji Usman and his cohorts for their own interests.  He is equally a fearful person who is greedy for wealth without questioning the source. 

Alhaji Usman

Alhaji Usman is portrayed as a wealthy, cunning, and manipulative businessman driven mainly by greed. He shows control and authority over others, criticizing and redirecting his subordinates while calmly planning new strategies. His willingness to intimidate and exploit the community for their resources reflects his selfish and ruthless nature. Although he appears to admire Chief Abdul, his words quickly turn strategic and cold, revealing that his praise is insincere and calculated. His plan to make the community uninhabitable and create chaos shows that he is willing to harm others to achieve his goals. In all, Alhaji Usman comes is intelligent but morally corrupt; a man uses power, strategy, and intimidation to pursue profit at any cost.

Harcourt

Harcourt approaches their evil scheme with cold professionalism. As a foreign partner to Alhaji Usman, he is aware that their operations are illegal, yet he shows little concern for the moral consequences, focusing instead on strategy and success. His careful questioning and emphasis on planning reveal that he values control, efficiency, and calculated risk. He openly acknowledges their wrongdoing but treats it as part of business, showing emotional detachment from the harm caused to the community. His explanation of manipulating people by appealing to their beliefs shows his strategic mindset and willingness to exploit others psychologically and economically. Although Harcourt appears intelligent, he is morally bankrupt, prioritizing results and fnancial gain over human impact.

Crownbell

Crownbell, Harcourt’s assistant, is shown as a serious and disciplined character who understands the high-risk nature of their operations. His words suggest loyalty to authority and awareness of the pressure that comes with working for powerful figures who expect results without mistakes. He focuses on planning, resource use, and secrecy, showing that he is practical and committed to carrying out the mission efficiently. Like the others involved, he appears detached from the moral consequences of their actions, prioritizing success and avoiding public attention over concern for the community. Crownbell comes as professional, cautious, and supportive of the exploitative system he works for.

Ali and Lawal

Ali and Lawal are presented as supporting figures who help carry out Alhaji Usman’s plans. Ali, as his aide, mainly acts as a messenger and intermediary, passing information between Hassan, Chief Abdul and Alhaji Usman. This suggests loyalty and obedience, but also shows that he operates more as a follower than a decision-maker.

Lawal, on the other hand, plays a more active role in coordinating operations and maintaining control over the community. His position indicates involvement in enforcing strategies and supporting manipulation on the ground. Together, both characters represent the machinery behind Usman’s influence. They are loyal assistants who help execute his agenda, even when it negatively affects others.

Literature Review

The play Panel of Guts presents the story of a peaceful community whose stability is affected when precious minerals are discovered beneath their land. This situation brings outsiders and greedy local partners who see the land only as a source of profit. The conflict between protecting tradition and pursuing wealth reflects real social and economic tension. Academic studies, media reports, and literary conversation show that the exploitation of natural resources often creates inequality, environmental degradation, and communal unrest. Panel of Guts is a dramatic reflection of real events and academic inquiry about resource exploitation.

A case study is the Niger Delta region which is rich in resources often suffer from poverty and underdevelopment. Although the area produces more than 80 percent of Nigeria’s foreign exchange earnings from crude oil and gas, yet many residents continue to face major socioeconomic challenges (Eze et al., 2025). This inequality is dramatised in Panel of Guts, where wealth from natural resources benefits powerful individuals while local people experience hardship and death. This has been described as “resource curse,” where sudden mineral wealth leads to unrealistic expectations, and excessive consumption rather than sustainable development (Pappyrakis & Parcero, 2022). The play reflects this idea through characters whose greed disrupts community stability as Alhaji Usman represents.

In a community like Ogoni in Rivers state, oil spills continue to damage farmland and ecosystems. The 2025 spill in Ahoada, Rivers State that destroyed crops and polluted the surrounding environment (Abia, 2025) is a good reference. Similarly, pipeline vandalism and political conflict in the region led to a state of emergency being declared after attacks threatened oil production (Osae-Brown, 2025). These incidents show how competition over natural resources can lead to instability, violence, and hardship for communities, much like the chaos portrayed in the play. Environmental damage is also widely and sometimes, under reported; oil exploration has left parts of the Niger Delta heavily contaminated, with cleanup efforts (like the Ogoni clean up exercise after years of exploration and environmental degration) progressing slowly despite long-standing calls for action (Amnesty International, 2020). These realities reinforce the play’s message that exploitation of land often causes long-term harm to those who depend on it.

Both foreign corporations and local actors play roles in these dynamics. Multinational companies continue to invest heavily in Nigeria’s oil sector, including major financial commitments to expand extraction projects (Adamolekun, 2025). At the same time, local oil theft and illegal refining have resulted in security crackdowns that destroyed more than 100 illegal sites and recovered stolen petroleum products (Trust Radio, 2026). Communities have also demanded compensation and accountability from both foreign and indigenous firms for environmental damage caused by exploration activities (EnviroNews Nigeria, 2025) Chief Abdul requested that the land be considered in the scheme of things. These examples reflect the play’s portrayal of exploitation as a shared responsibility between outsiders and local elites motivated by greed.

African dramatic literature has long explored similar themes of corruption, exploitation, and moral responsibility as seen in Panel of Guts which contrasts integrity with greed through its characters and narrative conflict. It also reflects real social, economic, and environmental issues connected to natural resource exploitation in Nigeria and Africa. By dramatizing these realities, the play encourages readers to think critically about greed, responsibility, and justice. Its story highlights the importance of ethical leadership and community protection, showing that the battle between moral values and economic ambition is a real struggle. 

Major Themes in Panel of Guts

In Panel of Guts one can see from the language and action of the characters certain themes. First is greed and moral corruption, it is shown in Harcourt and Crownbell and the collaboration of Alhaji Usman and Hassan and their desire for mineral wealth which disrupts community harmony. Second is the conflict between tradition and economic exploitation, Chief Abdul stands to defend his ancestral land and mobilises the community in that regard, while Ali and Lawal were more loyal to ill gotten over community development. Thirdly, is inequality in benefitting from resource wealth, powerful individuals use force and external support to gain advantage whilst the land is destroyed and ordinary and honest people suffer, stirring the crude realities that exists in the Niger Delta of Nigeria. Finally, the play highlights the environmental and social consequences of exploitation and degradation, showing how land destruction and unrest affect those who depend on it. The activities of Shell petroleum in Ogoni land for instance is a case that is worth mentioning. These themes reflects issues of responsibility, justice, and leadership in resource-rich societies.

Language and Dialogue in Panel of Guts

In the Panel of Guts, the language is generally simple, and emotionally charged at some point especially when Ali and Lawal reported to Alhaji Usman their failed attempt to persude Chief Abdul. The language reveals the character’s intensity and tension. 

Another aspect of the language was the use of adages, anecdotes, vernacular and short sentences and blunt expressions and pacy dialogue to convey tension, pain, or determination, making the mood serious and dramatic. The dialogue (or narration) is often forceful and vivid, using strong, concrete words rather which helps the reader feel the violence or struggle immediately. There is also an economical use of language that bears deep meaning allowing the action to communicate intent. An example of the use of language is; “As our people commonly say, ―Gidan da ba a shiga ba, kar ki zama bako.” (13).

References

Abia, D. (2025, May 6). Fresh oil spill in Rivers community, as group alleges massive      destruction. Vanguard News. 

Adamolekun, R. (2025, May 7). ExxonMobil targets $1.5 billion deepwater           investment in Nigeria. Premium Times. 

Amnesty International. (2020). The Ogoni people are sick of dirty drinking water. 

Azunwo, E.E. (2026).  Panel of Guts. Covenant Daystar Publishers. Nigeria.

EnviroNews Nigeria. (2025, October 24). Weary host communities collaborate to tackle polluting oil firms. 

Eze, G. O. M., Onyeso, P. I. N., & Nwineewii, D. (2025). Rich nation, poor region: Socioeconomic implications of resource exploitation in the Niger Delta. SIAR         Global Journal of Humanities, Management & Educational Review. 

Osae-Brown, A. (2025, March 25). Feuds stoke attacks that threaten Nigerian oil revival. Bloomberg. 

Pappyrakis, E., & Parcero, O. J. (2022). The psychology of mineral wealth: Empirical evidence from Kazakhstan.