No one had anticipated such violence and this response to the much rallied behind overthrow of the government.
This situation in the novel is certainly applicable, although not at the same magnitude, to what may happen in the future regarding our newly elected government. It is clear that Trump’s rise to power was strongly rallied behind, as was the coup of the Nigerian government, and he truly reached a demographic of voters that has not been seen in some time. However, many are skeptical of his intentions, and are worried of the violence he may incite within the American people. The anti-Igbo rhetoric in the novel is characteristic of Trump’s view of Muslim people and other minority groups in this country, and it is easy to see why some people are upset about the outcome of the election. Civil War is often caused by these divides in ideology, however some people do not realize that their rhetoric can have a violent and dangerous outcome, a la the slaughter of the Igbo people following the coup.