The Capital of Secrets – A review of Shehu Usman Yakubu’s Maitama Linen
Title: Maitama Linen: The Scandalous Lives of Abuja Elites
Author: Shehu Usman Yakubu
Year of Publication: 2023
Number of Pages: 216
Category: Fiction
Even Lagosians doff their hats to Abuja folks when it comes to mischief. So when an entire book is dedicated to them, curiosity naturally kicks in, you just have to know what the author has to say about the city’s flamboyant elites.
If you’ve lived in Abuja long enough, tales of scandalous escapades among the powerful won’t exactly shock you. But for outsiders, Shehu Usman Yakubu’s book is an eye-opener, one that might leave your jaw hanging as you discover how deep the rot runs beneath the city’s polished surface.
The story begins like a movie, fast-paced, vivid, and full of intrigue. At first, you think Kemi, a female mechanic, will take center stage. She’s bold, different, and her story feels promising. But before you can settle in, she’s swept aside as a stream of new characters enters the scene, each carrying secrets that deepen the drama and expand the world Yakubu has created.
The author doesn’t waste time painting Abuja as perfect; instead, he peels back the layers to reveal the chaos behind the gloss. Each chapter introduces a new character and storyline. At first, it feels like too many moving parts, but as the pages turn, you start to see how everything connects. It’s a web of greed, lust, ambition, and vengeance, all woven together with remarkable detail.
To truly enjoy this book, you have to pay attention. Miss a name or a subtle clue, and you might lose track of how one scandal links to another. Yakubu explores everything from drugs to same-sex affairs, political manipulation, deceit, and revenge. He doesn’t just tell stories; he exposes a society where everyone is chasing power or pleasure and often paying a heavy price for it.
From one scandal to the next, there’s barely a pause to breathe. Just as you think you’ve heard it all, another revelation drops, and you’re right back in the storm. The author’s vivid storytelling might even tempt you to admire some of his characters until their perfect worlds begin to crumble, leaving you face to face with the bitter consequences of their choices.
There are quite a lot of characters in this book, some daring, others wicked, and a few utterly useless, quite an interesting bunch. However, if you don’t mind keeping up with the many characters, you’ll definitely enjoy this story.
At some point, you can tell that the author has drawn inspiration from action-packed movies, which explains some of the intense scenes in the book, scenes that will most likely keep you on the edge of your seat.
By the time you reach the final chapters, you may have forgotten how the story began, there’s just that much going on. For some, it might feel like an exaggeration; for others, it’s a brutally honest mirror reflecting the wildness of Abuja life.
And when the last scandal lands, you’re not even shocked anymore, you’ve been gasping since chapter one. Still, the chaos is addictive, and Yakubu knows exactly how to keep you hooked till the end. One thing’s for sure: before you pack your bags and move to Abuja, you might want to read this book first.
About the reviewer
Titilade Oyemade is a business executive in a leading organisation and holds a degree in Russian Language. She’s the convener of the Hangoutwithtee Ladies Event and the Publisher of Hangoutwithtee magazine. She spends her weekends attending women conferences, events and book readings. She loves to have fun and to help other women have the same in their lives. Email: [email protected] Social: @tiipreeofficial
