ALIENATION AND ECOACTIVISM IN SELECTED WORKS ON THE NIGER DELTA CRISIS BY CHARLES CLIFF FEGHABO B.Ed. English/Education (Ibadan), MA. English (Ibadan) (Matric No: 118487) A Thesis in the Department of English, Submitted to the Faculty of Arts in partial fulfilment of the requirements for the Degree of DOCTOR OF PHILOSOPHY of the UNIVERSITY OF IBADAN AUGUST, 2014 i ABSTRACT The discourse of alienation, provoked by environmental despoliation due to the activities of multinational oil companies in the Niger Delta region, is aptly captured in literary works. Previous studies on literary texts about the Niger Delta crisis have identified the negative socio-economic and political impacts of oil exploitation as responsible for the ecoactivism in the Niger Delta, neglecting the role of alienation or erosion of self in the fueling of the crisis. This study, therefore, examines the indicators of erosion of self as projected in selected prose texts on the Niger Delta crisis. This is with a view to establishing how the literary writers connect ecoactivism to the erosion of self. Karl Marx‟s and Marilyn Nissim-Sabat‟s postulations on alienation as well as Lawrence Buell‟s theory on practical commitment to the environment were adopted based on their concern with alienation and ecoactivism, and as implicated in the Niger Delta crisis. Six prose works: Saro-Wiwa‟s A Month and a Day (AMAD), a memoir; Okpewho‟s Tide (T); Ojaide‟s The Activist (TA); Egbuson‟s Love My Planet (LMP); Agary‟s Yellow-Yellow (YY) and Habila‟s Oil on Water (OOW) were chosen. Their selection was based on the shared experiential knowledge of all but one of the writers, and the themes of alienation and ecoactivism, which are common to them. These texts were subjected to literary analysis. Three indicators of alienation or erosion of self-consciousness and two indicators of ecoactivism are differently portrayed in the six texts. Alienation is unveiled through the following: pictures of degraded ecosystem; internal division; presentation of the people as victims as well as protagonists. Ecoactivism is illustrated through ecoterrorism; and non-violent eco-campaign. All the six texts, employing pathos, capture the feeling of alienation of the people of Niger Delta through appalling pictures of the degraded environment as a result of the activities of multinational oil companies. Saro-Wiwa‟s (AMAD), Okpewho‟s T, Ojaide‟s TA, Egbuson‟s LMP and Habila‟s OOW illustrate the people‟s erosion of self as a result of divisions among them, due to financial inducements from the Nigerian state and the multinational oil companies. Okpewho‟s T, Saro-Wiwa‟s AMAD, Ojaide‟s TA and Egbuson‟s LMP, through antithetical pictures, capture the people‟s loss of self by presenting them as victims of internal/external exploitation as well as protagonists against internal/external foes. Three of the texts, namely: Ojaide‟s TA, Egbuson‟s ii LMP and Habila‟s OOW present violence/ecoterrorism against the perceived internal/ external foes of the people as a means of preserving the environment. Saro-Wiwa‟s AMAD, Okpewho‟s T and Agary‟s YY reveal urgent non-violent eco-campaign in the area. Ecological degradation and internal divisions are linked by the six texts to the oil and gas exploration activities of the multinational oil companies and these generate a sense of alienation that leads to intense ecoactivism in the area. Three indicators of erosion of self, which connect with ecoterrorism and non- violent eco-campaign, are manifest in the selected texts through the use of pathos and antithesis. These reveal the writers‟ construction of self as a contingence on ecoactivism in the Niger Delta crisis. Key Words: Nigerian government, Alienation & ecoactivism, Niger Delta, Multinational oil companies, erosion of self. Words Count: 498 iii ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS I shall forever remain grateful to my eternal Creditor, the Almighty God, for all His incomparable love and extravagant grace that He has never ceased to shower on me in all areas of my life – from my foetal days unto the seemingly endless days of this programme. The Almighty God manifested His grace even in the assigning of a supervisor to me for my doctoral research. Professor E.B. Omobowale, my supervisor was brotherly, going beyond my academic to my familial concerns. I pray that the Lord will never cease to show forth His glory through him. The challenging moments of this programme humbled me to come to the realisation that the destiny of a woman is a colossal thing lying prostrate, requiring the contributions of countless fingers to lift it to a standing position. During the programme, those who freely gave me a cup or sachet of water to quench my thirst after a stressful day and those who welcomed me home after hectic days away from home are also part of the many hands pulling up my destiny from its prostrate posture. Several people held different parts of my destiny – academic, spiritual, financial and material – with varying strength in the Department of English, University of Ibadan; Department of English/Literary Studies Niger Delta University; the Church (home and abroad) and my family. You have all contributed to the lifting up of an enormous part of my destiny and I am grateful. I say “A big Thank you” to all the members of staff of the Department of English, University of Ibadan, who include Professors A.L. Oyeleye, A.O. Dasylva, A. Raji-Oyelade, O. Oha, Fashina, M.A. Kehinde; Doctors R.O. Oriaku, D.S. Adeyannju, M.A Alo, O.A. Ogunsiji, A.A. Akinjobi, O.B. Jegede, M.T. Lamidi, S.A. Odebunmi, A.A. Aguoru, A.B. Sunday, A. Osisanwo and A.K. Adebiyi. Others academic and non-academic staff of the department are Messrs A.O. Babajide, C.T. Akinsete, A. Bassey, O.M. Iyiola, O.J. Olaoye, M.A. Onwuegbuzie, B.O. Alabi, and V.R. Imafidon as well as Miss T. Adebiyi, Mrs F.T. Agoye and Mrs Y. Oladipo. Of the above list of staff, I shall never forget the special contributions of Doctors Odebunmi and. Oriaku to the successful completion of my programme. Dr Odebunmi, in spite of his crowded daily schedule as the Sub-Dean (PG), always squeezed out time to guide me in writing the abstract of this work. Dr. Oriaku‟s constant genuine concern was a spur that kept me pushing on. I pray that the Almighty reward you both for your labour of love. iv I am grateful to the management of Niger Delta University, in general, and the Department of English/Literary Studies, in particular for granting me the privilege to realise this integral part of my destiny. I pray that the Lord will grant me more grace to contribute my humble quota to the uplift of this budding institution of higher learning. I can never forget the deep brotherly love, sincere concern and fervent prayers of my beloved brothers and sisters of the Deeper Life Bible Church and Deeper Life Campus Fellowship in Ibadan and at Bayelsa State. In Ibadan, I shall be forever grateful to Drs Chris Agulanna, Peter Amusan, John Oyindoyin, Mega Iyarefe; Sister Blessing Omorege; Brothers Solomon Ikpe, Joseph Atumba, Olubunmi Ige, David Inya, Segun Fashina and Pastor Justice Funwei. May the Lord bless and keep you until we meet at His feet in heaven. To the beloved brethren at Bayelsa, I say, “Thanks greatly for bearing with the several instances of my absence”. I am particularly grateful to the following siblings, cousins, friends, and my landlord with his wife: Chief (Navy Captain rtd) Walter Aye Feghabo-Amain; Engr. Toinpre Feghabo, Messrs Feghabo Igbeta, Gelegukuma Feghabo, Francis Feghabo, Tautogu Feghabo, Ayebatariworio Feghabo and Diepreye Feghabo, as well as Ms Eunice Feghabo, Ms Ikaebinyo Feghabo and Ms Atonye Feghabo; Messrs Benjamin Wilson and Osonkome Alfred, as well as Mr and Pastor (Mrs) Wisdom Igbo. May God abundantly reward you all for your sundry contributions. Last, but of immense significance in the success of my programme, is my bosom friend, wife, and sister, Sis Yindemene Charles Feghabo. I thank you a million times for your deep love, immense financial input and encouragement that enabled me to carry on as well as for your prayers that kept me from harm in my countless journeys to and from Ibadan. May the Lord give me the power and His grace to repay you for your love. v DEDICATION This thesis is dedicated to the Almighty God, whose grace has brought me this far in life. vi CERTIFICATION I certify that this work was carried out by Mr C.C. Feghabo in the Department of English, University of Ibadan. …………………………………………….... Supervisor E.B. Omobowale BA., MA., Ph.D. (Ibadan) Professor, Department of English University of Ibadan, Nigeria vii TABLE OF CONTENTS PAGES Title page i Abstract ii Acknowledgements iv Dedication vi Certification vii Table of contents viii CHAPTER ONE BACKGROUND TO THE STUDY 1 1.0 An overview of the Niger Delta 1 1.1 Oil exploration and its effects on the Niger Delta ecosystem 3 1.2 Environmental degradation and poverty 5 1.3 Multinational oil companies and oil politics in the Niger Delta 6 1.4 The Nigerian government and the host communities relationship 8 1.5 The Nigerian federalism and the Niger Delta 10 1.6 The Niger Delta crisis and its beginning 11 1.7 Causes of the crisis in the Niger Delta 11 1.8 Ogoni Bill of Rights in the 1990s 12 1.9 Kiama Declaration 12 1.10 Corruption and insincerity of leadership and the Niger Delta 13 1.11 The cost of the Niger Delta crisis to the Nigerian state, multinational oil companies and the host communities of Niger Delta 14 1.12 Literature on the Niger Delta crisis 15 1.13 Research Problem 16 1.14 Purpose of Study/Objective 16 1.15 Justification