CHAPTER ONE
1.0 Introduction
It is a well known fact that the Niger Delta region of the nation is indeed the country’s wealth and source of her economic buoyancy. This situation cannot be generally laudable as the region which has the oil-wealth resources remains the most marginalised and poorest in the Nigerian federation. This reflects the paradoxical situation in which the Niger Delta finds herself.
Ebi yeibo in The forbidden tongue and Ibiwari Ikiriko in Oily tears of the delta depict poetically, the ill-situation of the Niger Delta environment. One can observe this paradoxical condition through the symbols, imagery, and other poetic features employed by the writers’. Yeibo and Ikiriko have been able to achieve an ideal reflection of these paradoxical issues in their literary collections.
This research work uses eco-criticism as a theory to examine the poetic views of Yeibo and Ikiriko, showing that their views are a veritable tool for socio-political and economic change in the society.