THE ENVIRONMENT AND POLITICS: A READING OF TANURE OJAIDE'S THE TALE OF THE HARMATTAN

Abstract

Ever since the exploration of oil in Nigeria, there has been outcry over the persistent degradation of the landscape of the Niger Delta region of the country. The reaction concerns the wanton destruction of the ecological lives of the people, the threat posed by constant gas flaring and the abject poverty of the people occasioned by their perceived neglect by successive governments in Nigeria and the oil exploring companies. This paper examines Tanure Ojaide's presentation of the environmental challenges of the people of Niger Delta region of Nigeria and looks into the relevance of the issues raised in the poems to the development of the Nigerian nation. Consequently, ecocriticism is used as the theoretical framework in a bid to reveal the poet's portrayal of the people traumatised by the environmentally induced problem. It is our view that his satire will present ways of ameliorating challenges confronting the people and sensitise the government and the oil companies to be alive to their responsibilities.