The Niger Delta Crises and the Paradoxes of Emancipation Struggles in Chiemeka Garrick’s Tomorrow Died Yesterday

In the contemporary Nigerian literary ferment, the issues of environmental degradation and socio-economic exclusion, as they affect the oil-bearing NigerDelta host communities, have been brought to bear on creative ingenuity and literary talents. Also, the mismanagement of oil wealth and environmental sustainability has resulted in the proliferation of militant groups, and through the activities of these groups such as bombing of oil installations, oil bunkering, kidnapping and other sundry criminalities, leaders of these groups evoke an impression of championing the cause of the region. However, from Garrick’s creative insight, it becomes clear that some groups, with self- serving interests, have infiltrated the ranks of those who are genuinely pursuing patriotic cause of environmental justice in the region. It is against this backdrop that this paper critically examines the ambivalences of the Niger Delta struggles with a focus to unravelling the ideological challenges that characterise the much-touted Niger Delta struggles for emancipation. Through an in-depth textual analysis of Chimeka Garrick’s novel Tomorrow Died Yesterday, the paper establishes that some of the acclaimed ‘freedom fighters’ aremawkish elements with personality quirks advancing their individual interests, at the expense of the region. The paper concludes that the ‘war’ to liberate the region may get more complicated if the struggles are not driven by ideology.

Keywords: Niger Delta Ideology Freedom Fighters Liberation Environment

Authors

• Kufre A. Akpan
  Department of English,
  Akwa Ibom State University,
  Obio Akpa Campus, Akwa Ibom State, Nigeria
• Nkereuwem S. Amamkpa
  Department of English and Literary Studies,
  Akwa Ibom State College Of Science and Technology,
  Nnung Ukim Ikono, Akwa Ibom State, Nigeria