Power, Conflict, and Society in Izonebi Alfred and Tompolo’s Haulers and Hailers

In this expressed anticipatory journey to the world of books, Dr. Alfred is stirred by the thematic relevance of these books, which dwell on environmental advocacy, moral re-orientation, the Niger Delta struggle for developmental transformation, advocacy against pipeline vandalism and crude oil theft, and the crude and false propaganda machinery mounted against the current war against pipeline vandalism and crude oil theft in Nigeria. The purpose of this anticipatory acquisition of 200 copies of Tompolo’s Haulers and Hailers and The Wanted Man in Camp Four is to ensure the availability of these books in every home. The far-sighted Dr. Alfred sees this as a guarantee for the sustainability of the Niger Delta struggle in every generation, even after ages—when these books are generously given out to people to read and imbibe the ideas embedded in them.

For Dr. Alfred, the fact that the books chronicle the Niger Delta struggle right from its inception, highlighting the patriotic roles of Isaac Boro, Tompolo, and others, naturally recommends them as valuable materials for every Niger Deltan who needs the history of the Niger Delta struggle. In other words, it makes them sufficiently awakened to the realities in their environment and enables them to make informed decisions on how to cope with the emerging challenges in life in relation to the Niger Delta struggle for developmental freedom and comfort.

To historically broaden the horizons of Niger Deltans as regards the Niger Delta struggle and to prepare them for the struggle ahead without resort to violence, Dr. Alfred has decided to acquire 200 copies of Dr. Ekanpou’s Tompolo’s Haulers and Hailers and The Wanted Man in Camp Four to be distributed to people. Dr. Alfred holds the view that generously giving out 200 copies of these books to the public would help in the formation and germination of the right attitudes and values with regard to the Niger Delta struggle. By this approach, this generation and the next generation of Niger Deltans would be adequately awakened to the icons of the Niger Delta struggle and the respectable attitude to be adopted towards the icons of the Niger Delta struggle.

In the thinking of the Ijaw music legend, Dr. Alfred, the generous distribution of these 200 copies to people in cities and villages would inculcate in the younger generation the culture of giving respect to the icons of the Niger Delta struggle, particularly High Chief Government Ekpemupolo (Tompolo) and his iconic contemporaries in the Niger Delta struggle.

Dr. Alfred maintains that the intellectually channelled education and enlightenment embedded in Dr. Ekanpou’s Tompolo’s Haulers and Hailers and The Wanted Man in Camp Four would put an end to the cascade of disparaging false narratives impetuously carved around the icons of the Niger Delta struggle, particularly High Chief Tompolo and his patriotic activities in Nigeria. For Dr. Alfred, his acquired 200 books would be shared with the public without discrimination in any community he would be engaged to entertain.

Clearly, Dr. Alfred’s acquisition of 200 copies of Tompolo’s Haulers and Hailers and The Wanted Man in Camp Four, to be shared with the public as a philanthropic gesture on the intellectual front, underscores his historic commitment to the Niger Delta struggle beyond the music plane of engagement for which he has been known for decades. This pragmatic educational investment in this generation and the unborn generations, through the anticipatory acquisition and giving out of 200 copies of Tompolo’s Haulers and Hailers and The Wanted Man in Camp Four, is a highly commendable gesture which must be applauded by every generation, particularly this generation. Dr. Alfred has historically become the iconic musician whose interest in a better society transcends his known music world of spellbinding performances on the stage.