Poverty and the Oppression of the Poor in Niger Delta (Isaiah 10:1-4): A Theological Approach
John Arierhi Ottuh

Abstract
Poverty with its concomitant effects of alienation, marginalization and dependency posed serious challenge to the church and society in Niger Delta. Though poverty is not peculiar to Niger Delta of Nigeria alone, the environmental and economic challenges the Niger Delta people contend with on a daily basis is left much to be desired. Both the Old and New Testaments condemned oppression and injustice especially that of the poor, orphans and needy in the society. The aim of this study therefore is to arouse the consciousness of political leaders and the Church in Nigeria of the urgent need to address the issue of poverty in the Niger Delta of Nigeria. To achieve this, the liberation theology paradigm was adopted as the methodology for this study and the passage Isaiah 10:1-4 under study was used to anchor a reconstruction of an economic liberation theology for Niger Delta. Moreover, the findings in this study showed that the problem of poverty in the Niger Delta is caused by Unemployment, Corruption, Lack of Modern Infrastructural and Economic Facilities. It was also seen from Isaiah 10:1-4 that the oppression of the poor is an offense to God. This study was concluded on the presupposition that poverty alleviation in the Niger Delta is possible if leaders will be just and fair to the poor and keep the interest of the poor and needy at heart.

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