The Oily Marriage, Professor Hope Eghagha's third published play, delves into the socio-cultural and political conflicts, conflicting emotions, and dilemma which the discovery and exploitation of crude oil present to the people of the Niger Delta in Nigeria. It functions at the personal level and the level of inter-ethnic relations and how sometimes the solutions to problems become intertwined with and undermined by selfish and personal interests. The image of the exploiter looms large in the play as business and commerce are locked in mortal combat for the soul of the region. How these issues play out in the twenty-first century is the concern of the playwright in this fast-moving drama of ideas.