We Won't Give-up on Resource Control, Say Ibori, Attah
By Olawale Olaleye and Nsikak Ikpe
Akwa Ibom State Governor Obong Victor Attah and his Delta State counterpart, Chief James Ibori yesterday, said that those of them who believed strongly in the resource control battle would not give up, adding that while the battle may have been over, the war is still on.
The duo who spoke at the presentation of a book - Attah on Resource Control - at Muson Centre, Lagos recalled that since the resource control struggle was spurred by the need for justice and constructive reason, they would continue in the struggle.
Ibori said even if those of them in the struggle should fall on the ground, they still would not give up the fight.
He said while it was easy to identify the sons and daughters from the South-south geo-political zone who genuinely in the struggle, it still remained one struggle to be achieved in collective unity.
The Delta State governor maintained that if the South-south Consultative Assembly meeting which held in Abuja had held in any of the South-south states, it would have had more meaningful impact on the people directly concerned about struggle.
"Wen dem born us, dem no write governor for this head abi dem born us as governors? So, if you remove us as governors because of resource control struggle, we will go but will not relent in the struggle. There is no cause to abandon our people in abject poverty," he said.
Ibori however prayed to God to continue to give the people of the South-south zone the patience to withstand the temptation arising from the challenges against the struggle, adding that nothing would make them go violent.
On his part, Attah, reiterated that there would be no giving up in the struggle for resource control because it is one occasioned by the need for justice.
He also recalled that when the struggle started, there were misrepresentation of facts, especially from the Northern part of the country who felt that the south was on the verge of seizing the resources of the country and so, became frightened.
He, however, said after frantic effort at throwing light on the concept through series of seminars and workshops across the country, the message sank. He said if true developments of the area must be seen at work, then people who own resources must benefit reasonably.
President of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), Comrade Adams Oshiomhole, said that it may be difficult to achieve the ultimate result of the struggle if there was no justice in the country.
"You have invested so much in this struggle. You have done a lot, but need far more to do. For us, support for resource control means support for unity, stability and fairness which can only be if there is justice", the labour leader said.
The book, edited by Mr. Samuel Ajayi, a journalist with THISDAY drew eminent personalities from across the country amongst which were Professor Itse Sagay (the reviewer), Oba of Lagos, Oba Rilwan Akiolu I, members of the National Assembly, members of the Akwa Ibom State government, and people from both the private and public sectors.
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