The President General, Ohanaeze Ndigbo, John Azuta-Mbata, yesterday, renewed the call for resource control, saying it would help reduce poverty, promote economic development and foster peace in the regions.

He stated that to achieve unity, equity, and justice in Nigeria, there is a need to address the structural challenges that have hindered its progress. Azuta-Mbata, who spoke during a memorial lecture in honour of the late Niger-Delta leader, Edwin Clark, said that Nigeria must learn from its past and work towards a brighter future.

He stated that the resource control, championed by Clark, followed his conviction that the people of the Niger Delta deserved a fair share of the region’s resources.

The Ohanaeze President General, who supported the struggle as a way forward for the country, stated that it would help address the systemic underdevelopment and poverty that have plagued the regions for decades.

He added: “Resource control, as championed by Clark, is essential to addressing the developmental challenges facing the Niger Delta. By giving states more control over their resources, we can ensure that the benefits of resource extraction are shared equitably among all stakeholders.

This will help reduce poverty, promote economic development, and foster peace in the region.

“Clark’s advocacy for resource control was rooted in his conviction that the people of the Niger Delta deserve a fair share of the region’s resources. He believed that this would help address the systemic underdevelopment and poverty that have plagued the region for decades. His unwavering commitment to this cause inspired a generation of leaders and activists.”