 As we look back at 2021, we take a look at the issue of resource control, the politics around it and the realities of it all. And 2021 had renewed calls for restructuring from both sides of the political divide. How realistic and ready are we for these calls? Well this is Plus Politics, I am Mary Anacorn. Nigeria has been said to be one of the country's immensely blessed with both natural and man-made resources. In 2021, the control of the country's resources faced a rift, as the federal government was repeatedly called on to allow the state governments to control their own resources and pay taxes to the government. The Niger Delta region has been one that has made this call. Former Governor James E. Bury of Delta State once said, and I quote, the fight for resource control is all about allowing the Niger Delta's to control their oil wealth and pay adequate taxes to the central authorities as it is done in a true federation. And I quote, now during the last days of 2021, former President Lucia Gwong-Bassinger experienced a backlash when he stated that crude oil in the Niger Delta region belonged to the country and not the region. Well, joining us to discuss this is National Publicity Secretary of the of Pandev, Mr Ken Robinson. Thank you very much, Mr. Robinson, for joining us. Good evening, Nigeria, African New Year, Nigeria, and Mary Ann and everyone in plus TV Africa. It's nice to be here, and I wish all of us a better future. All right. Well, thank you for joining us. So, every time the issue of resource control comes up, it only mostly is talked about from the prism of the Niger Delta, being that it seems to be, you know, the gold pot of the nation for want of a better world. And we saw in the last few weeks leading to the end of 2021, the back and forth between Chief Clark and former President Lucia Gwong-Bassinger on the same issue. Now, let's go back to what former Governor James Ibroui had to say about this issue of resource control. Every time we talk about it, it seems maybe that we're looking at the oil in the Niger Delta alone. But then there are resources all over this country, as we know, that we're blessed with. Why can we not at least realistically address this issue? Mary Ann is because every other resource in the country is controlled by the people, by the people of the country, and that's why any time we talk about resource control, it looks as if it's the Niger Delta people that are talking. It's only the oil and gas in the Niger Delta region that the federal government is focused on because it's easy money. You don't put anything to the people coming extract to sell and then pay to you while building other precious stones in other parts of the country. Individuals and private organizations and agencies and companies are mining these resources. It's only the resources in the Niger Delta that the federal government is focused on. That's why it is annoying and very unnecessary comment by former President Lucia Gwong-Bassinger. We do respect, we have said in our response to his statement that he's been the shibbius because he understands what we're talking about, the ownership of oil in the Niger Delta. The fishes in the waters and sea and rivers of the Niger Delta, do they belong to the federal government or the animals in the forests and mangroves of the Niger Delta? Do they belong to the federal government or the people going in and hunting animals and sell? Our people have been fishing as long as we exist in the rivers and we go to our farm lands and plant crops and sell and harvest and sell. It's the same thing as the food that God had given to us in the United Delta. Perhaps because we don't have the proper technology to extract them and sell. Otherwise, it's our oil and our passenger and Nigerian government should know that. And when we talk about resource control, as you rightly said, the days of games you've already resource control. There's even a little bit shift now. We are talking about true federalism. And that the Niger Delta people are ready to say, look, let us go back to what it was in 1963 when the regions controlled 50% of their resources. And so we are saying the United Nations should go back. We're not even at this point now saying we want 100% and they want to pay taxes to the federal government of Nigeria. But if we are forced to do the work, perhaps that's where we'll go back and ask for 100% resource control. We're talking about true federalism. It's one thing to ask for. It's another thing to actually have true federalism. We know that we're somewhat operating a unitary system of governments in the country, which also one way or the other kicks the idea of a true federalism. Our constitution, on the other hand, has to be tweaked if all of this must happen. But I also see that these conversations are only mostly had on a political note. It's not necessarily, it doesn't mean that realistically this is something that we want to actually achieve. But it looks like it's a conversation that is had just to sway people to either vote for or support a person or a political party. Why do you think that is? These conversations could be political and but they are also realistic. Don't forget that at some point the Niger Delta region was getting 0% of resources. There was 0% derivation. At some point it was 1%. At one point it was 1.3%. And then before it came up to 13%. And all we're asking for is that there should be a review. We have stepped down the issue of 100% resource control. The Niger Delta people are very benevolent people. And we have shown enormous football to the rest of Nigeria. And we are saying Nigeria should listen to us. Don't push us to the wall. Listen to us. Don't take our resources, plunder our resources, waste our resources. We are talking about trillions of dollars that have been exploited from the Niger Delta region. And have been wasted as it were. We are saying let the people of Niger Delta region receive commensurate compensation. Some kind of compensation that is significant enough to say, this thing is gotten from our land. Nigeria is shooting up for me. And then we are also benefiting from what God has blessed our land with. So we are saying it's a realistic and reasonable demand. And we think that at some point Nigerians will listen to us and it will go beyond political campaign agenda. And it will become a real issue that all Nigerians will accept that we cannot have peace and unity except there is equity. There are many people in several courses who have argued that resource control is not necessarily synonymous with true federalism. They are saying that true federalism is a utopian notion of sorts. And they are saying a federal system of government both emphasizes vesicle power sharing across different levels of governance. And at the same time it is also asking for the integration of different territorial and social economic units. Which one way or the other might not necessarily be a match for what you are asking for in terms of resource control. There is no perfect society and there is no constitution that is perfect. That's why there are amendments. Even the United States Constitution of the United States of America I understand has gone through several amendments. And that's why we are asking for a restructuring. Restructuring as it were is a fundamental and holistic amendment of constitution to accommodate some of the issues that we are talking about. The Government of Progressive Congress set up a committee that was headed by the governor of the United States on restructuring of true federalism. And they came up with a document that we have cited and it's reasonable, it's good, it is acceptable. And we are saying that the Nigerians should accept that look, we have exploited a certain people. It's not just food oil. Tomorrow if there is something that is food oil it may not be there tomorrow. And then there has to be something that is in another region. We are saying treat resources from any sector of Nigeria, any region of Nigeria with some level of difference to the people. Let them receive what we used to receive. When it was food oil, when it was grown out, when it was grown and it was 50% of the areas that those resources were produced. And so we are saying the minimum is 50%. That's what we are asking for. Yes, there is no perfect document. There is no perfect constitution anywhere in the world. But we can improve on what we have. What we have, we have used it for 60 years plus and it is not working. It is a faulty system that was imposed on Nigerians by the military. The constitution first paragraph say we the people. It's not with the people that produced that document. It was imposed on the citizens of Nigeria by the military. So we are saying let us be working and let it be a truly people-centered document. That's what we are saying. But we also saw the PIA that turned into the PIB and how it went. The 3% that was given to host communities and of course the argument as to a certain percentage that was given to the federal government awarded to other frontiers. For me it looks like there is not enough success in terms of these agitations. It looks more like the government can hear you or either they are listening but they cannot do what we are asking them to do. I really do not understand what is holding the hands of the government. But then we have Niger Deltons both in the APC and the PDP. Why does it look like there is no united effort to bring a success to this push for resource control? One of the greatest weaknesses of a Niger Delta is that you imagine the several ethnic nationalities the diversity in your culture and ethnicity in the majority of them. That's what those who don't want to host the progress abuse against us over the years. And then on top of that you now have political sentiments those who are for the ruling party want to maintain their positions and maintain their offices and their appointments so they will hardly say or do anything that will be seen as something not in tandem with the government. And that's a long dream. But if a region is united in purpose for whatever the reason, especially for an issue such as this also knowing the ills that this the mining of this particular natural resource has brought to these Niger Delta communities is not just one Niger Delta community if there's a unity of purpose why are we talking about the prism of ethnic nationalities or difference in language? The purpose that is resource control is supposed to cover all on Sunday. There should be unity of purpose and that's what Andep has been working to achieve and we are getting to that point. Today we hear some of our politicians on some party platforms make statements that are in tandem with the general view and hopes and aspirations of the Niger Delta community. We will get there someday where those related to political office from the Niger Delta will speak as people from the Niger Delta because first and foremost they are from the community before they belong to a political party or before they provide political office. So we will get to that point where Niger Delta will speak on issues that consign all of us at some level of unity and purpose. What is Pandev doing to bring that unity of purpose because Pandev seems to be an umbrella buddy that leads in these kinds of conversation. We also know that there has been and a jaw Congress of sorts has been put together. Yes, you know pushing in this regard how soon can we see a favorable position from the Niger Delta in the United States front. Is this something that is achievable in the nearest future or is this something we have to keep our fingers crossed on? Yes, we are definitely not where we used to be in terms of speaking with a united voice in the Niger Delta. We are not where we used to be we are not where we want to be but we are making progress and it might not be proper to say okay by this time next year Niger Delta will be speaking with one voice. No, there will be no time don't forget, there will be no time where all of us from the Niger Delta from several ethnic nationalities across nine states of the region will speak with one voice there will always be those who will be acoustic who will pursue a very personal and apocalyptic interest for whatever reason that it is. People like that will always exist but majority of the Niger Delta will speak our one page for signing PIA for signing ownership of oil resources in the Niger Delta when you go to the streets of the Niger Delta and hear people speak they are vexed that people will continue to say that oil in the Niger Delta belongs to Nigeria while gold in Zampara and in Oshin state belongs to people of Oshin and Zampara states and other resources the animals and cows and the farmlands in some parts of the country belong to the people that's what the people are saying and I assure you that very soon Nigeria will feel the heat that Niger Delta is not at Well thank you very much Ken Robinson is the National Publicity Secretary of PANDF and we want to thank you for speaking with us Happy New Year Thank you so much, Happy New Year and it's always nice to be here Well thank you all for staying with us Okay now when we return we discuss the various calls we were structuring that took place last year and why we're still here having the same conversation Stay with us