From various ethnic nationalities in southern Nigeria, representatives converged on Calabar on February 24 to take common positions on issues of collective interest ahead of the national conference. The Southern Leaders' Summit, which took place at the Tinapa Business and Leisure Resort, was convened by Governors Liyel Imoke, Peter Obi and Olusegun Mimiko. It had in attendance prominent Nigerians like the former Vice President Alex Ekwueme, Pa Olaniwu Ajayi, Pa Ayo Adebanjo, Obong of Calabar, Edidem Ekpo Okon Abasi Otu, Chief Emmanuel Inwuanyanwu, and the Amanyanabo of Nembe Kingdom, Dr. Edmond Daukoru, among others.
Delegates came from the three southern geopolitical zones - South-east, South-south, and South-west. But the All Progressives Congress governors were absent. The summit applauded President Goodluck Jonathan for organising the national conference to enable Nigerians to chart a way forward for the country. Papers were presented by some distinguished scholars, among them Dr. Godwin Darah, who spoke extensively on the need for resource control. He said that was the only way to make the federating units look inward by exploring and exploiting their natural resources under the economic principle of comparative advantage.
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