Samuel Marshall
Rev. Sokari Soberekon, a prominent Niger Delta activist and resource control advocate, declared he would no longer identify as Nigerian if the country did not grant the South-South more autonomy.
“If there is no restructuring to free the South-South, I will no longer consider myself a Nigerian,” he told journalists at Isaac Boro Park. He also expressed nostalgia, stating, “We’re returning to be known as Calabar, Ogoja, Rivers (COR) State.”
On Saturday, December 6th, 2025, Soberekon made these remarks during a discussion with journalists, recalling the old COR State – a political and cultural entity predating Nigeria’s amalgamation.
He explained that historically part of the Southern Nigeria Protectorate, COR merged with the Northern Protectorate in 1914 to form Nigeria. The region was inhabited by diverse ethnic groups, including the Efik, Ibibio, Annang, Ogoja, and various Rivers peoples, creating a unique regional identity.
Following Nigeria’s independence in 1960, the area was incorporated into the Eastern Region, where local residents increasingly complained of marginalisation, leading to calls for greater autonomy.
Subsequent changes altered the region: Akwa Ibom State was carved out of Cross River. Rivers and Cross River were officially separated in 1967; and other boundary adjustments further reshaped the old COR area.
Despite these changes, COR’s legacy influences political debates in the South-South, especially around marginalisation and resource control. Soberekon highlighted that the region’s historical development reflects Nigeria’s complex regional dynamics and why, in his view, restructuring is crucial.***
