2011: Mukoro endorses Goodluck Jonathan for President

Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) governorship aspirant in Delta State Professor Saliba Mukoro has pledged his support for the President Gooodluck Jonathan 2011 presidential bid just as he expressed his gratitude to Chief Edwin Clark whom he described as his father for steering the ship of Delta State and Niger Delta in general.

Declaring his support for Jonathan presidency come 2011 in a rally organised by Delta State Elders and Leaders Forum led by Chief Clark , Mukoro appealed to Nigerians both within the country and in Diaspora to support the call for Jonathan to contest for the position of the President of Nigeria come 2011, saying that Jonathan is the one God sent to create changes in Nigeria polity.

He equally enjoined the people to support Chief Clark for his positive and matured leadership role in the country to the advantage of the people.

Addressing a mammoth crowd who came to declare their support for the call for Jonathan to run for 2011 presidency, Mukoro said Jonathan was God sent to salvage Nigerians from their present problem saying that he is sent to bring genuine unity to Nigeria .

According to him, “ Jonathan is God sent. There is a divine connection in him. God sent him to bring genuine unity to Nigeria . He will create unity in the country, recover our economy and make Nigerians happy again if voted as the President of come 2011”.

The rally had in attendance one time Senate president, Chief Ameh Ebute; former governor of Anambra State, Dr Chukwuemeka Ezeife;Minister of Niger Delta, Elder Godsday Orubebe; Minister of State for Education, Olorogun Kenneth Gbagi; and one time presidential spokesman, Dr. Doyin Okupe, among others.

Chairman of the Central Working Committee of the Delta Elders, Leaders and Stakeholders Forum, Chief G.O. Ogbetuo accused the State Government of denying the forum the use of the Warri Stadium for the rally.

The guest speaker, Dr Ezeife, urged South-South leaders to unite and sink their differences, in order not to miss the golden opportunity in 2011.

Dr Ezeife said, “We want unity of purpose from the Niger-Delta. You must work united to support Jonathan, if you divide, you will regret it. If you fail to unite, you have spoiled everything”.

Senator Ebute said the North Central was behind President Jonathan in 2011, stressing, “Anybody from the South-South, whether a governor or otherwise, who is not in support of Jonathan, may incur the wrath of South- South”.

Erstwhile Special Adviser to former President Olusegun Obasanjo, Dr. Okupe in his own remarks said that he was bringing good tidings from the zone, which, he explained, met penultimate Saturday, and endorsed President Jonathan for 2011.

According to him: “Once the South-West stands by anybody, that person has already won the election. We are not talking about zoning, we are talking about rotation, there is a difference between zoning and rotation. Zoning is good but justice is better, equity is better, that is what I am saying”.

Okupe who said he had 33 reasons while Dr. Jonathan should be voted in 2011, but, gave only two at the rally, called on Nigerians to support Jonathan because he is a young man and within the age bracket of current presidents around the world.

Senator James Manager who represents Delta South Senatorial district in the Senate said, “I came here to correct the impression in a newspaper report that senators from Delta State are not for Jonathan”. He said he was in support of President Jonathan, who is not only in control of Abuja at the moment but the entire country.

Senator Adeghor Eferakheya, representing Delta Central in the Senate also declared his support for President Jonathan at the rally, saying his emergence as President was by divine intervention and the divine intervention would continue until 2015.

According to him, “God has given us the chance, we must take the chance.”

Those fighting Jonathan are now turning out to be his friends but they are not his true friends”.

Senator Sidi Alli from Kano who was among the guest speakers urged Nigerians to be steadfast with President Jonathan, saying that with his performance so far, he deserved to be voted in 2011 by Nigerians as their President.

Chief Clark who was happy with the remarks of the various speakers said he had no doubt that Delta State was for President Jonathan and sang some songs to dedicate victory in next year’s election to President Jonathan.

Also in attendance were former Minister under President Umaru Yar’Adua, Mrs. Grace Ekpwhire, former presidential spokesman, former Minister, Chief Patrick Bolokor, Senator Sidi Alli, former Deputy Speaker of the Delta State House of Assembly, Mr. Pius Ewherido, six governorship aspirants in the state: Chief Ovie Omo-Agege, Braduce Angozi, Rear Admiral John Kpokpogiri (rtd), Major Saliba Mukoro (rtd), Brigadier-General Ovadje (rtd) and Ben Williams, Patani/Bomadi constituency House of Representatives aspirant, Dr., Chris Ekiyor and former Deputy Inspector General of Police, Donald Ugboaja.