By Luka Binniyat

ABUJA – Senate President, David Mark and all members of the National Assembly from Benue State yesterday declared their support for President Goodluck Jonathan to contest the 2011 Presidential elections under  the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP.
The federal lawmakers made their position known under the auspices of Benue State Caucus of the National Assembly

The caucus said its position is in support of their  state governor, Gabriel Suswam dislike for zoning in the PDP as expressed at the meeting of Northern Governors in Kaduna Tuesday.

Making the position of the caucus known at a briefing yesterday at the National Assembly, Senator Joseph Akaagerger representing Benue North East senatorial zone with eight out of the 12 members of the House of Representatives said the governor’s position was the true reflection of the people of the state.

Akaagerger, who is the vice chairman, Senate Committee on Communication confirmed that the Senate President, David Mark and all National Assembly members from the state have endorsed Jonathan for the 2011 presidential elections.

According to him, “The Senate President is very engaged and cannot be present. But he is part of us and is in full support. The attention of the Representatives of the people of Benue State in the National Assembly (Senate and House of Representatives) has been drawn to recent media publications relating to the current burning national question as to whether or not President Goodluck Ebele Jonathan is competent to and should or should not contest the 2011 Presidential Election.

“We wish to state unequivocally as follows: that consequent upon consultation with the Benue State National Assembly legislators’ caucus, the governor of Benue State, Gabriel Suswam was mandated to hold consultation with all principal stakeholders of the PDP and Benue people generally.

“That such consultations were duly held and we have confirmed with our constituents and hereby support the views expressed by the state governor.

“Any statement to the contrary by any individuals or groups who certainly do not carry the people’s mandate, should be discountenanced as the opinion of the insignificant minority.”