From left: Bayelsa State Governor, Chief Timipre Sylva; Delta State Governor, Dr. Emmanuel Uduaghan, and Rivers State Governor, Hon Rotimi Amaechi, at the South-South Stakeholders Forum which discussed the “Dynamics of the 2011 Presidential Election in Nigeria” in Port Harcourt, yesterday.

By Dayo Benson, Political Editor, Emeka  Mamah, George Onah & Jimitota Onoyume
PORT HARCOURT—IT was a season of approval for the presumed ambition of President Goodluck Jonathan to contest next year’s elections as it received boosts from his South-South geo-political zone and the Kaduna State chapter of the ruling Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, yesterday.

S-South govs, leaders in undiluted support
Stakeholders from the President’s geo-political zone declared an undiluted support for the bid even as they called on President Jonathan to immediately make public his intention to contest the 2011 election.

Rising from the summit which was attended by the six states in the region with the theme: “Dynamics of the 2011 Presidential election in Nigeria” at Port Harcourt, yesterday; delegates, elders and opinion leaders from the region also urged other zones of the country to identify with the presidential aspiration

A communiqué signed by delegates at the summit which was attended by five PDP governors from the region with representatives from Edo State, further expressed firm belief in the constitutional rights of President Jonathan to contest the election.

Hailing the approach of President Jonathan and his Vice to governance, the communiqué which was read by former aide to President Olusegun Obasanjo, Professor Julius Ihonvbere, assured that the region would continue to take steps to promote national unity.

Continuing, the region said it was time to outgrow primordial and unhealthy sentiments so as to move the nation forward.

The communiqué  which also expressed satisfaction with the anti graft posture of the Federal Government and its firm resolve to tackle the challenges of epileptic power supply in the country also took stock of the economic opportunities in the region.

Among dignitaries at the event were Governors Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi of Rivers, Lyel Imoke of Cross River, Emmanuel Uduaghan of Delta, Godswill Akpabio of Akwa Ibom, Timipre Sylva of Bayelsa; Deputy Governor of Rivers, Engr Tele Ikiru; former Minister of Information, Chief E. K. Clark, former Minister, Alabo Graham Douglas; Ambassador Mathew Mbu, Tony Anenih, Minister of Environment, John Ode; Senator Ndoma Egba, former President of Ijaw National Congress, Prof Kimse Okoko; former Minister of Defence, General Godwin Abe, and General Ufuoma Obada
Earlier, speakers at the forum called on the President to contest the election with assurance that his region was behind him.

Senator Ndoma Egba, SAN, who spoke for the South South Caucus in the Senate, said the region was at the threshhold of history with the Jonathan’s presidency. He said the caucus would firmly support Jonathan in the presidential race just as he urged the North to support the project.

He said: “The South South caucus of the Senate is the first convert of this vision of Jonathan’s presidency.”
Hon. Andrew Uchendu who spoke for the South South Caucus in the House of Representatives said the 55 members of the House from the region were firmly behind the project. He said it was proper for Jonathan to lead the late Yar Adua’s presidency to its end.

Support for Jonathan

Hon. Okon Uwa who spoke for the various state Houses of Assembly in the region also expressed support for the presidency. He said: “We support the presidency of Jonathan. We want him to run and we are behind him.”

Those who spoke for their various states also expressed firm support for the collective position of the region that Jonathan should run. They said they were behind the project.

Former Governor of Bayelsa State, Chief Deprieye Alamieyeseigha, said he should be commended for ‘donating’ Jonathan to the nation. Alamieyesiegha who advised that a special committee of 72 persons be set up to pursue Jonathan’s presidential project to reality, said: “None of the speakers here so far has congratulated me for presenting a good candidate to the country.”

In their separate comments, Chiefs Edwin Clark, Tony Anenih, Ambassador Mathew Mbu, Alabo Graham Douglas, Gen. Godwin Abbe, etc., also threw their weight behind the presidential project.  Anenih who advised the region to reach out to other sections of the country to also support the project, added: “On the ongoing political debate in our dear country, the South South must stand and fight for its right along constitutional lines. We should not be combative in our approach.

Rather we need to persuade our northern brothers and sisters to understand and appreciate that we have made so much sacrifices in the past for the unity of this country; that we have contributed and continue to contribute so much to her development and we deserve our own turn of the presidency which we have not had in the history of Nigeria.”

Clark said: “Today is a memorable day, it will enable us look back at where we are coming from. This meeting should be held regularly. The region should together move forward.”

On her part, former aide to President Olusegun Obasanjo, and former member of the National Assembly, Senator Florence Ita-Giwa, who was one of those that spoke for Cross River State further appealed to the North to reciprocate the support it had always enjoyed from the region by rallying round the presidential project.

Governors of the region also took time to endorse the project with assurance that they would galvanize support for it round the country.

The issue of who should sign the communiqué generated some debate when it was initially read out that only the governors present signed. A loyalist of former Governor of Edo State, Oserhiemen Osunbor, observed that since a former Governor of Edo State was present, he should have been listed as one of the signatories. After all, according to him, it was like a gathering of the PDP in the region.

Another delegate at the convention said that if only the governors present signed the communiqué then Edo State would be shut out of the event. At the end, Chairman of the South South Governors’ Forum, Senator Lyel Imoke, said all delegates at the summit should ensure they signed the attendance register because it would be taken that all of them, including the governors present signed the communiqué.

Also present at the event were Idongesit Nkanga, Senator Basey Henshaw, Senator Anietie Okon, Edor Obi, Senator Musa Adede, Prof. B.I.C. Ijeoma; Don Etiebet,  Prof G.G. Darah, Prof. Oyovaire,  etc.

Kaduna PDP too

Meantime, the Kaduna State chapter of the ruling PDP, has also endorsed President Goodluck Jonathan for the 2011 election.

Rising from its party stakeholders’ meeting  at the Kaduna International Trade Fair Complex, Sunday evening, the party said that it had deliberated on the burning issues of the time and concluded that “the Goodluck Jonathan ticket is the perfect choice for the country prepared to tackle the leadership challenges that face our people, not only in 2011 but far beyond.”

The stakeholders said in a communiqué at the end of the meeting, that “the people of the South-South had always stood shoulder to shoulder with, and supported northern aspirations to leadership of the country in very remarkable ways,” adding that there was the need to support Jonathan in the 2011 polls.

The communique’ which was signed by the State Secretary of the PDP, Mr. Adams Jagaba, said the PDP zoning arrangement should be jettisoned not only to allow Jonathan fly the party’s flag in the election but to once and for all settle the Niger Delta crises.

The party said that President Jonathan should contest under a joint ticket with the Vice President and former Governor of the state, Mohammed Namadi Sambo, just as it adopted the state Governor, Mr. Patrick Yakowa and his depty as candidates of the party during the next gubernatorial election next year “in view of the achievements of the administration within its short in office.”

Stakeholders in the party which took the decisions at the International Trade Fair Complex, Kaduna, also urged the 19 Northern Governors’ Forum, NGF, which meets in Kaduna today to adopt Jonathan as President of the country between 2011 and 2015 so that other northern states would follow suit.

Already about 10 northern governors have reportedly accepted the candidature of President Jonathan in 2011 and are expected to endorse him at the meeting which was adjourned on July 1, 2010 to enable them consult the people of their various states.

The governors who were said to have endorsed Jonathan include Sule Lamido, Jigawa; Aliyu Wamakko, Sokoto; Patrick Yakowa, Kaduna; Ibrahim Shehu Shema, Katsina; and Isa Yuguda, Bauchi. The others were Jonah Jang, Plateau; Murtala Nyako, Adamawa; Saidu Dakingari, Kebbi; Danbaba Suntai, Taraba, and Hon. Gabriel Suswam, Benue.

However, the PDP Chairman in the state, Alhaji Usman Ya’u Jema’a who spoke at the occasion said that what the country needed now was a credible leader that would ensure the rapid development of all the nooks and crannies of the nation, not based on zoning.

Jema’a however, said that this can only be achieved if the people are “allowed to choose their leader through a free, fair and transparent election.”

Click here to read the Communique issued