By Dennis Agbo

ABAKALIKI—The South East-Northern Alliance, SENA, a group that comprises a new generation of Igbo in conjunction with Ohaneze Youth Congress, has declared its support for retention of zoning of power to the North and called all Nigerians to particularly vote for Alhaji Atiku Abubakar as the next President of Nigeria come May 2011.

National President of SENA, Chief Stanley Okeke, a former governorship candidate in Anambra State under Congress for Democratic Change, CDC, in 2007, said in a statement yesterday that it was in the interest of the nation to see power move from North to South-East in 2015 to demonstrate the full integration of the Igbo into Nigeria’s mainstream politics.

Okeke, who is also the Chairman of Ohaneze Youth Congress, said “this is the only way to put an end completely to the 30 months civil war.”

He argued that the group’s advocacy for zoning was not a war against President Goodluck Jonathan but a crusade for equity, justice and fair play as well as for peace, unity, stability and development of Nigeria which General Yakubu Gowon fought to keep.

“Zoning will not be forever but it is very necessary now to stabilize our young democracy,” Okeke said.

On the support for Alhaji Atiku Abubakar, Okeke noted  that Atiku as a politician of note, both locally and internationally, who had proven his worth as a reliable, transparent and exemplary leader.

He said:  “Atiku’s doggedness is certainly unparalleled in Nigeria’s political history. Atiku deserves to lead this country. He is politically more experienced to be Nigeria’s president, having being vice president for two terms of eight years.