By Henry Umoru

ABUJA—A group, under the aegis of South-South Youth Assembly, SSYA, yesterday endorsed former Military President, Ibrahim Babangida, for the 2011 presidential election, just as it urged President Goodluck Jonathan not to contest but help conduct free, fair and credible elections.

Addressing newsmen yesterday, SSYA National President, Tony Anucha, said Babangida had the courage, gallantry and will power to give Nigeria and Nigerians a very purposeful leadership.

Anucha, who expressed support for the continued retention of the presidency by the North in 2011, stressed that the South-South geo-political zone would be technically short changed if President Goodluck Jonathan should be allowed to contest the election and, thereafter, emerge as president in 2011.

According to the group, if President Jonathan wins the election to complete the two term joint ticket of late President Umaru Yar’Adua, it will then be assumed that the oil producing zone had taken its own turn instead of complete two terms.