By Kingsley Omonobi & Gbemiga Olamikan

ABUJA—After President Goodluck Jonathan’s successful declaration to contest the Presidency in 2011, political, religious and cultural leaders drawn from the South-South and South-East zones have agreed to forge a new alliance to support his ambition.

This decision was taken at a meeting of the South-South and South-East leaders held at the residence of the former Labour Minister under President Olusegun Obasanjo’s administration, Alabo Tonye Graham-Douglas, in Abuja.

According to a statement by Eze Awhotu Awhili, Alabo Graham-Douglas noted that the two zones had a lot to gain by sticking together to address and confront the challenges currently facing the zones.
He said: “No longer shall we allow ourselves to be set against each other.”

‘Igbo for Jonathan’

Also speaking at the meeting, Vice-Chairman of the Igbo Redemption Group, IRG, Dr. Aneze Chinwuba said: “Igbo must vote Jonathan.

“The President has demonstrated within his short stay in office that he is capable of addressing the Nigerian problem, especially in the areas of supply and production of oil, peace in the Niger-Delta region, national tranquility and the power problem, among others.”

Another Igbo leader who attended the meeting, Engr. Ben Akwada, disclosed that in addition to unanimously endorsing President Jonathan as the preferred candidate for the 2011 presidential election, the leaders of the two zones have also agreed not to vote former President Ibrahim Babangida and that anybody from the two zones acting contrary to this decision is on his or her own.

He explained that foremost on why the zone’s leaders took this decision was based on the refusal of Babangida to answer questions on June 12 and the murder of former Editor-in-Chief of the Newswatch magazine.

Akwada said: “It is based on this that we have decided not to vote Babangida. How can a former president say he will not answer questions on issues bordering on his administration and he is seeking our mandate?”