By Festus Ahon

South-South leaders of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP met in Calabar last Saturday. The outcome of the meeting was as predicted: a ringing endorsement for a second term for their famous son, President Goodluck Jonathan.

THE meeting of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, South-South expanded zonal executive committee meeting last Saturday was an opportunity for party chieftains to again reiterate their backing for a second term for President Goodluck Jonathan.

It was an opportunity for regional party chieftains to articulate what they claimed as the laudable achievements of the president and his transformation agenda.

The meeting, in Calabar, Cross River State started at 2:46 pm at the lodge of the Cross River State Governor. Present were Chief Mike Ogiadomhe, Chief of Staff to the president, who represented President Goodluck Jonathan, Chief Tony Anenih, Chairman Board of Trustees of the party, Governors Liyel Imoke of Cross River State, Godswill Akpabio of Akwa Ibom State, Deputy Governor of Bayelsa State, National Executive Committee members, National Working Committee members, Senators, House of Representative members, Houses of Assembly Speakers, PDP State chairmen in the six states of the South South, Board of Trustees members of the party from the zone and Zonal Executive Committee members.

The president in his speech read by Ogadomhe was appreciative of the sizeable presence of chieftains saying “Empty vessels makes the loudest noise. We members of the PDP remain one united family,” as he articulated some achievements of the administration.

Anenih on his part said; “there is nobody in the country who is an adult who does not know the importance of the zone,” adding that “any responsible person from the zone understand what it means to support President Goodluck Jonathan. We must promote what we have.”

Noting the achievements of the Jonathan administration, Anineh said the president would be given an option of first refusal during the PDP presidential primary. He explained that delegates would vote “yes or no but if the President does not have the simple majority, it would be thrown open.”

Governor Liyel Imoke on his part commended the National Vice Chairman of the zone, Dr Steve Oru for putting the party together in the zone, adding that; “the gathering of today represents Mr President who is from the zone. This zone is the strength and pillar of the PDP in Nigeria.” Insisting that they cannot as a zone compromise the presidency in 2015, he said there was no rumbling in any state in the zone. He told the people not to compromise the strength of the zone, adding that the zone would exercise all its rights come 2015.

Also speaking, National Vice Chairman of the party in the zone, Dr Steve Oru said; “No doubt we have done well as a party in delivering the dividends of democracy to our people, an uncommon feat in any political system.”