By Laja Thomas

Labour, Student and Civil Society Coalition, LASCSO, comprising about seven civil society groups,has endorsed the candidature of General Ibrahim Badamosi Babangida for the 2011 general elections while urging President Goodluck Jonathan to abide by the zoning of the 2011 presidency to the north agreed upon by the Peoples Democracy Party, PDP.

While speaking at a press briefing heralding the IBB 2011 campaign rally in Lagos yesterday, Alhaji Kabiru Ali Dinet, National Chairman, Arewa Vanguard, representing LASCSO, said: “After series of thorough deliberations on the crises currently being generated within PDP by the debate on the necessity or otherwise of the zoning arrangement, we hereby declare our unflinching support for zoning as a political arrangement adopted by the party.

“We urge the leadership of the party to respect and preserve the dreams of the founding fathers of the PDP by adhering strictly to the zoning arrangement.

“Therefore, we demand that PDP should retain the presidency in the north in line with the zoning arrangement.

“We hereby make public our decision to support the presidential ambition of former President, Ibrahim Badamosi Babangida.”