By Ola Ajayi
IBADAN— President Goodluck Jonathan’s presidential ambition in 2011 received a boost yesterday as no fewer than 585 delegates of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, in the South-West promised to vote for him and his Vice Alhaji Namadi Sambo in the party’s primaries in January 2011.

The decision to support President Jonathan was taken at the end of the meeting of the stakeholders of the party even as President Jonathan said that the South West geo political zone was very crucial to his presidential ambition and consequently charged  leaders of the party to work harder so that the PDP could win Lagos State in the 2011.

At the meeting were Governors Adebayo Alao-Akala; Gbenga Daniel;Jonathan/Sambo Campaign Director General, Senator Dalhatu Tafida; former governors Olusegun Agagu of  Ondo, Segun Oni of Ekiti, and Prince Olagunsoye Oyinlola of  Osun,

Others were former governors of Oyo State Dr. Victor Omololu Olunloyo, Chief Kolapo Ishola and the Deputy Governor of Oyo and Ogun states, Alhaji Taofeek Arapaja and Alhaja Salimot Badru.

The communiqué issued at the end of the meeting stated: “The meeting reaffirmed the earlier decision of the zonal caucus of the party which took place in Osogbo, Osun State in August to endorse and support the candidacy of Dr. Goodluck Ebele Jonathan for the President of Nigeria in the 2011 general election; the meeting noted with pride and satisfaction that the zone was the first to endorse Dr. Goodluck Jonathan in the country.

“The meeting enjoined all other Nigerians to give Mr President total and unflinching support before, during and after the election; the meeting prayed for Mr President, the Vice President and all those involved in the Presidential \Campaign for God’s abiding protection, guidance and goodluck as they criss-cross the entire length and breath of the country during the campaign.”

We ‘re committed more than ever, says  Jonathan

Responding, President Jonathan said “we are committed more than ever and this will help us to work harder in Oyo, Ogun and Lagos states. With one man one vote, PDP will have more votes than any other party across the country.”

He admitted that the leaders of the party in the zone should not toy with Lagos because the state had made it difficult for the party.

Why we shunned meeting

Speaking with Vanguard on why they shunned the meeting which was rounded off some minutes before 5pm, Senator Balogun said his people were not properly invited. They argued that the President, knowing there are factions within the party, should have met them in a separate place.

He said: “We cannot sit together with the likes of Governor Akala in the meeting. We were not properly invited. The President knows there is division in the party, he should not expect us to sit down with Akala.”