By Peter Duru

Makurdi — Stakeholders of the ruling Peoples Democratic Party PDP in Benue State have unanimously jettisoned the zoning arrangement of the party and thrown their weight behind President Goodluck Jonathan to run for the 2011 presidential election.

Rising from a consultative meeting held Wednesday night in Benue State Government House at the behest of Governor Gabriel Suswam, the leaders of the Party who were drawn from the 23 local government areas of the state collectively declared their support for President Jonathan demanding that he ran for the presidency come 2011.

Briefing newsmen at the end of the meeting, the trio of Chief David Attah, Professors Mvendega Jibo and David Kerr who were mandated by the stakeholders to inform the media of their collective position disclosed that the decision to support President Jonathan was reached after an exhaustive debate on the matter by all stakeholders.

They asserted that their decision to support President Jonathan was informed by their belief that no Nigerian should be stopped in whatever guise, from taking a shot at the presidency in 2011 for whatever reason.

According to them, “We have had an exhaustive discussion on a matter of national interest which was centred on whether President Jonathan should contest the 2011 presidential election or not on the grounds of zoning; and we the leaders of the PDP have collectively decided that Benue people cannot associate ourselves with any group or position that wishes to stop a Nigerian from contesting an elective position in the country”.

“We have resolved that President Goodluck Jonathan should feel free to contest the election and he must not be stopped on the basis of zoning which is unconstitutional in all respects.”

“We have decided to support President Jonathan because history and providence are solidly behind him and we are emphatic about it.”