By Samuel Oyadongha
Yenagoa—Members of the State Houses of Assembly in the South-South zone, weekend, converged in Yenagoa, Bayelsa State, to brainstorm on issues affecting the zone,  with a call on President Goodluck Jonathan to listen to the voices of reason and declare his intention to contest the 2011 general elections.

The lawmakers from the six states of the zone under the aegis of South-South Legislators Forum, lauded the leadership qualities of President Jonathan,  saying that the zone having borne the nation’s burden of the nation in the last five decades deserved the support of the rest of the country in ensuring that Dr. Jonathan continued beyond 2011.

Present at the inaugural meeting held at the Bayelsa State House of Assembly complex, were the Speaker of the state Assembly, Mr Nestor Binabo, Nadu Karibo, leader of state Assembly, the initiator of the meeting, Mr  Jonathan Obuebite, chairman State Assembly Committee on Education, the Acting Speaker of the Delta Assembly, Mr Basil Ganagana, the Minority Leader of Delta Assembly, Mr. Princess Pat Ajudua, leader of the Cross Rivers Assembly delegation, Mr Jerry Agba, Mrs Esther Ayomobie, Cross Rivers and the member representing Ahoada West in the Rivers Assembly, Mr Hope Ikoriko.

However,  members of the Edo and Akwa Ibom State Assemblies could not attend the maiden meeting due to what the initiator, Mr Obuebite of Bayelsa Assembly blamed on distance and the visit of the President to Akwa Ibom.

Declaring the forum open, the Speaker of Bayelsa Assembly and Chairman of the Forum of South-South Legislators, Mr Binabo,  said the assembly members in the region have resolved to stand by the President on the call for him to run in 2011.

“We believe he knows that we have more voters than other groups because we represent the grass roots of the region and we will secure the votes for him,” he said.