By Simon Ebegbulem
BENIN—MEMBERS of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, in Edo State, weekend, set aside their political difference and unanimously called on President Goodluck Jonathan to run for the 2011 presidential election without further delay.

The PDP leaders who described as ‘irrelevant,’  the call by some Northern leaders that the PDP zoning formula, which ceded the presidency to the North must be adhered to, argued that as the former Vice-President of the nation, he had a joint ticket with the late President, Alhaji Umaru Yar’Adua, therefore “he is eminently qualified to contest for the presidency.”

The resolution followed a motion moved by a chieftain of the party in the state, Dr Willy Ogbeide and seconded by Princess Ethel Eweka. Some of the PDP leaders at the event, included the former state chairman of the party, Prince Solomon Aguele, state PDP Director of Mobilization, Mr Paschal Ugbome, former Chief of Staff to the state government, Isaiah Osifo, former Speaker of the state House of Assembly, Mr Friday Itulah, Barr. Akhimien, SAN, and the state Publicity Secretary of the Dr Samuel Ogbemudia led PDP, Dr Francis Iyasere, among others.

The event eventually led to the inauguration of the ‘Goodluck Support Group’ in the state. Speakers at the event drawn from the three senatorial district of the state, stressed the need for Jonathan to contest next year’s election, so as to enable him continue and actualize the dreams of the late President Yar’Adua for the nation.

State Coordinator of the Goodluck Support Group, Edos Ebomoyi said “the choice before us this day is, whether we as a people should join other progressive elements in the country to call on the President and Commander-in-Chief of Armed Forces of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, President Jonathan to contest for the presidency in 2011.”

“After a careful assessment and examination of Edo State interest in the centrifugal geo-political dynamics of the politics of Nigeria today, it is imperative for us to take a decision at this meeting today. Not necessarily because it is being hosted by the stakeholders of this project, but that the rest of the country is waiting anxiously to know the position of the ‘Heart Beat’ state on this issue,” he added.