President Goodluck Jonathan
ABUJA—AS the nation anxiously awaits the decision by President GoodluckJonathan whether to contest the presidential elections or simply stepaside, elders and leaders of the South East and the South Southgeo-political zones of the country, yesterday, in Abuja vowed to worktowards the actualization of President Goodluck Jonathan as Presidentin the 2011 elections.
Just as representatives of the geo-political zones were meeting to concretise their work plan, leadership of 1,027 groups supporting the2011 presidential ambition of President Jonathan, urged the Presidentto declare his intention to run for next year’s presidency immediately.
The leaders of the South East and the South South geo_political zones met for over six hours at the Asokoro residence of former FederalCommissioner for Information, Chief Edwin Clark under the aegis of“South_South Elders and Leaders Forum and Representatives of theSouth_East”.
They said it became imperative for them to “give attention more to the issues that unite the people of the South_East and South_Southgeo_political zones who live contiguously than the issues that divideus because there is no ocean without debris”.
In a communiqué issued at the end of the meeting, the groups also agreed to “Continue consultations at a wider forum to address, onsustainable basis, issues of common interest to both geo_politicalzones; continue to work together to seek the support and endorsement ofthe entire South East zone for the actualization of President GoodluckJonathan, GCFR, in the 2011 elections.”
It said the groups would continue to “hold a meeting of the elders and leaders of the South_South and South East geo_political zones at ano distant date in the South East to discuss core issues such asmarginalization, loss of jobs, creation of states and 2015 presidency”.
The communiqué was signed by former Minister of Education, Mrs Chinwe Obaje, ex_Military Governor of Akwa Ibom State, Air CommodoreIdongesit Nkanga, former Minister of Health, Professor I. C. Madubuike,Engr. Francis Orji. Dr. Osita Ngwu, Senator Chris Ukpabi; Chief RichardLamai, Professor B.I.C. Ijomah; Brigadier General S.E. Oviawe and ChiefAyakeme Whisky.
The meeting which was also attended by Chief Willy Okeke with former Governor of Bayelsa State, Chief Diepreye Alamieyeseigha, had notablepoliticians from the East such as former Senate President, Ken Nnamani,ex_Governor Chukwuemeka Ezeife, Chief Simon Okeke, Chief EmmanuelIwuanyanwu, Senator Ben Obi, ex-Governor Achike Udenwa, Senator UcheChukwumerijie, Professor Alphonsus Nwosu, Senator Ifeanyi Ararume,among others.
Candidate for election
It would be recalled that the South East zone had, Monday, at a meeting held in Enugu unanimously endorsed President Jonathan as itsPresidential candidate for the election.
The Communiqué read in part, “that there has been a long standing relationship of mutual cooperation, common bond, common support andcommon understanding between the peoples of the South East andSouth-South geo-political zones right from pre_independence days.
“That since the end of the civil war in 1970, certain happenings in the country appear to suggest that some people in the country aredoomed to play the second fiddle in perpetuity and that relics of grossinjustice and inequity still pervade our polity.
“That the high level deprivation and poverty prevalent in the countryparticularly in the rural communities of the South_South geo-politicalzone where oil and gas resources are explored and exploited to producethe wealth of the country is a product of deliberate policy ofjettisoning the principle of federalism which was practiced at thebirth of the Nigerian federation.
“That as creatures of God, all men are created equal and therefore noone is and should be regarded inferior to the other. That it is onlyunity of purpose and common understanding that would guarantee freedomand equal opportunities for all oppressed people of this country.
“That consultations and permutations for the emerging politicaldispensation in 2011 may not have sufficiently recognized thecontributions of the South_East during the constitutional crises thatfollowed the indisposition of late President Umaru Musa Yar’ Adua inNovember, 2009.
“That the emergence of President Goodluck Ebele Jonathan, GCFR, asPresident of the Federal Republic of Nigeria is a divine call to serve.
“That there has been substantial improvement in electricity powersupply and stability in the supply of petroleum products sincePresident Goodluck Jonathan mounted the saddle of leadership.
“The Consultative Meeting resolved to give attention more to the issuesthat unite the people of the South_East and South_South geo_politicalzones who live contiguously than the issues that divide us becausethere is no ocean without debris.”
1, 027 groups urge Jonathan to declare
Leadership of about 1,027 groups supporting the 2011 presidential ambition of President Goodluck Jonathan, yesterday, urged the Presidentto declare his intention to run for next year’s presidency immediately.
The coalition, which said that President Jonathan was the most qualified person for the office, also hinged its argument on the factthat he has not only performed well in office but had also made sincereefforts in addressing the challenges facing the country.
A communiqué issued at the end of the groups meeting, and signed by Alhaji Ahmed Ali Gulak, said the groups resolved to commence rallies inall the six geo-political zones and to fund a grand rally in Abuja toensure that President Jonathan declared early enough.
The communique said the groups fused together to present a common front to drag President Jonathan into Presidential race in next year’selection.
The communique stated: “An appeal is humbly made to Dr. Goodluck Ebele Jonathan to please urgently declare his intention to contest the2011 Presidential election based on his performance and sincere andcommitted efforts to address challenges facing our country.
“The 1, 027 groups expressed their unflinching loyalty to President Jonathan and promise to rededicate their support and commitment in themarch to move Nigeria positively forward.”
Gulak said the groups had been constituted into a central coordinating committee and six sub-committees in the six geo-politicalzones to harmonize their working relationship.
He added that the group also berated northern elder statesmen who were insisting that the North should complete the remaining tenure oflate President Umaru Yar’Adua, by virtue of zoning.
Gulak said the groups urged Adamu Ciroma to give the northern youths a chance to present Goodluck Jonathan, adding that Jonathan was poisedto deliver services the nation had been denied in the past.
Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, FCT, Alhaji Bala Mohammed told the groups that from the President’s achievements, he nowrepresented the new face of politics in Nigeria.
He said: “The issue of religion should not be at play in selecting our leaders. Jonathan is the realization of the aspiration of ourfounding fathers, he is a Nigerian par excellence.
We are not antagonistic of those who want to run for the Presidency. We can’t denounce them; but they should give us the opportunity toconvince them to join us.
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