[size=14pt]Jonathan can contest in 2011- Northern govs •Zoning is unconstitutional - AGF [/size]
Written by Lanre Adewole and Hassan Ibrahim
Wednesday, 28 July 2010

THE Northern Governors’ Forum (NGF) in Kaduna, on Tuesday, could not take a stand on zoning as it earlier promised, but maintained that President Goodluck Jonathan had the constitutional right to contest in 2011 while consultation on the issue will continue.

The Forum maintained that the issue of zoning was purely a PDP affair and encouraged the continuation of healthy debate on the issue in the interest of national unity and stability.

Amidst protest from youth groups in the North who were in support of the zoning arrangement so that power may remain in the North after 2011, the meeting, for the first time in many years, was attended by all the Northern state governors at the Sir Kashim Ibrahim House.

However, the deployment of heavily armed security men from the Operation Yaki in the Government House and other strategic parts of the state capital scared the youth and made it impossible for them to disrupt the meeting.

While reading the communiqué at the end of the meeting which lasted for over six hours, chairman of the NGF and governor of Niger State, Dr. Mu’azu Babangida Aliyu, said the special meeting of the governors was held sequel to the resolve made during their meeting on July 1, 2010 to allow members go back for wider consultations with stakeholders for the unity and progress of northern states within the context of a united Nigeria on zoning of the position of the president before eventually taking a position on the matter.

“The Northern Governors’ Forum, after collating the report from all the 19 Northern states and after exhaustive deliberations, recognises the following:

“The supremacy of the 1999 Constitution as encapsulated in section one. The provision of section 131 of 1999 Constitution, which states the qualification for election into the office of the president of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.

“Arising from the above, therefore, the forum acknowledged the fact that the issue of zoning is a PDP affair, Therefore, in acknowledging the circumstances of force majure arising from the demise of the President Umaru Yar’Adua and subsequent ascendency of President Jonathan to the presidency, the forum resolves that wider consultations should continue at all party levels within the PDP with all stakeholders across the nation to address the concerns of all in the interest of peaceful coexistence and advancement of democracy in our dear country Nigeria.”

Prior to the meeting, a coalition of northern youth associations had said it would work against the political ambition of 19 northern governors once they decided against zoning at their meeting.

Leader of the coalition, Mr Ibrahim Wayya, told newsmen that they had already mobilised over 30,000 youths to storm the venue of the meeting.

The aggrieved youths warned that the northern governors should not sell the rights of the region to retain the presidency as was allegedly endorsed and ratified by the PDP in 2002.

Similarly, president of the Civil Rights Congress (CRC), Mallam Shehu Sani, urged the 19 northern governors to insist on the application of the principle of zoning and power rotation in the emergence of Nigeria’s president in 2011.

Sani told newsmen that although power rotation was not constitutional, the arrangement had served to ensure that other parts of the country were not margina-lised.

He said that at the meeting, they would take responses from the states and expressed belief that they would be bound by the people’s view on the matter.

Governor Aliyu said while they should respect the fundamental rights of people to hold and express opinions, they should always put the interest and future of the nation first in everything.

He said to many of them, the issue was not simply the issue of rotation/zoning as was being hyped but, rather, the issue of integrity, honesty and discipline.

Textiles workers, led by their General-Secretary, Issa Aremu, on the occasion, said whatever the outcome of the meeting on zoning, the challenge of the region was development.

The North, he said, was not short of governors, having 19 out of the 36 governors in the federation, but what it needed was development, jobs, quality education and quality of life.

Meanwhile, the Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Mr Mohammed Bello Adoke, in Abuja, on Tuesday, said zoning arrangement was unknown to the law of the land.

Speaking at a roundtable on the 2011 elections in Abuja, Adoke said zoning was unconstitutional and warned that those sponsoring it should stop overheating the polity.

Also at the event, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), said the May 29, 2011 handover date and elections timetable remained unchanged.

INEC boss, Professor Attahiru Jega, at the event, said the commission had not asked the National Assembly to shift the handover date, adding that the constitution would remain its guide.

In a keynote address at the roundtable on the 2011 elections, with the theme Imperatives and Challenges for credible elections, organised by the Emmanuel Ukala Centre for Democracy and Electoral Process and the Nigerian Institute of Advanced Legal Studies in Abuja, Adoke advocated internal democracy in political parties in choosing their candidates in an election.

http://www.tribune.com.ng/index.php/front-page-news/8863-jonathan-can-contest-in-2011-northern-govs-zoning-is-unconstitutional-agf

northerners will turn this country upside down if zoning is ruled out. the only reason why zoning should be allowed is the fact that zoning was what brought Jonathan to this spot today. the same zoning arrangement was acknowledged up until yaradua died. northerners have the right to fight for their rights.
@poster, do not let a couple of northerners deceive you, they do not represent the real northerners. i can assure you that northerners will fight till the end if zoning is not recognized.

^
No, the real Northerners (as you put it) won't. They are every bit as sensible and patriotic as Southerners, they can see how much they are suffering after ruling for 38 of our 49 years and they are smart enough to ask what being in power has brought them; if it has benefited the same group of leaching individuals or has it ever benefited the wider North.

The only fight will come from the thieves and tribalistic scoundrels that have impoverished the North and held the rest of the country to ransome.

cre8tivity who told u nortrhereners are hell bent on rotation or zoning, this may be against them today but when they kip winning subsequent elections thru bloc votes then no one would be able to complain.

be that as it may,       Jonathan must remain president beyond may 2011

yes, they realize how they are suffering just like other nigerians after ruling for 38 of our 49 years, but the truth is northerners don't see jonathan as their saviour. if you completely understand northerners you will understand that an average northerners will rather see another northerner as the president of this country regardless of the outcome. this is also why many people (yoruba and igbo)do not want to see ibb to contest, because even with bad track record, they know that ibb will be elected by his people before any yoruba or igbo man is elected. i repeat an average northerner will vote for another northerner any time any day regardless of what is going on in nigeria.

do not forget that jonathan became our president today only because of zoning arrangement. and zoning was recognized up until yaradua died.
jonathan himself will even agree that zoning was in place when he became the vp and in fact it was part of the plans why he was picked as the vp.

cre8tivity:

do not forget that jonathan became our president today only because of zoning arrangement. and zoning was recognized up until yaradua died.
jonathan himself will even agree that zoning was in place when he became the vp and in fact it was part of the plans why he was picked as the vp.

Seriously, this argument does not count. Jonathan is not the Nigerian constitution.

cre8tivity:

yes, they realize how they are suffering just like other nigerians after ruling for 38 of our 49 years, but the truth is northerners don't see jonathan as their saviour. if you completely understand northerners you will understand that an average northerners will rather see another northerner as the president of this country regardless of the outcome. this is also why many people (yoruba and igbo)do not want to see ibb to contest, because even with bad track record, they know that ibb will be elected by his people before any yoruba or igbo man is elected. i repeat an average northerner will vote for another northerner any time any day regardless of what is going on in nigeria.

Where is the average Northerner from? Kwara, Plateau, Southern Kaduna, Adamawa, Borno or Sokoto?
There is nothing like "the average Northerner", that fellow simply doesn't exist.

^^^^
beef and gej. the next thing. d guy go dey work for presidency.

@beaf, whatever you want to call them, they will not vote for jonathan. till today, a good percentage of northerners still don't fully respect jonathan and don't see him as their leader.
the story you posted is nothing but politics or politician story, we shall see when it comes down to it.

in fact, some of these people are making this noise only because they know for sure that jonathan isn't contesting. someone also said atiku might be the chosen one.
if a sitting president still can not reveal at this point that he's contesting, it is a common sense that he isn't going to contest. my advise for you guys pulling for jonathan is, don't break your heart, jonathan is not going to contest for the 2011 presidential election

cre8tivity:

in fact, some of these people are making this noise only because they know for sure that jonathan isn't contesting. someone also said atiku might be the chosen one.
if a sitting president still can not reveal at this point that he's contesting, it is a common sense that he isn't going to contest. my advise for you guys pulling for jonathan is, don't break your heart, jonathan is not going to contest for the 2011 presidential election

To the bolded. . . Error, a lot of us are pulling for the constitution. As I said earlier, Jonathan is not the Nigerian constitution, but he will create the ladder to the promised land.
We are pulling for the constitution to stop criminals like Atiku ever gaining power. Maybe, its time to extradite him to the US as is happening to Ibori (Dubai to UK).

Goodluck Jonathan has been boxed into a corner as far as PDP is concerned.

What will be a master stroke by Jonathan is to remain PDP candidate but not make effort to win, conduct a free and fair election and handover to Donald Duke.

That way Jonathan will be seen as a Nigerian Hero who did not rig elections to remain in power, He will be seen as a father of free and fair elections in Nigeria but he will also be seen as King of egalitarian Nigeria who alllowed the best candidate to win even if he was an ethnic minority.

OYB_MEND:

Goodluck Jonathan has been boxed into a corner as far as PDP is concerned.

What will be a master stroke by Jonathan is to remain PDP candidate but not make effort to win, conduct a free and fair election and handover to Donald Duke.

That way Jonathan will be seen as a Nigerian Hero who did not rig elections to remain in power, He will be seen as a father of free and fair elections in Nigeria but he will also be seen as King of egalitarian Nigeria who alllowed the best candidate to win even if he was an ethnic minority.

As long as free and fair elections are delivered and zoning is bunked for merit, Jonathan will be seen as a hero. Right now, zoning and rigging are the two greatest issues facing Nigeria. After we get a credible electoral process, we will begin to have leaders that truly represent us, not thieves like IBB and Atiku that see Nigeria as a free for all.

Credible elections is the only thing that will loosen the cold, tenacious grip of criminals over Nigeria.

@beaf, sorry to bust your bubble, your next president (yoruba, hausa or igbo) in nigeria for the next 16 years are all going to be nothing but criminals, there is nothing you can do about it. if electing criminal is your concern, my advise for you is to forget it. it is inevitable for at least 16 years more
if you totally understand our politics and politicians at home, you'll understand that the diff btw jonathan, atiku, akala, ibb, el rufai, fashola and many others, isn't much. they are all the same people from the same blood, the same system. and i can assure you that this defective system is ready to stay for the next 16 years.

cre8tivity:

@beaf, sorry to bust your bubble, your next president (yoruba, hausa or igbo) in nigeria for the next 16 years are all going to be nothing but criminals, there is nothing you can do about it. if electing criminal is your concern, my advise for you is to forget it. it is inevitable for at least 16 years more
we you totally understand our politics and politicians at home, you'll understand that the diff btw jonathan, atiku, akala, ibb, el rufai, fashola and many others, isn't much. they are all the same people from the same blood, the same system. and i can assure you that this defective system is ready to stay for the next 16 years.

I have a lot of faith in Atahiru Jega. That man cannot be bullied and he has been mandated to produce credible elections, so yes! I lie awake in hope.

@ beaf, i won't focus much on Atahiru Jega, there is so much he could do. people around him will be the problem and should be the one we should direct our focus on. in nigeria, it is widely known that people around you never share the same mentality as yourself. this is why most business men in nigeria baby sit their businesses; you can never count on people around you.
election rigging could take place from both directions: either from the top or from the bottom, and politicians don't care, it is all about winning. i can assure you that this coming election will be very far from being perfect, in fact, may be it's going to be the worst election ever, because it is design this way.
election is in less than a year, Atahiru Jega was selected about 2 or 3 months ago, it is a common sense to know that Atahiru Jega will not be able to perform magic. to me, i think this is a failure that is designed in advance. please don't count on this coming election.

@beaf, are you from the north? have you noticed that noone is really talking about atiku?

cre8tivity:

@beaf, are you from the north? have you noticed that noone is really talking about atiku?

No, I'm from Delta state. What about you?
I have not noticed that noone is talking about Atiku, rather, he and IBB have been at the helm of all zoning campaigns and meetings.

Meanwhile, the Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Mr Mohammed Bello Adoke, in Abuja, on Tuesday, said zoning arrangement was unknown to the law of the land.

Speaking at a roundtable on the 2011 elections in Abuja, Adoke said zoning was unconstitutional and warned that those sponsoring it should stop overheating the polity.

This is one crucial point the discussion has missed so far. It will come in handy in any future law suit.

Please, folks, I am really very scared too that the dangerous man called IBB might end up being our next president. You guys need to understand something about Nigerian politics. Nigeria is obvious becoming too distinct country in one: The Republic of Northern Nigeria + The Republic of Southern Nigeria = One Nigeria. The One Nigeria slogan is absolutely fake only used when the North want to pacify the South to make them have a sense of belonging as they the North grab the oil proceed and give the south a hand out. Every Northerner knows that they are unproductive and contribute little or nothing to the Nation economy and the only way they can be relevant in the scheme of things in the 'One Nigeria' fake project is to remain in power which they have always believed they can get with their so called 'majority monolithic Northern vote' in elections. (Reason they are always very interested with census figures, more local government, more states in the north and less in the south so they get more seat in the senate and house of Representative as to sway decisions to their favor with the strength of such 'fake numerical strength). So every single Northerner knows quite too well that they have not benefited well from the ruler-ship of their kinsmen in 38 years YET, a Northern CANNOT and I repeat CANNOT vote a southern (Christian) candidate to the office of the President when he has option of a Northern Muslim candidate. Kai! Wa'alai Talai! Never! You guys should mark my word today!

What am I saying? The North will vote in IBB to power 50 times before they can look at Jonathan. Even if Sani Abacha rose from the dead today and says he is contesting, he will definitely get their block vote. The only thing Abacha need to do is to the emirs on the eve of the election and they will take a stand and all the Northern will only wait to hear which way they will vote from the emirs just like they wait to hear the sighting of the Ramadan moon from one source and they will queue up. IBB himself understands these tricks realities well and that is what he is relying on. He will definitely exploit them. I wont be surprised if he becomes the next president. It is a sad thing for our country to have him as a democratic President but what do we do? Everybody should start to think? What do we do to stop IBB? Nothing! So so sad! Again I must say that I dont know Jonathan's plans if he is ready to fight IBB hands down. He has the machinery to do that but will he? This is the simple truth in matter!!!

^
Carry your fear go anoda place jare!
There is nothing like "the North", it doesn't exist; just as much as "the South" doesn't exist. The politics of the day keeps showing it over and over, the hostilities in Plateau and Adamawa keep emphasising it, the Middle Belt keeps screaming that they have been conned and cheated. . .

IBB is more likely to end up in jail, than he is to becoming a presidential candidate, talkless of president.

cre8tivity:

do not forget that jonathan became our president today only because of zoning arrangement. and zoning was recognized up until yaradua died.
jonathan himself will even agree that zoning was in place when he became the vp and in fact it was part of the plans why he was picked as the vp.

Before i say anything here, can you do me the favour of explaining what you mean by the text in bold?

Atiku hails Northern governors
National News Jul 27, 2010
Share | By Henry Umoru
— FORMER Vice President Atiku Abubakar, yesterday, hailed the position of the northern state governors supporting the zoning arrangement of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, describing their actions as uncommon courage and patriotism to the country.
According to Atiku Abubakar, by voting overwhelmingly for zoning, the governors had given all segments of the country a sense of belonging, just as he noted that it was sad and unfortunate that the issue had been politicized by those he termed dishonest and selfish politicians.

Atiku who called for an end to the zoning debate, however, advised state and federal governments to devote their energies and resources to real governance and provision of democratic dividends to the people.

In a statement from his media office in Abuja, the former presidential candidate of the Action Congress, AC, who recently returned to the PDP, said: “The zoning policy protects minority groups against domination by the majority. In a country as heterogeneous and complex as Nigeria, the zoning policy will ensure fairness and equity in the distribution of political offices.

“We must cultivate the culture of honouring agreements in this country. We will not make progress in this country if our actions are driven simply by convenience.”

Of course he can contest,cross carpeting is legal not illegal
But cre8tivity is kinda right
Let Jonathan announce whether he will run or not then we shall see what those northern folks would do
And if zoning is discarded,jonathan runs he shall fall in the primaries
No way this bogus man would still be in aso rock in 2011 maybe in the council of state meeting as a former president
Assuming he wins(which he will never btw) from 2011-2015 he would still run again 2015-2019 getting 9 years of presidency and wasting our money for 9 years,
It is annoying seeing people say zoning is unconstitutional when we know it is and it is a pdp affair so STFO

Beaf:

^
Carry your fear go anoda place jare!
There is nothing like "the North", it doesn't exist; just as much as "the South" doesn't exist. The politics of the day keeps showing it over and over, the hostilities in Plateau and Adamawa keep emphasising it, the Middle Belt keeps screaming that they have been conned and cheated. . .

IBB is more likely to end up in jail, than he is to becoming a presidential candidate, talkless of president.

You must not know the north, it'll always stay as one, northerners have strong bonds, even in adamawa, you should go and see the way fulani people live with christian minorities, peacfully! A christian minority from the north would rather see a hausa speaking northern president than jonathan, after all, who is he closer to, the hausa fulani man or the ijaw man?? most of these christian minorities speak hausa as a first language!!

I've figured out your tricks, you and a seemingly aggressive southern media want to use the divide and conquer tactic to break the north's political power by insisting on separate identities for different groups in the north. IT WON'T WORK! IT CANT WORK

In the south, or south south per say, you have this problem of ethnic nationalities, ijaw, urhobo, itsekiri etc there are no "ethnic" nationalities in the north, See, I'll let you in on a little secret, in your history, you had little contact with each other, and when you did, it was conflict driven which is why you have thing like IJAW NATION, in the north, its just Arewa which in Hausa means North (all inclusive) Also The hausa fulani had extensive contact with the minorities in the region and a social order was established long before European contact so everyone knows the history and knows and accepts the hausa fulani people as the dominant group in the region, they've overlorded the area (up to Kogi, Okenne etc) for centuries and you feel your divide and conquer move will upturn all that history? That is naiveté of the highest order. The truth is, even the "middle belters have assumed a northern identity, in Jos their monarchy is based on the emirate system, they wear the clothes you find on any northerners back, the same type of caps, they eat the same food. Mr. Beaf, food for thought!

before people get excersized over the unity of the North they should remember that 10 State Governors voted for Zoning while 7 voted for against zoning and then 1 was undecided and the other one did not attend the summit.

So there is a clear division.