northern and south south governors endorse Goodluke Ebele Jonathan to contest for 2011 election and neglect Zoning

Seventeen out of the 19 governors in the Northern part of the country on Tuesday openly disagreed on the zoning of political offices by the Peoples Democratic Party.

Ten of the governors voted for the adoption of the policy for the 2011 poll , while seven others opposed its use during their meeting in Kaduna.

The pro-zoning governors are Alhaji Ibrahim Shema(Katsina); Alhaji Mahmud Shinkafi(Zamfara); Alhaji Aliyu Wamakko(Sokoto); Alhaji Usman Dakingari(Kebbi); Alhaji Mohammed Goje (Gombe); Alhaji Sule Lamido(Jigawa); Dr. Babangida Aliyu(Niger); Dr. Bukola Saraki (Kwara); Alhaji Modu Sheriff (Borno); and Alhaji Ibrahim Shakarau (Kano).

The seven governors that voted against zoning were Mr. Gabriel Suswam(Benue); Alhaji Ibrahim Idris (Kogi); Mr. Jonah Jang (Plateau); Mr. Patrick Yakowa (Kaduna); Alhaji Murtala Nyako(Adamawa); Alhaji Danbaba Suntai (Taraba) and Alhaji Aliyu Doma (Nasarawa).

They were said to have argued that zoning was the only way to move the country forward.

But all the 17 governors were said to have agreed that President Goodluck Jonathan, like every other qualified Nigerian, had the right to contest the 2011 poll.

Yobe State Governor Ibrahim Geidam reportedly abstained from voting, while his Bauchi State counterpart, Alhaji Isa Yuguda, was not represented due to the death of the Emir of Bauchi.

Yuguda is well known to have openly canvassed for the dumping of zoning.

Shekarau and the governor of Sheriffwere elected on the platform of the All Nigerian Peoples Party.

Shakarau, who is campaigning to be the ANPP presidential candidate, had before now canvassed against zoning.

One of the governors said on the telephone that there was a heated argument among governors and other political figures on zoning before the issue was put to vote.

The governor said, “The atmosphere at the meeting was very tense. There were those who insisted that the zoning was selfish and not in the interest of the country.

“However, there were those who also felt that it was wrong to abandon it now when a section of the country had already benefited.

“Some said that it was wrong that we should expect the President (Dr. Goodluck Jonathan) to retire to now, when he has just assumed the leadership of the country.

“Also, there were those who asked us where the Vice-President, Alhaji Namadi Sambo, if we go for zoning.

“Then, there are those who also said that the President had been magnanimous to the governors by choosing one of us as his deputy after the death of President Umaru Yar’Adua and that this was the time for us to support him.

“At the end of these arguments, we decided to put it to vote. Ten supported zoning where seven opposed it.”

A meeting by governors on July 1 the issue had ended in a statemate.

Before they dispersed, they had agreed to reconvene on July 27 with their postions on the controversial issue.

Tuesday’s meeting which was held under the aegis of the Northern Governors Forum came barely two weeks after a Northern political forum argued against zoning.

The 17 governors, in a communiqué at the end of their six-hour meeting, said that wider consultations with all stakeholders in the PDP should on zoning continue across the country.

Their Chairman, Alhaji Babangida Aliyu, who read the statement, said they agreed that zoning remained a PDP affair.

The statement reads in part, “The special meeting of the NGF was held sequel to the resolve made during its meeting of 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 position on the matter.

“The forum then noted that the desired wider consultations with stakeholders had taken place and various positions had been taken by respective states.

“The forum acknowledges the right of President Jonathan, and indeed, any other Nigerian to legitimately and constitutionally contest for the office of the President.

“On zoning, the forum recognises the fact that the issue is a PDP affair as contained in section 7(2c) of the party constitution.

“Therefore, in acknowledging the circumstances of force Majure arising from the demise of the late President Yar’adua and subsequent ascendency of Dr. 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 co-existence and advancement of democracy in our dear country, Nigeria.”

Meanwhile, a former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar, has commended the outcome of the northern governors meeting on zoning.

Atiku described the outcome as a demonstration of uncommon courage and patriots.

A statement by his media office in Abuja, said that the governors have given all segments of Nigeria a sense of belonging through their action.

The statement reads, “The zoning policy protects minority groups against domination by the majority,” Atiku said.

“In a country as heterogeneous and complex as Nigeria, the zoning policy will ensure fairness and equity in the distribution of political offices.”

Atiku said it was sad that the issue had been politicised by dishonest and selfish politicians.

“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,” Abubakar added.

He called for a closure on the zoning debate and advised state and federal governments to devote their energies and resources to real governance.

The struggle for political power at the center is always a struggle b/w Nigerian moslems and Christians. The voting pattern among the Nothern governors clearly shows this.Those with a sizeable christian population are saying yes . Others are saying no. The personalties here IBB/GJ hardly relevant.