The Yoruba Council of Elders and Bayelsa State Governor, Chief Timipre Sylva on Tuesday declared their support for President Goodluck Jonathan towards his bid for the 2011 presidential election.



During a press conference in Lagos, the President of YCE, Gen. Adeyinka Adebayo (retd); the Secretary, Chief Idowu Sofola (SAN); and the National Publicity Secretary, Chief Oluyemi Falade, noted that since the constitution does not prevent the President from running for the presidency in 2011, nobody should use zoning to stall his ambition.



The group said that if Yar‘Adua were alive; he (the late president) would have been entitled to second term in office.



YCE stated that its concern was that Nigerians should be given the option of choosing who led them.



The group said that a situation where any aspirant was forced out of the race would not be accepted.



It said, “No one should be cajoled out of the race, we want the best for the country, the Yoruba race is interested in who rules the country, so that, the region won’t be marginalised. Our concern is that Nigeria should be a better place.



”We believe President Jonathan and the Vice President Namadi Sambo should be free to contest as President and Vice-President respectively. We believe this will strengthen the solidarity of the North and South politically and economically.”



YCE also proposed that to run the nation better, the parliamentary system of government should be adopted, saying the system was less expensive.



Also, Sylva, in Yenagoa, said that since the President came to power, he had been campaigning for his election for a full tenure in 2011.



The governor blamed the misconception on unnamed mischief makers and politicians who felt threatened by the smooth relationship and mutual trust and love that existed between him and the president.



The state Commissioner for Information, Strategy and Orientation, Mr. Nathan Egba, said in Yenagoa that the facts on ground pointed to Sylva’s support for the Jonathan’s presidential bid.



He said, “All official records available attest to this fact. While addressing the 6th Session of the State Executive Council meeting on the 19th of May, Sylva said all Bayelsans should stand together to give total support to President Goodluck Jonathan.



“It is note worthy that at several other EXCO sessions and important public fora, Governor Sylva had never ceased to canvass support for Mr. President, even when the zoning debate was raging.”


http://www.punchng.com/Articl.aspx?theartic=Art201009012455053

I thought sylva and GED were not in good terms.