The coast is becoming clearer by the day for the Nigerian President Goodluck Jonathan bid to contest in the next year’s presidential election if he eventually declares, with the latest nudge from the Benue state caucus of the National Assembly (NASS) calling on him to vie for the election under the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).The green light to the president, coming at the heels of unanimous beckoning on him by the northern governors under the aegis of Northern Governors Forum (NGF) to run in next year’s presidential election, reflects the Benue lawmakers affirmative stance by declaring their support for him to contest the 2011 presidential election and not part of controversial zoning formula of PDP which violates his right to vie for an elective post in contrast to the Nigeria’s constitution.
The caucus which has the Senate President David Mark as its most prominent official agrees with the position of the Benue state governor, Gabriel Suswan on the matter.
Addressing the press in the House of Representatives on Wednesday, July 28, the caucus led by Senator Joseph Akargerger, says their position follows adequate consultation with all principal stake holders of the Peoples Democratic Party, (PDP) and the Benue people.
The South-South governors have on Monday backed the president to run having kicked against zoning which they described as unconstitutional. The call to the president to declare his intention at the South- South Governors' Forum in Port-Harcourt ahead of yesterday’s NGF meeting was held to pave way for Jonathan to run.
The argument whether Jonathan will run or not has been dragging for a long time brought about by opposition by the north, advancing zoning arrangement in PDP against his presidential bid.
The agenda of the meeting, tagged "Dynamics of the 2011 Presidential Election in Nigeria" intended to pave a way for President Jonathan who is yet to declare his intentions for the 2011 elections, to run for the post of president next year.
Delegates, elders and opinion leaders from the region has earlier urged other zones of the country to identify with the presidential aspiration of Jonathan and jettison the current zoning formula within the PDP.
The nineteen northern governors yesterday put aside the controversial zoning and unanimously asked the president to contest the 2011 presidential election.
Speaking after a meeting in Kaduna on Tuesday, July 27, the Forum acknowledged the right of President Jonathan and indeed any other Nigerian to legitimately and constitutionally contest the 2011 presidential election.
In a communique issued by the Chairman of the Forum and Niger state governor, Dr. Muazu Aliyu says that the Forum recognizes the fact that the issue of zoning is a Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) affair as contained in section 7 sub-section 2c of the party constitution.
"Therefore, in acknowledging the circumstances of force majeure arising from the demise of late President Musa Yar'Adua and subsequent ascendance of President Goodluck Jonathan to the presidency, the forum resolved 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" NGF said.
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