150 Northern Leaders Insist on 2011 Presidency
From Emmanuel Bello and Chuks Okocha in Abuja, 06.18.2010
In a deft move to counter the alleged ambition of Presi-dent Goodluck Jonathan in 2011, no fewer than 150 top politicians from the North converged on Abuja last night to strategise on how to enforce the contentious zoning of presidency to the North.

The leaders insisted that the North should produce the President in 2011 based on the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) zoning arrangement, which they claimed had ceded power to the region till 2015.

They, however, said the meeting was not targeted against any individual, apparently referring to President Jonathan.

In attendance at the meeting among others were former military President Ibrahim Babangida, former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar, National Security Adviser, General Aliyu Gusau, Mallam Adamu Ciroma, Gen. David Jemibewon, Gen. Mohammed Magoro, Air Cmdr. Hamza Abdullahi and former PDP Chairman Audu Ogbeh.

THISDAY gathered that only one agenda was up for deliberation at the meeting, and it centred on how the North will reclaim power and keep it till 2015.

A sub-issue at the meeting was how the North will negotiate with other regions to ensure that the “gentleman's agreement” is respected.

At the end of the meeting, the leaders set up three committees to work on the contact and mobilization of other zones and stakeholders in the country to back their position.

Proponents of zoning claimed that former President Olusegun Obasanjo had done the South’s two terms of eight years based on the agreement and that the North is expected to produce the president for eight years till 2015, notwithstanding the death of President Umaru Musa Yar’Adua on May 6, 2010 after three years on the saddle.

Yesterday’s parley was the first time the pro-zoning forces would make public their meetings. There have been reported cases of similar meetings in some parts of the North to prefect plans on how to stop Jonathan’s aspiration.

The meeting, which held at the Shehu Musa Yar’Adua Centre, Abuja, started around 8 pm and was attended by five delegates from each of the 19 states of the North.

At the end of the meeting at about 11.20pm, former Senate President Prof. Iyorcha Ayu flanked by Babangida and Atiku addressed the press.

Ayu said yesterday's meeting was not targeted against any individual or zone but that it is an effort at strengthening national cohesion and peace.

He said no fewer than 150 political leaders from the North were at the meeting.

According to him, the aim is to prevail on concerned individuals and groups to respect the agreed template on zoning.

He said three committees were constituted to among other things reach out to the other geopolitical zones for "mobilisation."
The committees will be chaired by Ciroma, Magaji Dambatta and Prof. Ignatius Ayua.

On the issue of consensus candidate, he said "it is too premature to speak on that."

http://www.thisdayonline.com/nview.php?id=176119

Why is Jonathan's interest in contesting or not a factor?

They seem to have the capacity to call meetings. Let them present those they think can do a better job than Jonathan and start campaigning for those individuals.

Why do they have to wait for Jonathan to say whether he is interested or not?

Nigerian politics is shamefully ridiculous.

It is Jonathan's right to contest or not, he has a right to make himself available. Let all those who have other ideas present an alternative candidate. and then Nigerians will choose.

Thats what elections are for.

Nairaland fake militants,see what you are up against.

Thisday again? How come the other newspapers didn't get this 'exclusive' of a meeting of 150 people? We are back in the Abacha era, phantoms and all. Rubbish.

stormm:

Thisday again? How come the other newspapers didn't get this 'exclusive' of a meeting of 150 people? We are back in the Abacha era, phantoms and all. Rubbish.

keep dreaming.enjoy your delusions its a free world

i will not be happy if jonathan allows himself to be used by obasanjo.
before this time, we all know about the pdp zoning arrangements that brought obasanjo and yar adua to power respectively.
it is always 2 terms of 4 yrs each unless where the president tries to get third term for himself.
jonathan, jonathan, jonathan, u have not done anything so far to attract my vote so fighting or dying to be the next president will not worth it.
remember, all that glisters are not gold. do not allow ur goodluck to turn to badluck.
i wonder why an old man will sit at home and continue using others like tools.

@chidichris
hope you are not the son of babangida the evil genius sorry the drug baron because the way you are campaigning against jonathan is too muchhhhhhhh

2011 will be fun

My point is if Northern leaders feel like this then what would make southerners think they would stick to Zoning in the first place?

Its time southerners START PUSHING TOWARDS FEDERALSIM.

O yea I think Obj has played the game before and knew how the north was probably lying anyway.

Zoning was always a lie- from the beginning.
If Zoning was genuine on the northerners part they would Jonthan to become president for atealst One term and then the presidency would be Zoned back to the North.

But they arent being genuine.

sjeezy8:

My point is if Northern leaders feel like this then what would make southerners think they would stick to Zoning in the first place?

Its time southerners START PUSHING TOWARDS FEDERALSIM.

True, true federalism is the way out of this mess (assuming we stick together as one Nigeria).

The real problem here is that Northerners speak with one voice (like they've just demonstrated here), while the South characteristically plays chop-alone, die-alone politics.

Whose interest are these northern leaders protecting? Northerners or themselves?
I think they are selfish.

Naija journalist lol


Names please?

We only see those who "attended"