Contrary to the declaration by President Goodluck Jonathan that he would run for only one term, his kinsmen have insisted that he has no option than to contest the 2015 presidential election.

Prominent Ijaw leaders and south-south elders last week met in Lagos for two days during which they deliberated on the 2015 presidential election and the way forward for the region.

The meeting, which was held at the Civic Centre, Lagos, reportedly had in attendance the National Security Adviser, General Andrew Azazi, Ijaw leader Chief Edwin Clark, Niger Delta Volunteer Force leader Mujahid Asari Dokubo, special adviser to the president on Niger Delta, Mr. Kingsley Kuku, permanent secretary in the Ministry of Water Resources Dr. Godknows Igali, pioneer president of Ijaw Youth Council Dr. Felix Tuodolo, oil magnate Mr. Dumo Briggs, NIMASA director-general Mr. Ziakede Akpobolokemi and ex-militant Ateke Tom, among others.

The meeting, which had as its theme, “Strategic Programme for the Development and Progress of the Niger Delta”, was meant to draw attention to the development of the region, but the participants used the platform to examine the political implications of Jonathan’s declaration and the future of the region.

The details of the meeting were, however, not made public. But a source at the meeting said the leaders of the region were not leaving any stone unturned in ensuring that the region retains the presidency beyond 2015. The source said the South-South leaders expressed worry over the statement by the president that he would not go for a second term, a development that could cause a serious political setback for the region.

It was learnt that, after many of the leaders had spoken on the dangers of conceding the top political post to another region on a platter, it was resolved that Jonathan should be persuaded to run for a second term.

According to a competent source who attended the meeting, there is a compelling need for Jonathan to change his stance, so as not to mortgage the opportunity of the South-South to enjoy eight years presidency.

The source said, “Jonathan is the only person in the South-South who could run and win the presidential election in 2015.”

The meeting generally agreed that there was the need for all Niger Deltans to rally round the president to ensure his re-election in 2015.

A former president of the Ijaw National Congress (INC), the umbrella body of all Ijaws in Nigeria and in the Diaspora, Joshua Fumudoh, who attended the two-day conference, told LEADERSHIP in Port Harcourt that the meeting considered that the statement by the president at the time was meant to douse tension in the land.

Fumudoh argued that such a highly sensitive political decision could not have been taken by the president alone without recourse to the elders and leaders of the Ijaw nation and the south-south in particular as well as certain individuals and groups across the country.

The ex-INC leader and member of the PDP said the president’s “desire to serve only one tenure of four years” did not take into consideration what would happen to the remaining four years that would have been Jonathan’s second tenure.

Recalling Nigeria’s past presidents and their tenures in office, backed by the necessary constitutional provisions, Fumudoh said it would be against the principle of fairness, equity and natural justice not to allow the South-South to complete their eight years tenure.

-Leadership

http://africanspotlight.com/2012/04/2015-south-south-endorses-jonathan/

http://leadership.ng/nga/articles/21699/2012/04/11/2015_southsouth_endorses_jonathan.html

http://allafrica.com/stories/201204110685.html

Will GEJ run or not? Is it too early to start thinking about 2015? Interesting times!

A country where thugs now dictate what happens Do people now appoint presidents in Nigeria Anyways, I am sitting by the corner watching the entity called Nigeria turn into the joke it is becoming.

why in lagos

this is an ijaw only thing
soon ijaw will find out that they are a minority group in nigeria and they cannot hold the nation to ransom
for behaving like they can dictate to the rest of nigeria, jonathan will not continue in 2015
let ijaw make him president, let's see how 4 million ijaws can force 156 million nigerians to do anything
arrant nonsense!

free_soul: this is an ijaw only thing
soon ijaw will find out that they are a minority group in nigeria and they cannot hold the nation to ransom
for behaving like they can dictate to the rest of nigeria, jonathan will not continue in 2015
let ijaw make him president, let's see how 4 million ijaws can force 156 million nigerians to do anything
arrant nonsense!

This is very bigoted. So because they are "minority" (according to you),they have no rights, abi? What a shameless thing to say.

jason123:

This is very bigoted. So because they are "minority" (according to you),they have no rights, abi? What a shameless thing to say.

the bigoted thing is to call together ijaw peoples and call them "south south" people.
where are other groups in that zone?
where is itsekiri for example? soon ijaw will become south

anyway na tree go vote for jonathan? mek we de wait sha, mek 4 million ijaw make im president for 2015

My questions are:

1) Should GEJ contest, which geopolitical zones will support him?
2) Will Boko haram increase their attack so as to force sympathy votes for GEJ?
3) What about the SE? Will they support the SS again and wait for 2019?
4) If they do, by then, wouldn't the North talk to the NC about lose of power and the need to have power in the zone?
5) How will the SW vote? Will they vote for GEJ after all the recent "bruhaha"? Will they vote for the SE so as to mend political bridges? Or will they just go for it alone?
6) How will the Core-North take this?
7) If GEJ does not contest. Does it automatically go to the SE or are we actually going to have an election? What about Oshiomole? Will he represent the SS zone?

Interesting times!

jason123: My questions are:

1) Should GEJ contest, which geopolitical zones will support him?
2) Will Boko haram increase their attack so as to force sympathy votes for GEJ?
3) What about the SE? Will they support the SS again and wait for 2019?
4) If they do, by then, wouldn't the North talk to the NC about lose of power and the need to have power in the zone?
5) How will the SW vote? Will they vote for GEJ after all the recent "bruhaha"? Will they vote for the SE so as to mend political bridges? Or will they just go for it alone?
6) How will the Core-North take this?
7) If GEJ does not contest. Does it automatically go to the SE or are we actually going to have an election? What about Oshiomole? Will he represent the SS zone?

Interesting times!

ehen na now you de talk.
mscheeeeeeeeeeeeeew

free_soul:

the bigoted thing is to call together ijaw peoples and call them "south south" people.
where are other groups in that zone?
where is itsekiri for example? soon ijaw will become south

anyway na tree go vote for jonathan? mek we de wait sha, make 4 million ijaw make im president for 2015

Regardless, what you typed down was too harsh. You never know, GEJ might actually earn Nigerians' support, our support. 2015 is a very long time from now.

jason123:

Regardless, what you typed down was too harsh. You never know, GEJ might actually earn Nigerians' support, our support. 2015 is a very long time from now.

no problem
if he earn nigerians support fine though i doubt he can do that with north desperate for power, with sw hating his sluggishness and with se feeling betrayed because he told ohanaeze he was running only one term

i asked you whether ijaw is the only group in ss you did not answer
anyway sha we de watch ijaw and power play

free_soul:

no problem
if he earn nigerians support fine though i doubt he can do that with north desperate for power, with sw hating his sluggishness and with se feeling betrayed because he told ohanaeze he was running only one term

i asked you whether ijaw is the only group in ss you did not answer
anyway sha we de watch ijaw and power play

Purely from an analytical pov, I see the SE supporting him again because they have no choice (they can't go for it alone). The SE also needs the power of the incumbent to be with them.

The North, I see the NC really pushing for it and having the Core-North's support because the Core-North does not like to be isolated. Hence, I see a David-mark candidacy or a middle belter with Fulani blood.

The SW, I see them going alone . . . as always . . .probably for the "ojuyobo" (tinubu) but if they pick Fashola or Osho baba, then, the SW might produce 6-9 states block votes for anyone of them.

The SS . . .na our son o! . Although, I see edo reluctantly voting for GEJ,that is, if they vote for him at all. The reason for this is that they were the only SS state (warri included but not the whole Delta) that protested in January.

corrected

Ijaws should stop acting like Niger Delta belongs to them alone. They are not a clear majority in the South-south. There is large Igbo population, large Ibibio/Efik population, large Edo population and tens of other ethnic groups in the SS that should be included in the scheme of things.

Thanks a lot for posting this kind of idea, bookmarked and also put into my personal RSS.
Free ad post

IF JONATHAN PASS THIS OPPORTUNITY, WHEN WILL SOUTHSOUTH EVER GET THE OPPORTUNITY TO PRODUCE A TWO TERM PRESIDENT AGAIN. IN MY OPINION GEJ HAS NO CHOICE BUT TO HAVE A SECOND TERM FOR THE SOUTH SOUTH REGION.

Abagworo: Ijaws should stop acting like Niger Delta belongs to them alone. They are not a clear majority in the South-south. There is large Igbo population, large Ibibio/Efik population, large Edo population and tens of other ethnic groups in the SS that should be included in the scheme of things.

that is exactly the way i feel about this govt,they are running an ijaw only govt without carrying other niger delta tribes and SE along.that is really poor politics.

Instead of concentrating on the power of this world, why not pray to be part of GOD's Kingdom? http://heavenandhellstories..com/

Bliss4Lyfe: IF JONATHAN PASS THIS OPPORTUNITY, WHEN WILL SOUTHSOUTH EVER GET THE OPPORTUNITY TO PRODUCE A TWO TERM PRESIDENT AGAIN. IN MY OPINION GEJ HAS NO CHOICE BUT TO HAVE A SECOND TERM FOR THE SOUTH SOUTH REGION.

Not for the betterment of your life or that of your children. Okay, tell us what has the South-South region gained from GEJ.

jason123:

This is very bigoted. So because they are "minority" (according to you),they have no rights, abi? What a shameless thing to say.

He never said they have no right! He said they are too minor to dictate for Nigerian. Meaning that their votes can't make GEJ the president

rastamouse: Instead of concentrating on the power of this world, why not pray to be part of GOD's Kingdom? http://heavenandhellstories..com/

You're somehow disillusioned just like Jehovah witnesses. You live in this world yet you don't want to be part of how it is governed. And very soon, you'll have children and grand children. Heaven doesn't say you shouldn't have a say in what will affect your life and that of your lineage.

Those who gathered for the meeting were there for their self-interest, which unfortunately does not impact positively on the common people of the South-South.

GEJ should ask his Legal advisers if he can contest for Presidency in 2015, since he has already been sworn in twice into a particular executive position (2007, 2011) before he listens to sycophants masqurading themselves as genuine Niger-Delta activists

@Poster, for future case, try and apply grammar when and where it fits. Whenever a co-ordinating conjuction like 'and' is used to combine two different clauses, the verb becomes plural. Thus, the caption of your post should have been: 'prominent Ijaw leaders and south-south elders endorse(not endorses) Gej for 2015.'

Are they really sure that he will reach that year.

Was beef also at the meeting?

jason123: Contrary to the declaration by President Goodluck Jonathan that he would run for only one term, his kinsmen have insisted that he has no option than to contest the 2015 presidential election.

Prominent Ijaw leaders and south-south elders last week met in Lagos for two days during which they deliberated on the 2015 presidential election and the way forward for the region.

The meeting, which was held at the Civic Centre, Lagos, reportedly had in attendance the National Security Adviser, General Andrew Azazi, Ijaw leader Chief Edwin Clark, Niger Delta Volunteer Force leader Mujahid Asari Dokubo, special adviser to the president on Niger Delta, Mr. Kingsley Kuku, permanent secretary in the Ministry of Water Resources Dr. Godknows Igali, pioneer president of Ijaw Youth Council Dr. Felix Tuodolo, oil magnate Mr. Dumo Briggs, NIMASA director-general Mr. Ziakede Akpobolokemi and ex-militant Ateke Tom, among others.

The meeting, which had as its theme, “Strategic Programme for the Development and Progress of the Niger Delta”, was meant to draw attention to the development of the region, but the participants used the platform to examine the political implications of Jonathan’s declaration and the future of the region.

The details of the meeting were, however, not made public. But a source at the meeting said the leaders of the region were not leaving any stone unturned in ensuring that the region retains the presidency beyond 2015. The source said the South-South leaders expressed worry over the statement by the president that he would not go for a second term, a development that could cause a serious political setback for the region.

It was learnt that, after many of the leaders had spoken on the dangers of conceding the top political post to another region on a platter, it was resolved that Jonathan should be persuaded to run for a second term.

According to a competent source who attended the meeting, there is a compelling need for Jonathan to change his stance, so as not to mortgage the opportunity of the South-South to enjoy eight years presidency.

The source said, “Jonathan is the only person in the South-South who could run and win the presidential election in 2015.”

The meeting generally agreed that there was the need for all Niger Deltans to rally round the president to ensure his re-election in 2015.

A former president of the Ijaw National Congress (INC), the umbrella body of all Ijaws in Nigeria and in the Diaspora, Joshua Fumudoh, who attended the two-day conference, told LEADERSHIP in Port Harcourt that the meeting considered that the statement by the president at the time was meant to douse tension in the land.

Fumudoh argued that such a highly sensitive political decision could not have been taken by the president alone without recourse to the elders and leaders of the Ijaw nation and the south-south in particular as well as certain individuals and groups across the country.

The ex-INC leader and member of the PDP said the president’s “desire to serve only one tenure of four years” did not take into consideration what would happen to the remaining four years that would have been Jonathan’s second tenure.

Recalling Nigeria’s past presidents and their tenures in office, backed by the necessary constitutional provisions, Fumudoh said it would be against the principle of fairness, equity and natural justice not to allow the South-South to complete their eight years tenure.

-Leadership

http://africanspotlight.com/2012/04/2015-south-south-endorses-jonathan/

http://leadership.ng/nga/articles/21699/2012/04/11/2015_southsouth_endorses_jonathan.html

http://allafrica.com/stories/201204110685.html

Listen to set of arm robbers,calling themselves leaders

Na for dream he go enter second term' let him survive dis one first. They, ijaw don't enter one chance.

Na for dream he go enter second term' let him survive dis one first. They ijaw, don't enter one chance.

No wonder we are not feeling the impact of the NSO,he has aboudant his duty post for tribal politiking ,no wonder CAN is calling for his sack.

Here we go again.....! But then, did anyone believe the president when he said he would only be going for a single term

All these ethnic thugs are hurting the image of the president, the earlier he stamp his authority on them, the better. If he can fulfil a quarter of the promises he made during the 2011 electioneering campaign. am okay by that.