NOTWITHSTANDING the clamour among some Northern leaders that President Goodluck Jonathan should not contest the 2011 election in deference to the zoning formula of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), groups canvassing for a Jonathan Presidency in 2011 are already flooding the 19 northern states of the federation.

The groups, according to sources, have been formally established in each of the 19 states of the North with coordinators.

However, while some of the groups are still operating from the background, two of them, Goodluck 2011(G-2011) and the Goodluck Solidarity Movement (GSM) have been operating openly in the states of the North.

Officials and coordinators of the G-2011 in the 19 Northern states were said to have held a crucial meeting at the Zaranda Hotel, Bauchi on Saturday.

It was gathered that the groups, which claimed not to have direct links with the Presidency so far are being funded by members and some politicians who believed that their efforts at installing Dr. Goodluck Jonathan as Nigeria’s President in the next general election will yield fruits.

Sources in Zamfara, Sokoto, Kebbi, Borno, Platueau and Kaduna states confirmed that different pro-Jonathan/Sambo groups are already operating in the states.

It was gathered that the GSM group is strongly operating in Pateau/Bauchi/Benue axis, while the Goodluck 2011 is firmly operating in Bauchi and 11 other states.

A source who has been monitoring the operating of the groups said that they are presently at the level of recruiting members and setting up the organizational structures.

It was gathered that the groups are of the view that Jonathan should contest the 2011 election, notwithstanding the said zoning arrangement.

A leader of one of the groups, who confirmed the existence of his organization in the 19 states of the North, said that the operations will soon be replicated in the southern states.

He said that he could not speak officially to the press for now because the organization was still “setting up.”

“We have our presence in all the 19 states of the North as at present. We are soon moving to the states of the Southern West and South East as well as South South. Though, we have the micro-teams of our members in all the 36 states as we talk, we are still setting up,” the group’s leader said, adding that their objective is to deliver a Jonathan/Sambo presidency in 2011.

“We don’t believe that a gentleman’s agreement within the PDP should deny Nigerians of a good material as President. We also believe that the said zoning arrangement has never worked.

“Take for instance, in 2003, former President Olusegun Obasanjo deployed his political wizardry to disarm the then Vice President Atiku Abubakar, who had rallied the governors to his side. Obasanjo went ahead to win his second term because of his tactical moves.

“In 2007, former Governor Peter Odili was poised to win the PDP Presidential ticket but he was prevailed on by Obasanjo to allow Yar’Adua emerge. All these years, candidates from the North have never left the scene to those from the South in line with the said zoning arrangement. So, we are calling on Dr. Jonathan to contest the next election. He has started well and Nigerians are impressed,” the group’s leader said.

It was also gathered that top opinion molders from the North have been consistent in their message to President Jonathan, since he emerged acting President in February.
A team of leaders of the Arewa Consultative Forum (ACF) was said to have told Jonathan in January that the North would back him for Presidency in 2011 if he performs in office.

It was, however, gathered that the North is seeking a forum which will enable it extract a commitment from Jonathan that he will only stay in office till 2015.

A source said that the calculation in the North is that since Jonathan has been sworn-in as President in May 2010, he can only be sworn-in only once more as the constitution guarantees that a person can only take the oath of office of president or governor only twice.

It was gathered that Northern leaders who were mandated to liaise with Jonathan are already seeking avenues to meet him over the matter.

“Once he agrees to return power to the North in 2015, the zone will not hesitate to back him for 2011, afterall, that would have afforded the South South the opportunity of tasting power at the highest level,” a source  said in Abuja on Saturday.

Sources also confirmed that loyalists of the late President Umaru Yar’Adua are falling over themselves to support the presidential aspiration of President Jonathan in 2011.

It was gathered that the politicians have read the situation that only a Jonathan Presidency can guarantee them some measure of relevance in 2011.

It was gathered that loyalists of the late president have realized that their war against Jonathan’s emergence as acting president was needless as it later became clear that the incumbent President was never planning to disgrace the late leader out of office.

Former Attorney General of the Federation (AGF) and Minister of Justice, Mr. Mike Aondoakaa had said in an interview that the best material for the presidency in 2011 is Goodluck Jonathan.

He said that zoning was unconstitutional and that it would amount to an infringement on the constitutional rights of individual citizens.

“Those you call members of the old cabal  appeared to have realized that their fear over Jonathan was unfounded and that the man was never planning to disgrace Yar’Adua from office. Now they have each sent words to him that they would back his presidency in 2011,” a source said.

http://www.tribune.com.ng/sun/index.php/news/1231-2011-jonathans-campaign-kicks-off-in-the-northtwo-groups-emerge-north-plans-crucial-talks-with-president-yaraduas-loyalists-fall-in-line

if idi amin of uganda, saddam hussien of iraq, abacha of nigeria had supporters, what more goodluck?
at the end of the day, nigeria continues its round about system of movement development wise.
what has goodluck to show for his time as the gov of bayelsa state, the vice president of nigeria, acting president and finally the president of nigeria.
like obasanjo like goodluck.