THE Peoples Democratic Party rose from an overnight meeting on Wednesday morning without reaching a consensus on whether to support President Goodluck Jonathan’s presidential ambition.



They also failed to agree on whether to support any other aspirant for the race during the meeting that coincided with the one held by the PDP National Chairman, Dr. Okwesilieze Nwodo, with the state chairmen of the party.



The governors met after they were hosted in the Presidential Villa, Abuja by Jonathan, who intimated them about his ambition.



The meeting, which was held at the Kwara State Lodge, Asokoro, Abuja, was presided over by the Chairman of the Governors Forum, who is also the Governor of Kwara State, Dr. Bukola Saraki.



Sources close to the meeting told our correspondent that the governors took time to comment on their earlier meeting with the President.



It was learnt that all the governors from the South-South and the South-West expressed their support for the President’s aspiration.



However, a governor from the South-West was said to have advised that he would prefer that they (the South-West governors) extracted a word of promise from Jonathan before throwing their weight behind his ambition.



The governor was said to have called the attention of his colleagues to the way the President allegedly ignored the names of their nominees as ministers.



Not only that, he was also said to have informed his colleagues, especially those seeking a second term in office, to let the President be aware of their ambition.



One of our sources, who asked not to be named said, “The governor said it was apparent that some people don’t like the President with the way they have been positioning some people to take over from us even when some of us are seeking a second term ticket.



“He cited a particular state where a godfather is bent on removing the governor and installing his benefactor, which he said was not good enough because the President needs us.”



It was also leant that some governors from the North insisted that the region should be allowed to complete the tenure of the late President Umaru Yar’Adua.



A governor from the North-Central reportedly asked if any of his colleagues was interested in the race. But none of them was said to have openly shown interest.



The question, according to another source, was said to have particularly been directed at Saraki, but the Kwara State govenor was non-committal in his response.



“The question was thrown at him because of his perceived antagonism to the President’s ambition, surprisingly, he did not answer in a favourable way,’ the source added.



Among the northern governors said to be opposed to Jonathan’s ambition are those of Katsina, Zamfara, Kebbi and Sokoto states.



Asked why it was so, the source said such a position was unexpected because they had voted in favour of zoning when the Northern governors met in Kaduna recently.



Our correspondent further learnt that governors Jonah Jang (Plateau) and Gabriel Suswan (Benue) particularly asked their colleagues to support Jonathan.



At the end of the meeting, none of the governors volunteered to speak with the few journalists that monitored the meeting.



However, the Governor of Oyo State, Chief Adebayo Alao-Akala, said that he and his colleagues had agreed not to speak with journalists concerning the outcome of the meeting.



No statement was also issued, but Saraki sent one of his aides to the journalists to inform them that he would not be briefing them.



But some governors were said to have met after the enlarged meeting to further discuss the matter.



Apart from Saraki and Alao-Akala, other governors at the meeting were Dr. Emmanuel Uduaghan (Delta); Bauchi, Obong Godswill Akpabio (Akwa-Ibom); Bauchi, Mr. Timipre Sylva (Bayelsa); Mr. Gabriel Suswan (Benue); Mr. Liyel Imoke (Cross River), Chief Martin Elechi (Ebonyi); and Mr. Segun Oni (Ekiti);



Others were Mr. Sullivan Chime (Enugu); Mr. Ikedi Ohakim (Imo); (Jigawa) Alh. Sule Lamido; (Kaduna) Mr. Patrick Yakowa; (Kastina) Alhaji Ibrahim Shema; Alhaji Sai’du Dakingari (Kebbi) Alhaji Aliyu Doma; Nasarawa; Chief Gbenga Daniel(Ogun); Prince Olagunsoye Oyinlola (Oyo); Mr. Rotimi Amaechi (Rivers); Alhaji Aliyu Wamakko (Sokoto); danbaba Suntai (Taraba) and Alhaji Aliyu Shinkafi (Zamfara).



The deputy governors of Niger and Taraba States also attended the meeting.



Nwodo was said to have sought the understanding of the PDP chairmen as the party prepares to release its guidelines for the 2011 general elections.



He was also said to have asked the chairmen to be impartial in their handling of the party’s affairs.


http://www.punchng.com/Articl.aspx?theartic=Art20100826531745

Dear Mr. President! Pls do not beg men, concentrate on GOD. Most of this Gov. are not credible in their respective states, do not let them tie the success as a condition, all you need to do is to ensure there is no election malpractises. Nigerians credible and majority will vote for you and you will emerge as the next President. Most of the serving Govs. that want to turn to your God were as good as yesterday. Declare now, majority Nigerians are waiting for your pronouncement. DO NOW

true talk, seconded

zionsown:

It was also leant that some governors from the North insisted that the region should be allowed to complete the tenure of the late President Umaru Yar’Adua.

A governor from the North-Central reportedly asked if any of his colleagues was interested in the race. But none of them was said to have openly shown interest.

The question, according to another source, was said to have particularly been directed at Saraki, but the Kwara State govenor was non-committal in his response.

“The question was thrown at him because of his perceived antagonism to the President’s ambition, surprisingly, he did not answer in a favourable way,’ the source added.

Lol this is funny-
So those opposed to Jonathan want BUKOLA SARAKI to contest as president in 2011?

This is crazy . . . . LOL and people Expect BUKOLA SARAKI, not to contest in 2015?

What if it was Goodluck Jonathan who died?. Will Yar'dua not have contested come 2011?. 4 + 4 = 8 years.

Mr. President I know a company that can help you win the elections; 080 advertising. Get your winning tools go to http://www.080advertising.com

lol, nonsense governors

The governors are mostly only after their second tenure interest. If a goat assures them of getting that they would follow the goat. So it's a matter of time.

wales:


“He cited a particular state where a godfather is bent on removing the governor and installing his benefactor, which he said was not good enough because the President needs us.”

other governors at the meeting were Dr. Emmanuel Uduaghan (Delta);

If the useless anonymous governor was referring to Uduaghan,let it be known now that Uduaghan has no real political structures on ground in Delta state,majority of Deltans;both at home and in the diaspora WANT UDUAGHAN OUT of government house Asaba.We're tired of autocratic deespots camouflaging in democratic attire.A governor who has been all and all and wants to remain so,whose commisioners are useless as they cannot approve any project budget that is above 5 million naira,a governor who suddenly transformed from being a second grade medical practicioner in Warri to a multi billionaire is not who we need.He did 3 yrs as an SSG(under Ibori,after the loquacious Ighoyota Amori was ousted),and 4yrs as a selfish,looting gvernor.E don do

Jonathan should NOT concede anything to Uduaghan in the form of assurances for a second term of office,we have other qualified Deltans even apart from Omo-Agege,Kpokpogri,Okocha and Orubebe