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.
We 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."
When asked if the agenda of the meeting is to pave the way for the emergence of a Northern candidate, he queried, “what is wrong with that,” adding “after all, the person who was president between 1999 to 2007 was not a Northerner.”
President Jonathan in an interview with CNN’s Christine Amanpour during his visit to the United States in April had refused to categorically rule himself out of the 2011 race.
Since then some politicians in the North have been strategising on how to stop the president’s alleged ambition.
One of the strategies is to impress it on Jonathan that the zoning formula should be respected.
But recently prominent leaders of the South-south had moved to back Jonathan, saying they would mobilise the whole of the South and North for him.
Various groups have also continued to advocate for Jonathan presidency in 2011.
They point to the manner of his emergence and the fact that he enjoys global acceptance as president.
Jonathan has, however, said he is committed to conducting a free and fair election.
His appointment of Professor Attahiru Jega as INEC chairman-designate is seen as a step in this direction.
Others at yesterday’ meeting included Alhaji Lawal Kaita, Alhaji Saleh Hassan, Alhaji Nuhu Aliyu, Mohammed Goni, MD Yusuf, Senator Maitama Bello Yusuf, Jibrin Maigari, Ibrahim Isa Kaita, Sulieman Isyaku, Ezekiel Ibrahim, Yahaya Kwande, Shaba Lafiagi, Patrick Adaba and Bello Kurfi.
Others were Sen. Mohammed Ahmed, Sen. Zainab Kure, Senator Iyorchia Ayu, lliya Gada and Alhaji Salisu Ibrahim.
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