2011 presidential race:Lamido, Nyako, Wamakko Form New Front
Governor Sule Lamido
North Central Lawmakers Say ‘NO’ to Jonathan
A new dimension was introduced to the 2011 presidential contest at the weekend when the governors of Jigawa, Adamawa and Sokoto, met in Sokoto and came up with a resolution to form a group that will halt the growing divide in the ruling Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) over the zoning principle of the party.
Sunday Trust gathered last night that only the three governors: Malam Sule Lamido, Admiral Murtala Nyako, and Alhaji Magatakarda Wamakko, were at the meeting. Our reporter gathered that former President Olusegun Obasanjo was supposed to be at the meeting, but it was not clear why he was not in attendance.
A source close to one of the governors told Sunday Trust that though Governors Lamido and Nyako went to Sokoto in the pretext of paying a solidarity visit to their counterpart, over the floods that devastated Sokoto communities, the main objective was to discuss issues related to the presidential contest, especially as it had become apparent that the ruling PDP had been sharply polarized along regional lines, and stood the risk of losing next year’s elections.
It would be recalled that the Northern Political Leaders Forum (NPLF), which is headed by a former Finance Minister, Malam Adamu Ciroma, has insisted that the PDP’s presidential flag bearer should come from the northern region, while the South-South group, led by Chief Edwin Clark, has claimed that President Gooluck Jonathan should fly the party’s flag in continuation of the Yar’adua/Jonathan ticket of 2007.
It was not clear if the governors are rooting for a northern presidential aspirant or working for President Jonathan.
A communiqué signed by the three governors last Friday at the end of the meeting said they would strive to reach out to other governors and stakeholders in a move to restore the coherence of the PDP as a platform for national unity and stability. The communiqué read: “As PDP Governors, we are concerned about the cohesion of the party as a platform for national unity and stability.
“As Governors, we shall do all within our power to ensure that the family togetherness of the party across all divides is maintained.
“To this end, we shall continue to reach out to all stakeholders with a view to achieving the desired objective. The visiting Governors condoled and commiserated with the Governor and people of Sokoto state over the recent flood disaster.
“Our next meeting will be held in Adamawa State. Sunday Trust gathered that at the next meeting scheduled for the next two weeks the governors planned to bring governors on board.
Meanwhile, President Goodluck Jonathan presidential campaign team will be in Dutse, the capital of Jigawa state today. The team will meet the party stakeholders to seek for their support to Jonathan during forthcoming general elections, Sunday Trust can report.
Findings indicated that the team will meet with stakeholders of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), including the state Governor, Alhaji Sule Lamido. Our correspondent observed that arrangements for a warmly and colourful reception of the President Goodluck presidential campaign.
Brand new vehicles painted with President Goodluck/Lamido political posters flooded the state three days ahead of the visit, the development which created confusion.
Impressions of political analysts concerning the visit, Sunday Trust observed also vary as to whether the state Governor, Alhaji Sule Lamis has made a u-turn on the issue of presidential aspirant.
Meanwhile, General Ibrahim Babangida said in Katsina yesterday that there is no going back on the zoning principle of the PDP because it’s an established rule sworn to be adhered with by all the party members in the country.
Speaking to newsmen during his campaign tour to Katsina over the weekend, the former President said argument over superiority of the constitution does not hold water because the rotation principles also drive their authority and power from the constitution.
He said, every political party has the constitutional powers to make rules and regulations governing its conduct as PDP did over zoning, and so their argument is simply hinged on the need to obey these laid down rules and regulation established as the guiding philosophy of the party.
“All what people are saying, you made the rule then obey the rule, if you don’t like it again go to the same process, call a convention and jettisoned it, but the convention has not been held, it has not been jettisoned, so play by the rule, that all”
On the recent executive bill killed by the national assembly the former President said the bill may not be good for the country that’s why the national assembly, which is the highest law making body in the country, also rejected it.
“I think it’s simple, Senate and the House of Representatives are the lawmakers for this country, even you can propose a private persons bill, if it’s good for the country they will adopt it, if it’s not they throw it out” he pointed. The former President who went round to seek for support from people of the state promised to open up the economy to be a private sector-driven and also ensure a strong united Nigeria that will be at peace with itself and other nations of the world.
“We shall ensure a strong united Nigeria, a rich and prosperous nation where every person, irrespective of his gender, religion or tribe will have an opportunity to develop his own capacity,” he said, describing the various ethno-religious crisis that bedeviled the country as part of the development processes undergone by every developing nation
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