AHEAD of the April general elections, eight Peoples Democratic Party {PDP} governors from the South-South and South East geo-political zones met yesterday in Asaba, the Delta State capital to strategise for President Goodluck Jonathan's victory at the polls.
Earlier at the weekend, governors of the South eastern states and new political groups in the zone had begun callin on the people to vote massively for President Jonathan in the forthcoming general elections.
Yesterday's meeting which was hosted by Delta State Governor Emmanuel Uduaghan was attended by seven other fellow PDP governors from Abia, Cross River, Bayelsa, Ebonyi, Akwa Ibom and Enugu states. The gathering also witnessed the presence of Governor Peter Obi of Anambra State who read the statement.
After a closed-door meeting which lasted about three hours, Obi of the opposition All Progressive Grand Alliance (APGA) read a statement which expressed sincere gratitude to all Nigerians for the massive and nationwide support given to Jonathan at the recently concluded national convention of the PDP.
A Government House source who would not want his name in print however explained that the meeting which was convened by Uduaghan was to show appreciation to Jonathan who, in open defiance of one of his supports threw his full weight behind him in the last January 6 governorship re-run election in the state.
The source explained that the presence of Jonathan and other top PDP leaders at the crucial Warri rally just before the election was the decider as it sent a strong message to his Ijaw kinsmen in Delta South Senatorial district who voted heavily for Uduaghan.
According to the source, the decision of Uduaghan to galvanize support for the President was a way of paying him back. He said that APGA whose leader, the Ikemba Nnewi, Chief Emeka Odumegwu Ojukwu is seriously ill decided not to field a candidate in the Presidential election so as to pave way for the overwhelming victory of Jonathan in the East.
He remarked that the decision of Obi to put in an appearance and also play an active role in the meeting is aimed at sending a strong message to die-hard APGA faithful in the East to vote for Jonathan in the presidential election. According to him, Governor Adams Oshiomohle of Edo State did not attend the meeting because his party, the Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) has a candidate in the person of Mallam Nuhu Ribadu.
His words: "Oshiomhole would have been accused of anti-party activities if he had shown up. Obi on the other hand came because APGA has no presidential candidate." Obi lauded the transparency of the electoral process leading to Jonathan's emergence as presidential candidate of the PDP.
The Anambra governor added: " President Jonathan remains the most credible candidate capable of addressing the numerous challenges facing our country. Both zones agreed to come together to pursue areas of common interest."
Also present at the gathering which cut across political and geo-political lines were Chief Theodore Orji of (Abia State), Chief Sylva Timipriye of Bayelsa, Liyel Imoke of Cross River, Sullivan Chime of Enugu, Martin Elechi of Ebonyi and the Deputy Governor of Akwa Ibom, Chief Patrick Ekpotu who stood in for Governor Godswill Akpabio.
The governors in a statement issued after the meeting and read to newsmen by Obi said:
• We are sincerely grateful to all Nigerians for the massive nationwide support given to the President Goodluck Jonathan at the recently concluded PDP National convention;
• we also appreciate the transparency of the electoral process leading to his emergence as presidential candidate of PDP;
• the president remains the most credible candidate capable of addressing the numerous challenges facing the country; and
• both zones agreed to continue to come together to pursue areas of common interest.
Also at their earlier meeting, the South East Governors' Forum also appealed to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to urgently improve its performance in the on-going voters' registration exercise to accommodate all eligible voters.
Addressing journalists immediately after a closed door meeting at the Government House Awka, yesterday, spokesman and chairman of the South East Governors' Forum and Governor of Anambra State, Mr. Peter Obi urged every citizen in the South East zone to ensure they are registered for effective participation in the April general elections.
The governors who held exhaustive deliberations on matters affecting the zone in particular and Nigeria in general resolved in a five-point statement to continue its unflinching support for President Jonathan in his presidential bid, while also urging the entire South East electorate to vote overwhelmingly for Jonathan in the 2011 presidential poll.
In the statement signed by Governors Theodore Orji (Abia), Chief Marthin Elechi (Ebonyi), Mr Sullivan Chime (Enugu) as well as Obi and made available to newsmen yesterday, they resolved to:
• Continue to work together in unity for the common good and best interest of the geopolitical zone irrespective of party affiliations and differences;
• invest in the increase of power supply in the geopolitical zone, having deliberated on the issue with the Chief Executive Officer, PHCN PLC, Enugu electricity distribution and general manager on transmission, pointing out that the two parties have agreed to work out plan for the actualization of the project; and
• utterly condemn the recent Jos killings.
All the five state governors in the zone were physically present at the meeting except the Imo State governor, Chief Ikedi Ohakim who was represented by a top official of the state government.
Meanwhile, President Jonathan has commended the Edo State members of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) for supporting him in his bid to win the party's presidential ticket in its recently concluded primaries.
Commending the PDP delegates from Edo State, Jonathan said his 100 per cent scores from the state showed that the party is still very strong and could regain the state in the next general elections.
Minister of State for Works, Chris Ogienwonyi presented the president's wishes to the Edo people during a tour of voters registration centres across the state. He expressed satisfaction with the progress made so far in the state. He urged traditional rulers to mobilize their subjects to participate in the exercise.
In Imo State, a new political campaign group for the president, Project Nigeria, has been inaugurated to cover the entire South East geo-political zone in its campaign to ensure that the president receives block votes from the area.
Twelve brand new vehicles has been commissioned by the initiator of the project, Chief Athan Achonu, for effective coverage of the campaign in the zone.
In his address at the occasion, comprising some notable politicians and National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS) led by the National President, Jude Imagwe Gabriel, Achonu disclosed that the group was simply on a mission to ensure that Jonathan and his deputy, Namadi Sambo are re-elected and ensuring that no bad leader emerges or re-elected, adding that the body was apolitical and had no political affiliation but committed to enthronement of good governance.
Source: S'East, S'South govs meet, begin campaign for Jonathan (http://www.ngrguardiannews.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=36422:seast-ssouth-govs-meet-begin-campaign-for-jonathan&catid=1:national&Itemid=559)