From Yakubu Mustapha, Minna
Niger state Governor and chairman Northern States Governors Forum, Mu’azu Babangida Aliyu, has thrown his weight behind President Goodluck Jonathan for 2015 presidential election, saying that only troublemakers of PDP looking for identity can contest against the sole candidature of Jonathan.
The governor made his position known on the controversy surrounding the eligibility of President Jonathan for next year election in an interactive session with members of the press to mark his 59th birthday in Minna.
Aliyu stated that though some zones have angled to take over from the President based on some perceived agreement entered into by President Jonathan, believing, however, that since the party has conceded the slot to the President, all loyal PDP members should queue behind the party decision as the northerners will now make sure that in 2019 the north will take over.
“Where all the PDP governors came together and endorsed the sole candidature of Mr President, all PDP senators and House of Representatives did the same, the BOT of the party did same and the executive committee ratified all these decisions. Unless you are not a party member or you are a trouble maker or you are looking for identity or you wanted to be noticed by the society, you will have followed the line”.
According to him, the South-East zone is also claiming the next slot, but going by the North/South rotation, the North should take the next turn, while the South –East should be patient to take over after the North.
“The crave for a particular zone on presidency was as a result of political problem, without taking cognizance of death. But the Constitution expressly allows the Vice President to take over in view of such situation as death. Unfortunately, parties that have no zoning arrangement in their Constitution cry more than the bereaved.
“There was a time people speculated that there was an agreement. Aside that, the party said the incumbent should continue and he was overwhelmingly endorsed by party organs and members, that is what we have at the moment. By 2019, the North would take over.
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