IBB, Atiku, Other Northern Elders Meet Next Week

Written by This Day Monday, 02 August 2010

Zoning

Apparently to review political developments in the country particularly after 10 Northern governors voted to back zoning, the Northern Elders Forum under the steering leadership of former military president, General Ibrahim Babangida, will meet early next week, THISDAY has learnt.

An authoritative source close to the group said the meeting would review "crucial issues in the polity and in particular, the decision already taken by Northern governors on zoning and power rotation”.

It was learnt that the meeting became necessary in view of the position of the Northern Governors, where ten of them voted for the continued retention of zoning and seven voted against.
The source added: “The resolutions each of the19 state chapters of the Northern Leaders Forum, the resolution of the Arewa Consultative Forum (ACF) on zoning and that of the Northern Union” will form the main item on the agenda of the meeting of the Northern Elders.

According to the source, “the group will also respond collectively to individual overtures they have been getting from the Jonathan Campaign and decide a collective response.”
Northern leaders expected at the meeting include Babangida, former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar, National Security Adviser Alhaji Aliyu Mohammed Gusau, former Inspector-General of Police M.D Yusuf, former Finance Minister Mallam Adamu Ciroma and Alhaji Bello Kirfi.

Others are Major-General David Jemibewon, Dr. Iyorchia Ayu, Dr. Shettima Mustafa, Alhaji Lawal Kaita, AVM Hamza Abdullahi, Alhaji Magaji Dambatta and Chief Patrick Adaba.
The Northern leaders have been meeting for quite some time now to canvass the retention of the PDP zoning of the presidency to the North. The leaders had argued that notwithstanding the death of President Umaru Musa Yar’Adua after three years on the saddle, power should return to the North by 2011 as the region is entitled to eight years.

But another group of Northern leaders led by former Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) National Chairman, Chief Solomon Lar is saying the presidency should be open to all Nigerians and that zoning is not meant to be a permanent feature.

The group, which is clearly pro-President Goodluck Jonathan, is also insisting that the President could run in 2011 since he is part of the Yar’Adua/Jonathan presidential ticket and that the death of Yar’Adua does not vitiate the joint ticket.