Northern governors support zoning, say Jonathan free to contest
- Details
- Category: Politics
- Published on Wednesday, 28 July 2010 07:48
- Written by The Nation
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GOVERNORS of the North Tuesday opted for zoning -in line with the wish of their people. Of the 18 governors at the meeting, 10 voted for zoning –the controversial power sharing formula created by the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) - seven against and one was neutral.
In their communique, however, they said governors should go on consulting on the sensitive issue. Besides, they said President Goodluck Jonathan is free to contest next year.
We learnt that when zoning was raised at the session, there was tension among the governors as each of them gave account of the outcome of consultations with his people.
A source, who pleaded not to be named, said: "With bottled emotion, the governors engaged in heated arguments over whether to support zoning or dump it.
"Most of the governors said dumping zoning is not a popular decision in the North. They also expressed fears about the consequence of mass protest in the North, if they go against the will of the majority.
"Some governors claimed that they were already experiencing security problems over tension, which the zoning debate has generated.
"At a point, the governors decided to resort to voting when they could not reach consensus on the issue.
"Following voting, those who supported the retention of zoning are governors of Jigawa, Kebbi, Gombe, Katsina,
"Those who wanted zoning dropped are governors of
The Governor of Yobe abstained from voting. The Governor of Bauchi State, Alhaji Isa Yuguda, a son-in-law to the late President Umaru Yar’Adua, was absent at the meeting.
"From the pattern of voting, with the exception of Adamawa, all the core Hausa-Fulani states voted for zoning. Northern minorities opted for dumping of zoning, the source said, adding:
"I can tell you that at the end of the voting, some of the governors who voted against zoning regretted their decision but they also claimed that it was too late to renege on their initial public declaration."
According to the source, the governors, however, decided that President Goodluck Jonathan can contest the 2011 poll and any Nigerian, including any governor, who wishes could back him.
They, however, said that as far as zoning is concerned, they will "stand by the people of the North".
