Posted by From Collins Edomaruse in Abuja on
Northern politicians are in sympathy with the 2007 presidential aspiration of the South-South geo-political zone.....
Northern politicians are in sympathy with the 2007 presidential aspiration of the South-South geo-political zone, Governor of Bayelsa State, Dr. Goodluck Jonathan, has said.
Exchanging views with journalists in Abuja, the governor, however, added that: "The only area they are raising questions is the fact that power is currently being held by the South-west region of the country."
He said that "the tempo of consultations" were being raised by the leaders of the South-South to sustain the convinction it has been able to extract from various regions of the country.
"The South-South zone is just about seven years old.
The country's political equation has been on the historical equation of North, West, East and from 1963, there was an addition of the Mid-West.
"Political leaders have been used to working those
regional arrangements. But all that has been altered with the splitting of the country into six geo-political zones and the north knows that we have a good case.
"This country has been run over the years as if the South-South is not part of the nation."
Asked who his regions presidential hopefuls were, the governor said: "We are going to see more of them in due course. Those who have signified interest in the office are qualified. But I am more interested in having more aspirants coming out and there will be what I may call elimination process to get the most qualified and the best."
On the allegation that some governors of the region were masterminds of the recurring youth restiveness in the area and hostage-taking of oil workers to achieve "selfish" political gains, the governors said: "The allegation was not made against me and I find it difficult responding to that."
He, however, expressed doubts on the veracity of the allegation and argued that it would rather be out of place for a governor to sponsor such act for political gains. "What gains when your state is not stable", he queried.