PDP Throws Presidency Open To all Northern States, As NGF Defend Position

San Francisco, March 11, The Peoples Democratic Party has thrown the Party’s presidential ticket open to all the states in Northern Nigeria that is, assuming President Yar’Adua is impeached or unable to continue in office.

The expanded National Caucus of the ruling Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) had a marathon meeting with Acting President Dr. Goodluck Jonathan at the Presidential Villa, Abuja on Thursday where the decision was taken.

Nigerian Ailing President, Musa Yar’Adua comes from the North-West state of Katsina and the state may not automatically throw up a replacement for Yar’Adua in the 2011 election.

The PDP has a zoning arrangement where power is rotated between the north and south every eight years.

The party has scheduled its convention where it would nominate its presidential candidate for September and plans to lobby its legislators in the National Assembly to amend the constitution to enable elections hold in January, 2011.

Meanwhile, the Nigerian Governors’ Forum has reacted to criticisms that it refused to support moves to declare Yar’Adua incapacitated which would have cleared the path for Jonathan to become President for selfish reasons.

Chairman of the Forum, Bukola Saraki said in a statement that the state governors made their decisions in the interest of the nation.

"In the days leading to the proclamation of Dr. Goodluck Jonathan as Acting President, a cloud of fear and uncertainty hovered over the country. The complexity of the situation we have found ourselves had thrown everyone into a state of confusion.

"At the time, it was not certain if the constitution envisaged such a situation. No one was sure if the solution prescribed by the constitution was sufficient to resolve the problem. It was obvious, however, that the solution we needed at the time was more political than legal.

"This gave birth to what is now known as the ‘doctrine of necessity’, which may not have been 100% faithful to the letters of the constitution. We are glad to note that the action has doused the swelling tension and Nigerians are happy to move on, again.

"It is important not to forget that the process that culminated in the so-called ‘doctrine of necessity’ adopted by the National Assembly, was started by the Nigeria Governors’ Forum, which met to take the position that Dr. Goodluck Jonathan should be declared the Acting President.

"It was the NGF that actively lobbied their various representatives in the National Assembly to convince them on the need to go that way. They did, and the nation was relieved, and everyone, saluted the Nigerian Governors’ Forum for rising above divergent partisan interests of its members to do what was best for Nigeria."

Continuing, the statement said, "It is legitimate for other people to hold the opinion that the Forum has acted rightly or wrongly, but the NGF knows that one thing that is worse than even acting wrongly, is not acting at all. It is, therefore, an act of political naivety for anyone to suggest that the Governors of the 36 States of the Federation, States that are represented by all ministers, and all members of the National Assembly, have no role to play in resolving this issue and therefore, should fold their hands and watch the tension build across the country over contending interests.

"Yes, the Governors have interests to protect and this should be obvious, given that the preservation and the protection of democracy is the fundamental platform of their legitimacy. We therefore, fail to see how this runs in conflict with the interests of every Nigerian or lover of Nigeria.

On the challenges ahead the governors said, "The Governors recognize the enormity of their responsibility to the Nigerian nation. This is why they have not only intervened in critical and difficult moments, but have done so at the appropriate time too.

"And, this is why it is yet again possible for all the Governors to rise above partisan interests and loyalty to vote for what is best for Nigeria and Nigerians. We have no doubt that if, as the editorial suggested, the interest being served in this process is either that of PDP, or self-interests of one or two persons in the Forum, such consensus would not be so easily forged. 

"We live in extra-ordinary times. Opinions are bound to differ; motives are bound to be questioned and; intentions are bound to be suspected. Inspite of all these, patriotism and national interests must be placed above sentiments and self-preservation.

"This is the time that all those who have found themselves in leadership position, whether in government or in the civil society, must all rise to the occasion and play their parts in putting country above partisan, self-serving and populist interests. Neither the fear of misunderstanding nor the fear of misrepresentation must be allowed to dissuade us from embracing the challenges of leadership.

"The survival of our democracy is certainly more important than any sectarian or individual interest," the statement explained.