Port Harcourt — Northern Governors meet in Kaduna today to decide whether to back up or back down from their claim on the zoning formula in the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), and in that case encourage or dissuade Goodluck Jonathan from running for President.

Northern youths plan to mobilise 30,000 of their kind to disrupt the meeting if they cannot successfully press the Governors to insist on the arrangement that would ensure the North gets the Villa next year.

On the other side of River Niger, however, South South leaders on Monday fired on all cylinders for Jonathan, and are in no mood to brook further delay from him to formally declare his run.

They told him to step out immediately for the contest, saying he has both the human and spiritual backing to clinch the seat and lead Nigeria out of the woods.

They did in Port Harcourt at a gathering decked with effusive regional sentiments directed at other zones, particularly the North.

The summit, under the umbrella of South South Stakeholders Forum, and with the theme 'Dynamics Of The 2011 Presidential Elections,' was attended by all the five Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) South South Governors.

The attendees cited Jonathan's "immense efforts so far" to enhance the lot of Nigeria and Nigerians.

So, "the summit unanimously calls on (him) to openly declare his interest in the 2011 Presidential election without further delay," said former Information Minister, Julius Ihombvere, who read out the communiqué to journalists.

The South South leaders declared the region's unflinching support for the Jonathan Presidency, and urged other sections of the country, individuals and groups, to buy into the project in order to consolidate democracy.

Jonathan, according to the group, has shown his hands as a capable leader, citing his feat in the power sector, the fight against corruption, improvement in foreign reserves, and efforts made for peace to reign among Nigerians at home and in the Diaspora.

They reiterated that the Jonathan administration is a continuation of his joint ticket with the late President Umaru Yar'Adua, and he should remain in office along with Vice President Namadi Sambo for the benefit of all Nigerians.

"The summit believes in Jonathan's resolve to give to Nigeria a credible electoral reform, which he began by appointing the world renowned social crusader and defender of equity, honesty, and integrity, Attahiru Jega, as the Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC)."

It called on all Nigerians to support the full implementation of the Mohammed Uwais Committee recommendation of total independence for the INEC.

Others who attended the summit included Edwin Clark, Matthew Mbu, Tony Anenih, and Diepriye Alamieyeseigha.

All reminded the North of the support it got from the South South in 1979 which made it possible for Shehu Shagari to emerge as President.

They said now is the time for the North to reciprocate, since the eight years it would support Jonathan is too short in the life of a nation to throw such alliance away.

Northern youths are aghast, though.

"Those championing the cause of the doing away with zoning in the North are not only political traders but charlatans who do not have the interest of the north at heart," they said.

They want the North to complete its term of eight years begun in 2007 by Yar'Adua, after Olusegun Obasanjo had served as President for eight years, beginning from 1999.

However, the leader of the coalition of youths, Ibrahim Waya, who led the leaders of the other groups to Kaduna, said after meeting with Governor Patrick Ibrahim Yakowa, the Director of SSS and the Commissioner of Police, they might change their mind on the protest.

They are now considering sending a delegation of youths to the meeting of the Governors who Waya warned will risk having the youths cause confusion and disruption of the political activities if they jettison zoning.

He pointed out that the Governors only want to get rid of zoning "because of their own selfish interest and in order for some of them to get a second term in office.

"We are not politicians or politically inclined, but we believe that the zoning arrangement is good for the country and it should be respected.

"Even if we say that the zoning arrangement is for the PDP and it is a gentleman's agreement, don't we have elders in the party who should respect it?"