Kaduna — All the 19 Northern Governors resolved in Kaduna on Tuesday that the zoning of political offices is an internal affair of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), which cannot stop Goodluck Jonathan from running for President.

The Northern Governors' Forum (NGF) said Jonathan, like any other Nigerian, has the constitutional right to contest, if he so wishes.

However, Arewa Youth Development Foundation (AYDF), which had threatened to mobilise 30,000 youths for a peaceful protest at the meeting, urged the Governors to stick with the zoning principle fashioned by the PDP.

Having produced the Olusegun Obasanjo Presidency between 1999 and 2007, a content South West is not in the fray for power next year. South East Governors themselves are aloof about it.

But handing back the Villa to the North so soon is against the wishes of South South leaders, including the six Governors in the region, who met in Port Harcourt on Monday, endorsed Jonathan for the office, and urged him to declare his run without further delay.

The communiqué issued by the Northern Governors, read out to reporters by NGF Chairman and Niger State Governor, Babangida Aliyu, explained that their resolution was informed by "the supremacy of the Constitution as encapsulated in Section one (as well as) Section 131 which states the qualification for election into the office of President.

"Arising from the above therefore, the Forum acknowledges the right of (Jonathan) and indeed any other Nigerian to legitimately and constitutionally contest for the office of President" in 2011.

The NGF concluded that for the peaceful coexistence of the country, further consultations should continue at all levels, and by all stakeholders, to put the zoning formula in perspective before the ballot in January.

"The Forum recognises the fact that zoning is a PDP affair as contained in Section 7(2C) of (its) constitution, therefore in acknowledging the circumstances of force majure arising from the demise of the late President Umaru Ya'Adua and the subsequent ascendancy of (Jonathan) to the Presidency," the party can continue with its consultations.

"The Forum resolves that wider consultations should continue at all party levels within the PDP with all stakeholders across the nation to address the consensus of all in the interest of peaceful coexistence and the advancement of democracy in our dear country Nigeria."

Aliyu had said in his opening address that the meeting would discuss the peculiar problems of the region such as abject poverty, illiteracy, and lack of industrialisation.

He began by expressing delight at welcoming his colleagues to the meeting, "which should have held on July 22 but was rescheduled to today, July 27, because of some unforeseen circumstances, not in any way connected with the inconclusive decision on zoning or rotation of political offices, as was being speculated in sections of the media and by the public."

He recalled that their last meeting on July 1 decided that they would go and consult widely with the people in their states to collate their views on zoning or rotation of political offices in the next elections.

"It is amazing to note the intensity of the debate on the issue across the length and breadth of this country; that is a healthy trend in our political evolution; for whatever happens at the end of it all, Nigeria must go on, as one indivisible great nation.

"Overall, national interest should be our guiding principle, while negotiating equitably for better life for our people who seem to be short-changed in the federal system."

Aliyu affirmed that the meeting would take responses from the Northern states and would be bound by what the people say on the zoning of the presidency.

"There is no doubt the issue at stake, zoning/rotation principle, has turned out to be one of the most contentious issues in our recent political history.

"However, we must remember that as political leaders of this generation, Allah has now put the responsibility on our shoulders to chart a proper course for the unity, progress and development of our nation for the improved well being of the present and future generations of Nigerians."

Aliyu stressed, however, that the issue is not simply of rotation/zoning as is being hyped but rather that of integrity, honesty and discipline.

It is also an issue of good governance, and equity intertwined by pragmatism, he added, and the Northern Governors should therefore be courageous in taking decisions, wise in negotiating properly, and sincere in the effort to get Nigeria working properly.

He said this is "indeed a defining moment for us, as a people and as a nation, when history and posterity will judge us for whatever position we may take.

"I therefore urge each one of us to be honest, sincere, patriotic and God-fearing in presenting our positions and those of our people on the issue, while we leave the future to God Almighty, the all-knowing, the most compassionate and the master strategist, so that our nation will endure to take its right place in the comity of nations."

A petition the AYDF addressed to Aliyu said the youths would have staged a peaceful protest but for the volatile nature of Kaduna.

"We, therefore, crave your indulgence to look into this matter (of zoning) with an open and objective mind, devoid of sentimental judgements geared towards aiding your personal political goals," the petition stressed.

Another group of youths representing all parts of the country insisted that the gentleman's agreement must be adhered to.

The group, led by the National Coordinator of the South South Liberation Movement, John Adie, argued at a press conference in Kaduna that it will be in bad faith not to respect an agreement by national elders and setting a precedent like that will spell doom for the younger generation.

Adie said they are not stopping Jonathan from contesting but he is free to do so in another party, not the PDP.

He reiterated that Jonathan is "from my zone, from my constituency, so ordinarily I would tell him to go and run, but if you are a party to an agreement you must respect that agreement.

"And even if you don't want to respect the agreement again then you and the people can seat down and discuss that we don't want this agreement again everybody will agree.

"You cannot because of your interest go against what everybody has agreed upon. I don't want that and I will not accept that. If Jonathan is desperate to contest elections he should leave his party, the PD,P which has the zoning arrangement and go to another party and contest, some of us because of where he comes from, might vote him in."

Adie said the Presidency should be rotated to the North in 2011, and in 2015 "if the North refuses to give us back the power then they should be prepared for war."

He boasted that he will "personally lead that war" if the North reneges.

Arewa Youth Consultative Forum Secretary, Aminu Mohammed, who spoke on behalf of the North, asked the elders to consider the youth in their decision, saying jettisoning zoning now is like mortgaging the future of the younger generation.

He urged Northern Governors to sustain zoning because it will help Nigeria in future.

The leader of World Igbo Youth Alliance, Chuks Nwagbara, disclosed that the South East is not comfortable with what is happening in the country as the people are yet to taste the fruit of 50 years of independence.

He blamed "the cabal" which has held the country to ransom since 1960, adding that zoning is now about integrity, and implored the elders to respect it for the sake of posterity.