On Monday, July 26, 2010 , leaders of the South-South geo-political zone of Nigeria converged on Port Harcourt , the Rivers State capital to take a unanimous stand on zoning and the 2011 presidential election. But some people argued that rather than being an all-inclusive stakeholders meeting, it ended up as merely a PDP affair. LAWAL SABO and ANAYO ONUKWUGHA recount what happened there.

The conspicuous absence of several political heavyweights from the South-South zone at the Port Harcourt meeting made not a few observers to wonder if all the sections of the zone were really in total agreement to the single major decision to endorse President Jonathan as the sole presidential candidate of the zone in 2011.

Absent at the summit most importantly, was Governor Adams Oshiomhole of Edo State. This, according to a delegate to the forum from Edo, who craved for anonymity, may not be unconnected with the fact that the governor is an Action Congress (AC) member.

"You should know that this gathering was actually a PDP and not really a South-South issue, because our governor was not invited, and even from the look of the way the place was adorned in entirely PDP colours, it is obvious that it is a party affair.

"I don't know why the organisers of this event make it a party thing though they say it was a South-South issue; but with all this, I think Jonathan deserves the support of all indigenes of the zone." He posited.

May be in a bid to make up for Edo governor's absence however, organisers of the event, an indigene of the state, Professor Julius Ohonbare, was made to chair the communique drafting committee.

The forum that was earlier scheduled to be a three-day summit, was organized by the governors of the five South-South states, controlled by the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

The gathering, with the main theme: 'Dynamics of the 2011 Presidential Election in Nigeria' was said to be convened to enable the people of the South-South zone to collectively call on President Goodluck Jonathan to formally declare his intent to contest next year's presidential election.

Held at the Atlantic Hall of Hotel Presidential, Port Harcourt; the summit attracted all the five PDP governors in the zone; Chief Godswill Akpabio (Akwa -Ibom), Chief Timipre Sylva (Bayelsa), Senator Liyel Imoke ( Cross River ), Dr. Emmanuel Uduaghan (Delta) and the host, Rt. Hon. Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi (Rivers).

Also in attendance were former governors of Edo and Bayelsa States ; Professor Oserheimen Osunbor and Chief Diepreye Alamieyesiegha respectively, as well as elder statesmen from the zone including Chief Edwin Kiagbodo Clark, Chief Mathew Mbu and Chief Tony Anenih.

The meeting also attracted members of the South -South caucus in both chambers of the National Assembly, led by the Deputy Senate Leader, Senator Victor Ndoma-Egba and Hon. Andrew Uchendu.

Members of the Federal Executive Council, former members of the National Assembly, former ministers and leaders of thought as well as youth leaders from the South-South zone were also in attendance.

Chairman, South-South Governors' Forum and Governor of Cross-River State, Senator Liyel Imoke, was the one who set the ball rolling at the event. He told the gathering that the forum was convened to enable the people of the zone to speak with one voice towards the realization of their vision towards 2011 and beyond.

"What we intend to discuss about the 2011 election and beyond, is very important to the people of the South-South zone that have contributed immensely to the development and stability of the country." He had said.

Governor Imoke was of the belief that the outcome of the summit will surely be for the common good of the people of the zone and Nigeria in general.

For the foremost Ijaw leader, Chief Edwin Clark, the summit was apt and needed to be convened more often.

According to Clark, the South-South zone has not been given the opportunity to occupy the country's Number One seat since Nigeria gained independence in 1960 while a section of the country has been at the country's helms of affairs for 38, out of the 50 years of its existence.

"Even if there was zoning arrangement, for 38 years, some people have ruled this country. But, we, the South-South have never been there. We believe it is now time for us to fight for our right. We are not second class citizens of Nigeria ". He assured.

The elder statesman reminded Nigerians that the zoning arrangement as adopted by the ruling PDP worked in 1999, but was breached during the 2003 Presidential election. "Zoning, as a way of fighting injustice and marginalization really worked in 1999 but there was no zoning in 2003. The matter of zoning has been breached since 2003", he stated.

Chief Clark, however, called on the people of South-South zone to be united, so as to be able to reach out to other geo-political zones of the country to solicit for support for President Jonathan ahead of the 2011 elections.

"Let us be united and then, reach out to other geo-political zones for support. Remember, no part of this country can rule without the support of others. Let us all direct our attention to the struggle because, united we stand, divided we fall".

The stand of Chief Clark on the need for a one united South-South zone was re-echoed by Chief Tony Anenih, former Chairman, Board of Trustees of the PDP, who appealed to the people of the zone to put their past behind them and unite to forge ahead.

"I appeal to all of us to have it in mind that it is time to put the past behind us. It is time to put the pains and betrayals behind us. It is time to unite and work together to realize our dreams", he said.

Describing President Jonathan as a symbol of commitment to social justice and development, Chief Anenih said the President represents all that is good in the South-South zone.

"Thank God we have our son, Goodluck Jonathan as President. He represents all that is good in the South-South zone. He is a symbol of commitment to social justice and development", he said.

The former Minister of Works, who called on Nigerians to always pray for the President to enable him succeed, urged the people of the South-South zone to give him the maximum and undiluted support.

He stated that the zone has been a close political ally of the North for decades, stressing that there was need for the North to reciprocate the gesture by supporting the aspiration of the South-South zone to produce the next president of Nigeria .

"The South-South zone has for years made a lot of sacrifices, including human and material to keep Nigeria together. The South-South has always played a unifying role among the geo-political zones of the country.

"In the political history of Nigeria , the South-South zone has always been a close ally of the North. We had supported the North when it mattered most. Now, we expect them to support us.

"We need to let our Northern brothers know that we have contributed a lot to deserve the Presidency of this country. We are not seeking the position because, we are an oil producing zone, but because, our son, Goodluck Jonathan is capable". Anenih assured.

Emphasizing that the issue of zoning has been battered beyond recognition, Chief Anenih said it is the duty of the leaders of the South-South zone to use all available democratic means to reach out to leaders of the North to solicit for their full support.

Queuing into the position Of the former Minister of Works on the issue of zoning, Senator Victor Ndoma-Egba, Deputy Senate Leader and leader of the South-South caucus in the Senate, said the issue of zoning has nothing to do with President Jonathan's intention to run in 2011 since he ran on the same ticket with late President Umaru Musa Yar'adua in 2007.

Senator Ndoma-Egba disclosed that that it was the resolution of the South-South caucus in the National Assembly that President Jonathan should make him self available for the 2011 Presidential election.

"We are here to reaffirm the only choice we have to make. We, members of the South-South caucus in the National Assembly have already taken a position. Our position is that President Jonathan should make him self available for the 2011 election".Egba sounded.

The position of Senator Ndoma -Egba and that of the South-South Caucus was the same as the one taken by lots of other leaders of the zone, including Chief Mathew Mbu, Senator Florence Ita-Giwa, Chief Onueze Okocha and Chief Diepreye Alamieyeseigha.

The call on President Jonathan to openly declare his interest in the 2011 elections was also echoed by the five South-South governors present at the summit, who told the gathering that they decided to endorse the President after wide consultations with their people.

But apart from Oshiomhole, other prominent sons and daughters of the area that were absent at the meeting and no explanation was offered for that were former governors of Rivers State, Dr. Peter Odili and Sir Celestine Omehia; Akwa Ibom, Obong Victor Attah; Cross-River, Mr. Donald Duke and Edo, Chief Lucky Igbinedion.

The Minister of Petroleum, Mrs. Deizani Allison-Madueke, her counterparts in Foreign Affairs and Niger Delta Affairs, Mr. Odein Ajumogobia and Mr. Godswill Orubebe as well as two former Deputy Speakers of the House of Representatives, Chief Chibudom Nwuche and Chief Austin Opara.

The gathering might have come and gone with the issuance of the 13-point communiqué signed by the five participating governors, requesting among other things, that President Jonathan should contest in 2011, but there is more to the meeting than that which meets the eye.

Having asked President Jonathan to contest, leaders of the South-South geo-political zone are now expected to turn back home and reconcile themselves as widely canvassed for by most of the speakers at the summit. This will give the President the much-needed home-based support and encouragement to not only join the 2011 presidential elections, but also make an enough impact in the remaining months in this lap; as to convince other Nigerians that he is worth a full four year term as an elected president and not someone thrust upon them by providence.

On his part, President Jonathan should not allow these and other similar endorsements by people some of whom held him in contempt before he became president, as something much. The bottomline is, average Nigerians do not really care who their leader is or where he comes from; what matters most to them is how much impact could he make on their lives.