Southern Leaders Endorses Jonathan

Southern Leaders Endorses Jonathan –
Several Southern leaders under the
auspices of Southern Nigeria People's
Assembly (SNPA) the other day
unanimously supported President
Goodluck Jonathan's re-election bid in
the coming February 14, 2015
presidential election.
This is even as they vowed to resist all attempts by the
Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to
resurrect the implementation of the 30,000 extra
polling units.
In a communique issued soon after its 5th Common
Conference held at Golden Royale Hotel, Enugu which
was signed by former vice president, Dr Alex Ekwueme,
Chief Edwin K. Clark, co-chair/leader of South South and
Archbishop Ayo Ladigbolu, leader of the South West, the
group vowed to resist any attempt to employ violence to
kill innocent Nigerians on account of the outcome of
the general elections.
According to the communique, the conference noted
that the continued escalation of the Boko Haram
activities close to the 2015 common elections was
unhealthy to the unity and stability of the country.
The communique added that "the South shall resist any
attempt to employ violence to kill innocent Nigerians on
account of the outcome of the elections.
The meeting which was chaired by the host chairman,
Dr Alex Ekwueme, had in attendance Chief Edwin K.
Clark, CON (Co-Chair and Leader of the South South)
and Archbishop Ayo Ladigbolu, representing Bishop
Emmanuel Gbonigi (Co-Chair and Leader of the South
West).
The Conference which was nicely attended with over
200 delegates also had the following extremely
prominent leaders and elders in attendance, Chief
Mbazulike Amechi, Admiral Akin Aduwo, Prof.
Ihechukwu Madubike, Sen. Akinfenwa Mojisoluwa, Sen.
Bassey Ewa Henshaw, Dr. Kunle Olajide, Sir Mike Okiro,
Prof. Uche Azikiwe, Her Excellency Dame Virgy Etiaba,
CON, His Excellency, Sen. Adolf Wabara, Her Excellency,
Sen. Kofoworola Bucknor-Akerele and Prof. Anya O.
Anya. Also present were Sen. (Dr.) Femi Okurounmu,
Dame Dr. Esther Uduehi, AVM Larry Koinyan, Dr. Tim
Menakaya, Dr. Dozie Ikedife, Rt. Hon Tunde Akogun, His
Excellency Dr. Chukwuemeka Ezeife,CON and Rt. Hon.
Agunwa Anakwe.
Royal fathers who also came to the meeting had been
HRM Eze Cletus Ilomuanya, Chairman South East Council
of Classic Rulers, HRH IGWE Amb. L. O. C. Agubuzu, HRH
Eze Ozobu, Chief Gary Igariwei (President Basic of
Ohaneze Ndigbo) HRM King Alfred Diete-Spiff, HRM Oba
Adeyemi Adediran (Owamiran of Esa Oke) and HRM Oba
Elizah O. Oyelade (Salu of Edunabon) representing the
Ooni of Ife.
"That the Southern Nigeria Peoples Assembly do hereby
unanimously endorse President Goodluck Ebele
Jonathan's quest for re-election as President of the
Federal Republic of Nigeria in the February14, 2015
presidential election. We consequently call on all
discerning Nigerians to vote massively for President
Jonathan as that would guarantee equity, fairness, and
justice.
"That the choice to endorse President Jonathan is
primarily based on thorough assessment of his manifest
strides and achievements in the previous three and half
years as the President and Commander in Chief of the
Armed Forces of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.
"That a think-tank of the Assembly should be
empowered by the leadership of SNPA to commence
the job of advocacy just before and after the 2015 basic
elections."