Those who spoke on the issue include a former president of South-South People's Assembly (SSPA) (Europe-UK), Mr. Igho Emuobome, Germany-based socio-political organisation, Diaspora Association for Democratic Change in Nigeria (DADCN) and another group, the Vanguard of Northern Nigeria.
The Vanguard of Northern Nigeria condemned calls on Dr. Jonathan to contest.
The group, in a statement by its chairman, Al-Ameen Sani Mohammed in Bauchi, said the calls were sinister and meant to derail the good initiatives of the Acting President to tackle critical issues that are threatening Nigeria's corporate existence.
But DADCN, in a statement by its spokesman, John Anyanwu, said Jonathan should contest for stability and good governance.
"The situation is tense at the moment and the best that the friends of Africa in the international community can do is to support the Acting President of Nigeria, Dr. Goodluck Ebele Jonathan, to lead the country effectively," it added.
The group noted with satisfaction the goodwill and hope that has returned to Nigeria since the acting president took over the reins of governance and especially commended the recent trip to the United States, a situation it describes as bringing back Nigeria into the reckoning of world leaders.
A chieftain of the group, Teddy Oscar said: "Despite the humiliation Dr. Jonathan suffered in the past in the hands of certain aides of ailing President Umaru Yar'Adua, he has extended the hand of fellowship to them for the sake of the unity and progress of Nigeria. It is this Mandela's quality of reconciliation that particularly attracted him to us as somebody who could be trusted to calm the political waters, resolve the conflicts in central Nigeria and bring in an era of peace and progress in the country."
Oscar noted that Nigeria was too important for the international community to pay only scant attention to "because what is going on there and whatever happens in the country, would affect the whole West African region."
In a statement entitled: "It was not the turn of the North when Yar'Adua took over power," Emuobome said: "It is very disappointing to see Northern leaders clamouring and insisting that the Presidency must remain in the North in 2011. It is on record that the SSPA fought vigorously for what was and still is their legitimate claim to the Presidency. When you consider that of all the regions of the country, only the South-South zone has not led or ruled this country in spite of being the only economic and political saviour of the country, one begins to wonder why we are being marginalised or are we not Nigerians?
"Whereas we have always condescendingly cooperated with other regions especially the North in their quest for power, it is shameful that the same North rather than rally support around the South South, are shamelessly canvassing the Presidency for themselves in 2011."
According to Emuobome, the much-lauded amnesty is not complete if the Presidency is not relinquished to the South-South.
He went on: "The country has been presented with a golden opportunity to make amends and correct some of the injustices meted out to the region by successive incompetent and visionless Northern rulers. The North should be seen to be making concerted efforts to bring the South Southerners fully into the fold rather than fanning embers of disunity by seeking to benefit from the misfortune of their brother, Yar'Adua.
"It is therefore very disingenuous and insensitive of them to make empty threats that there will be another June 12 if Jonathan runs. Planning a coup or what?
"It was never the turn of the North to occupy the Presidency when Yar'Adua took over in 2007. PDP was arm-twisted by the North to adopt a Northerner. And as usual, we accepted our fate and relinquished the turn to the North. Yar'Adua has just served that so called turn of the North. It is now the turn of the South South."
In Emuobome's view, the Acting President should be allowed to complete the Yar'Adua-Jonathan PDP ticket to strengthen national unity.
He added: "The North should stop staking Nigeria's unity since they are insisting the South-South must not rule the country for a full term of four years. Where lies the unity Buhari and co-talked about a few days ago?
"Dr. Jonathan is equally entitled to a full four-year term as a Nigerian and as is every other South Southerner who wishes to run. Anything short of this is calling for disunity.
"The country achieved a crucial mileage in the unity when in 1999 we allowed an all South-West contest. We did not hear of a Buhari or Atiku then. That mileage must now be concretised in the spirit of fair play and to give the South-South zone a sense of brotherhood. Anything short of this is unacceptable."
Source: The Guardian
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