A group, Niger Delta Integrity and Justice (NDIJ) has insisted that the South-South region would no longer continue to play second fiddle in the governance of the country by working to produce only a vice president.
The group in a statement by its Secretary, George Miriki said though it backed calls on Alh. Atiku Abubakar to pick the Bayelsa governor, Douye Diri, as his vice-presidential candidate in 2027, “Our agenda for 2027 is to produce the president.
“In as much as we appreciate Diri and his closeness to Atiku, we will work against shortchanging the Niger Delta in 2027”.
While acknowledging that Diri fitted all the descriptions in the report, especially the one that referred to him as a dependable ally of Atiku, the group said there was a different plan for the Niger Delta in 2027.
“We want to produce the President and our mission is to ensure that the Niger Delta completes its term of eight years at the Presidency. Former President Goodluck Jonathan was booted out of office and was not allowed to complete his term.
“In the last election, we presented the argument and Jonathan nearly became a top contender for the APC presidential ticket. This time we are coming stronger with the argument of allowing Jonathan to complete his tenure for the region.
“Instead of producing a vice-president in Diri, we will prefer a president in Jonathan. He is still loved. And with his global appeal, we believe he will succeed”, NDIJ said.
The group recalled the good job of a top politician in Bayelsa and a former Chief of Staff, Chief Dikivie Ikiogha, who led regional meetings to sell Jonathan’s candidacy in 2023, saying he almost succeeded.
“This time around we are calling on Ikiogha and other well-meaning politicians in the Niger Delta to start the consultations early,” it said.
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