Date Published: 01/08/10

Northern Governors Caucus in disarray over vacuum in presidency

...Suswan, Sambo break ranks, want VP sworn-in

As the Nigeria state drifts without a President or acting President, and the People Democratic Party(PDP), continues to play politics with the destiny of the people, feelers from the Northern Governors Caucus inner chambers indicate confusion as some of its members may have broken ranks with this bloc which have vowed to block any move to install Vice President, Goodluck Jonathan as acting President.

Sources within this ethnic alliance hinted pointblanknews on Friday that two of its very vocal members, Gabriel Suswan of Benue State, and Namadi Sambo of Kaduna State are leading this formidable flank determined to ensure the constitution is respected.

Pointblanknews learnt that Suswan and Sambo have vowed to prevail on their colleagues to support the swearing –in of Jonathan, respect the statutes and save the nation from drifting with no one officially in charge of state affairs.

Pointblanknews had exclusively reported that the Northern Governors caucus is insisting that Jonathan remain vice President while sick President Umaru Yar’Adua run state affairs from the intensive care unit of a Saudi Arabia hospital. Their reason: they do not trust the vice President.

Curiously, the south-south Governors who are expected to spearhead the push for the emergence of Jonathan are sitting on the fence. Reason:  Most are not in his camp except for Delta’s Emmanuel Uduaghan and Godswill Akbabio of Akwa Ibom State. Edo State’s Adams Oshimole is of Action Congress (AC), while Tim Silva(Bayelsa), Liel Imoke(Cross River) and Rotimi Amechi(Rivers), are political opposites.

Silva in particular, is an arch political enemy of the Vice President. This is so because the VP wanted the President’s Special Adviser, Niger Delta Affairs, Timi Alaibe to be Governor of Bayelsa and not Silva.

As  Suswan and his group, continue their move, Silva, in his desperation to stop Jonathan is asking them(Suswan’ group)  to tread softly, and be aware of the consequences if the President eventually returns. He is believed to be urging some northern Governors not to change their stand .