2027: Group advocates Jonathan’s Presidency instead of Diri’s VP

Nathan Tamarapreye, Yenagoa

The Niger Delta Integrity and Justice (NDIJ) says the region’s interest come 2027 is to produce the president.

The group however appreciated the call on Alh. Atiku Abubakar to pick the Bayelsa State Governor, Douye Diri, as his Vice-Presidential Candidate in 2027.

The group described the demand by the Diri’s Angel that the Bayelsa governor would make a good pair for Atiku as a good observation.

While acknowledging that the governor 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.

The group in a statement on Thursday by its Secretary, George Miriki, insisted that the region would no longer continue to play the second fiddle in the governance of the country by working to produce only a vice president.

Miriki said: “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 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.”

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 and said he almost succeeded.

The group said: “This time around we are calling on Ikiogha and other well-meaning politicians in the Niger Delta to start the consultations early.”