2015: We’ll Secede If Jonathan Is Stopped –N/Delta Group.

From IHEANACHO NWOSU, Abuja

A group in the Niger Delta , Niger Delta Progressive Alliance (NPA) yesterday threatened that the region will consider seceeding from Nigeria if President Jonathan is barred by the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) from contesting the 2015 election on its platform.

Rising from a meeting, the group in a Communiqué entitled, ‘2015: Time to bid Nigeria farewell’, said the condition given by seven PDP governors that Jonathan should not contest in 2015 as a ground for the restoration of peace to PDP was insulting and humiliating.

The Communiqué jointly signed by Deacon Angoneme  Fedude and Nsikak Ebong, president and general secretary respectively argued that the move to stop Jonathan from re-contesting the top office was being conceived because the president is from the South-South.

The group said: “President Goodluck Jonathan must be allowed to exercise his constitutionally guaranteed right of seeking a second term in the 2015 elections. But in the event of any attempt by any individual or group to deprive him of his democratic rights, we have resolved to match force for force, even if it will lead to Nigeria’s disintegration.”

Condemning political  developments in the last couple of days, NPA said it had “monitored, with deep concern, the trend of events in the country, particularly the various efforts at truncating the administration of President Jonathan.

“While we had opted to remain on the sidelines and watched the plot against Jonathan as it unfolded right from the period he assumed the mantle of leadership as acting president, we view the recent move by a group of northern governors, self-acclaimed political leaders and elders, led by Alhaji Atiku Abubakar, to illegally stop Dr. Jonathan from contesting the 2015 presidential elections as the highest threat to the continued existence of the minorities of the South-South region in Nigeria as a political entity.

Sunnewspapers report.