Babangida, who is also a former military President and Saraki, the current governor of Kwara State, are from the zone.
The governors’ decision is said to have jolted the former dictator and other aspirants.
The leaders of the zone, including the four governors — Gabriel Suswan (Benue), Jonah Jang (Plateau), Ibrahim Idris (Kogi) and Aliyu Doma (Nasarawa) — met at the official residence of the Senate President, Mr. David Mark, in Abuja on Tuesday.
They said after the meeting that they had agreed to support Jonathan and his deputy, Alhaji Namadi Sambo for the Peoples Democratic presidential ticket in 2011.
The other leaders of the zone at the meeting were the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Mr. Bala Mohammed; his counterpart in Sports, Alhaji Isa Bio; the Deputy Leader of the House of Representatives, Alhaji Baba Agale; as well as former national chairmen of the PDP, Chief Bernabas Gemade and Dr. Ahmadu Ali.
Senator Tunde Ogbeha; the Minister of state for Information and Communications, Mr. Laban Maku; his counterparts in the Niger Delta and Interior ministries, Mr. Sam Ode; and Mr. Humphrey Abba, were also in attendance.
Our correspondents learnt that the strategists in the camps of Babangida, Abubakar and Saraki met separately in Abuja on Wednesday and Thursday to plan on how to counter the decision by the North-Central leaders.
None of the members of their campaign teams was ready to speak officially on the matter when our correspondent went round their offices.
But a source in one of the camps said, “We were surprised at the development but you know in politics, you must continue to strategise. We have met and we have worked out ways to checkmate the so-called leaders of the zone.”
An associate of Abubakar, Ambassador Yahaya Kwande, however, said the position of Mark and others were meant to mislead the President and his deputy.
Kwande, in an email statement advised Jonathan and Sambo not to fall for the “antics of Mark,” who he said, was laying claims to a political clout he did not have in the North Central He added that the President of the Senate did not have the political influence to deliver any zone to the President.
Kwande described the leaders of the zone who met in Mark’s house as a “coterie of influence peddlers.”
According to him, the Middle Belt cannot speak with one voice in a moment of political crisis, let alone single out one leader capable of dictating the thinking and minds of the entire North-Central.
Also reacting to the governors’ position, Saraki said as one of the leading presidential aspirants of the PDP, it was out of place for anyone to call on him to withdraw.
He said Mark and his “co-travellers” could had realised that he (Saraki) was a threat to Jonathan’s ambition.
A statement signed by the Director of Media and Publicity of ABS, Alhaji Garbadeen Mohammed, said, “We view this statement as misleading and a reflection of the growing panic from those who feel threatened by Saraki’s increasing acceptability, not only in the North Central, but across the entire country.
“For record purposes, at no time before, during and after the meeting was any call made by any of those present for Saraki to withdraw from the presidential race.
“This much has been confirmed at least by two of the governors who were at the meeting. Consequently, the press release by the Chief Press Secretary to the President of the Senate is a complete distortion of what transpired at the meeting.”
The statement went ahead to commend the Senate for throwing away the President’s bill seeking a fresh amendment to the Electoral Act.
He said, “The Senate’s decision to reject the changes is in line with the popular wishes of Nigerians and will go a long way in strengthening our democracy.”
Meanwhile, Jonathan has reacted to the claim by Mallam Adamu Ciroma that the North would frustrate his 2011 presidential ambition.
In a statement by the Director, Media and Publicity of the Jonathan/Sambo Campaign Organisation, Mr. Sully Abu, the President advised Ciroma not to play God.
He said that the least Nigerians expected from a man of Ciroma’s stature was to help build the country and repair ethnic and sectional faults.
The statement reads, “Alas, Ciroma has taken on a rather divisive role. Insisting that he is speaking for the North, he has been playing the politics of division in a way which would not edify the country’s unity.
“This insistence flies in the face of overwhelming evidence of the yearning of all Nigerians, including those Ciroma said he is speaking for, to see change in the way this country is governed and especially in their material condition.”
On zoning, Jonathan said the circumstances of his ascension to the Presidency and because of his legitimate ambition he was entitled to contest just as other aspirants.
“Any loyal party man should have the discipline to abide by the decision of the party,” he added.
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