Originally posted by the Voice of America. Voice of America content is produced by the Voice of America, a United States federal government-sponsored entity, and is in the public domain. Powerful Nigerian Governorsâ Group Opposes President Jonathanâs Candidacy Chinedu Offor | Washington DC 28 July 2010 In Nigeria, the powerful Northern Governors Forum ended a crucial meeting in Kaduna without endorsing President Goodluck Jonathan as the ruling partyâs candidate for next yearâs elections. Mr. Jonathanâs plans to retain his job is complicated by the governorâs insistence that the ruling party zoning arrangement be maintained, some analysts say. Under the system, the party chooses candidates alternating between the North and the South. If it continues to do so, Mr. Jonathan will be disqualified. He is from the South-South, but the next candidate selected under zoning would be from the North. âA few people cannot sit down and begin to shape opinion and direct the political direction of this country,â said Abubakar Momoh, a political science lecturer at the Lagos State University.  âThey have the right to make their own position known, but let them say it is their own personal position.These governor are pretending and giving everyone the impressions that they are carrying their states along.â Momoh disagrees with suggestions the governors would wield their influence to stop President Jonathan from winning their states if he runs without their support. âFrom my own point of view, I am really surprised that Mr. President is using the same old tactics and old rules.  If President Jonathan wants to run, let him come out and announce that to Nigerians. Why the pretence?  If he is interested in the presidency let him come out and run and stop using surrogates, using all kinds of forces and interests to go and prepare the ground for him.â Fears by President Jonathan and his supporters that an early interest in next yearâs election will cripple the operations of government are unfounded, said Momoh. âItâs a very weak argument. There is nobody in this country, not even an infant, that does not have the feeling and knows clearly that President Goodluck Jonathan wants to run. So who is he deceiving? The man is going to announce and his godfathers have announced that he is going to run.â .