The Northern Governors' Forum has taken a position which may pave the way for President Goodluck Jonathan to contest the 2011 presidency. At the end of its much expected meeting today in Kaduna the forum took a position in line with the 1999 constitution which guarantees Jonathan as well as any other Nigerian the right to contest for the 2011 presidency.

Based on the constitutional provision ``the Forum acknowledges the right of President Goodluck Jonathan and indeed any other Nigerian to legitimately  and constitutionally contest for the office of  the President``, the communique   said.

Our correspondent reports that the forum noted that the issue of zoning  is a PDP affair

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But newsdiaryonline has learnt that the statement was just a diplomatic way of papering over the deep division  among the governors over the matter.The North Central states' governors were known to have insisted on Jonathan.One source claimed that Governor Babangida Aliyu of Niger state and some key governors in the north west  insisted on zoning.The Bauchi state governor Isa Yuguda was reported to have stayed away.And some governors of ANPP states also did not want to give away the chances of their party and probable candidate.The governors' meeting became very stormy at some point sources said because the divisions were too irreconcilable.

In the final analysis it was resolved that eveyone should take a position in line with his conscience.``There was no real agreement.The statement issue was just fulln of diplomatese.Yes, they are saying the President can reun but no one can guarantee their full support when the chips are down `` one of our correspondents said..