As the debate on the 2011 elections gathers more steam, national interest, stability and the consolidation of  the democratic process should be  the guiding principle for the  political elite as against sectional or regional allegiance,  Bayelsa State Governor, Chief Timipre Sylva, has said.

The Governor spoke, yesterday, in Yola where he was  guest of honour at a programme  organised by the University of Maiduguri Alumni Association  as part of activities to commemorate the 71st birthday of Prof.  Jibril Aminu.

According to the Governor, “as 2011 fast approaches, the struggle for the presidency has understandably become the major preoccupation of the political class. The issue regarding which zone should produce the president of the country has taken the centre stage of our national politics,” he said.

He however, warned that the  attention of the international community,   “is all fixed on Nigeria’s attempt at consolidating her democracy by way of a stable, credible, orderly and democratic transfer of political power in 2011.”

It is therefore imperative, the governor stressed, that the Nigerian political class resolve current debate to heal the country for a secured polity, development and the transformation of Nigeria  into a “modern nation state”.

Going through an in-depth review and analysis of the country’s political evolution, Sylva pointed out that the South –South has always been an ally of the North and that “in Nigeria’s difficult journey to nationhood, the south-south had always put Nigeria first without ever resorting to regional or sectional cleavages.”

“In the great tradition of the South-South, I call on all Nigeria to also at all times like this put Nigeria first before any other consideration”,  he stressed. Sylva added: “The task of developing our nation is in our hands.

We must not fail our people; we must not fail ourselves. As superintendents over affairs of our communities, organisations and states, we must always recognize the supremacy of service to the people for the kind judgment of posterity”.

Jibril Aminu, former federal minister and Senator reprenting Adamawa Central is a former Vice Chancellor of the University of Maiduguri. The University of Maiduguri Alumni Association, Adamawa State Branch organised the programme at the Multipurpose Hall, Federal University of Technology, Yola.

Dignitaries at the occasion include former military president, General Ibrahim Babangida (rtd.) who was the chairman of the occasion. Others were former vice president, Alhaji Abubakar Atiku; Senator Grace Bent (who represented the Senate President); Governor Murtala Nyako of Adamawa State (Chief Host) who was represented by his Deputy; Professor Bashir Usman, Vice Chancellor of the Federal University of Technology, Yola and the celebrant, Senator Aminu.