Impeachment plot a Northern agenda – Southern coalition.

By Emma Ujah, Abuja Bureau Chief
The threat by the House of Representatives to impeach President Goodluck Jonathan is part of a Northern agenda to force him out of office, a coalition of southern socio-cultural groups has alleged.
The interim  leader of the coalition, Mr. Zuokumor Tito, told journalists in Abuja, yesterday, that those behind the impeachment plot are the same people using the Boko Haram to destabilise the current administration, adding that the plot to impeach the president next month if he fails to fully  implement 2012 Budget is only an option “B” .
If it becomes successful, the coalition warned, Nigeria would be grounded, economically, leading to the breakup of the nation.
The coalition includes: the Forth Force, Niger Delta Justice & Mass Movement, South-South & South West Mandate, and Ndigbo Consultative Forum,
Tito’s words, “it is a known fact that the old Boko Haram and this new one are operating on different platforms, but the aim and objectives of the new political Boko Haram is crystal clear: fight at all costs to make Nigeria seem unsafe and ungovernable to unseat President Goodluck, the man from the region forbidden to rule Nigeria.
“It is a known fact that the Boko Haram insurgency was deliberately masterminded by these enemies of progress and national stability to create a scenario of insecurity and portray President Jonathan as incompetent to govern the country. Perhaps, feeling that the motive was not being achieved on time, they are now trying to use the House of Representatives, using budget implementation as a plank to achieve their unpatriotic agenda.
“God forbid, but let me warn that if they force Jonathan out of office through this deliberately created insecurity or any other flimsy excuse, they should know that no section of this country has a monopoly of violence. The South, particularly the Niger Delta people have the ability to create artificial insecurity, and if necessary, completely shut down the economy of the nation, because no single drop of oil from the Niger Delta region would be used to run another government. Enough is enough”.
According to the leader, members of the coalition met in Abuja, Wednesday night and earlyu hours of yesterday to review developments in the chambers of the National Assembly with a conclusion that the script playing out in the legislature is well understood by the group which is mobilizing to respond to the outcome, should the plot succeed.
He insisted that President Jonathan has enough support base to “effectively counter any move to coerce or humiliate President Jonathan out of office”, and that those masterminding the move to push the president out of office would regret it.