VICE-PRESIDENT Namadi Sambo has declared that with him as the vice-presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in next year’s election, the presidency has not left the North.

Speaking with senior journalists on Sunday evening, the vice-president said he was fully engaged and involved in the running of the Federal Government of President Goodluck Jonathan and, as such, did not feel that the North would lose the presidency if the two of them were re-elected next year.

The vice-president queries: “Am I not part of the power. I am from the North and I am the vice-president. Whatever the president is doing, I am part of it,” he insisted.

He also said that both northern governors and indeed all state governors were being taken along in the presidential ambition of Jonathan, pointing out that the governors had made their stand on the issue known.

According to him, “the northern governors, in fact, not only the northern governors, but all the governors of the federation, are being carried along.

“We have good relationship with them, we are moving this country together and the position of all the zones of this country have been made very clear.

“The governors of South-South have made their position clear; the northern governors have made their stand known. The Nigerian Governors’ Forum has stated its position and it is all in line with our (Jonathan and Sambo) position. So, we are all together.”

The former governor of Kaduna State said he was not surprised that some people were issuing threats to stop Jonathan from running, since, according to him, there were many people who wanted to take over as president. These competitors, he went on, cut across party lines as there were also other presidential candidates from the other political parties who were interested in the presidency next year.

Asked if he was still popular in his home state, Kaduna, the vice-president said he was was still loved by his people and that there was no truth in stories that political leaders in the state had abandoned him.

He disclosed that political leaders from the state visited him on Sunday and that none of them gave any indication that there was any crack in the group.

Speaking on efforts by the government to develop the country, Sambo said that he was optimistic that with the measures put in place by the Jonathan administration, things would get better in Nigeria.

He mentioned the power sector which he said was critical for the development of the country and that the Federal Government  was investing heavily in the sector.

He also assured that funds released for other critical sectors like textile, housing, and so on, would revive the affected sectors and create more jobs for the unemployed.

The vice-president expressed optimism that the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) would conduct credible election next year, since, according to him, the INEC  has the adequate manpower and funds for its operations.

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