Former Governor of Niger State, Babangida Aliyu, has given reasons why Northern Governors opposed former President Goodluck Jonathan’s re-election bid in 2015.

He said it was because they felt the North would be disadvantaged if Jonathan returned to power.

Speaking in Minna on Friday, Aliyu claimed there had been an agreement that Jonathan would complete the remaining tenure of former President Musa Yar’adua’s tenure and contest the 2011 election as a sole candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

He said Jonathan’s insistence on vying for a second term in 2015 was against the agreement the then northern Governors had with him.

“All the governors in the North under the PDP supported the then Vice President Goodluck Jonathan to complete the remaining years of Yar’Adua’s tenure and to contest the next presidential election as a sole candidate of our great party.

“However, midway, President Goodluck Jonathan insisted on running for the office in 2015 against the grain of our earlier agreement.

“Since this was against the grain of our earlier agreement in the party, and which we, the governors in the North felt the North would have been shortchanged if Jonathan had succeeded, we rose stoutly to insist on the agreement we all had.

“On that premise, we opposed Jonathan. But all along, Goodluck Jonathan had enjoyed every support from the governors in the north and the entire region.”

Manchester United legend, Rio Ferdinand has identified England international, Phil Foden as the best young player in the world at the moment.

Ferdinand came up with the claim after watching the youngster shine in Man City 2-0 win over Paris Saint-Germain on Tuesday night.

Manchester City are now in the final of the Champions League for the first time in their history after a 4-1 aggregate win over Paris Saint-Germain.

Algerian international Riyad Mahrez scored a brace at the Etihad, with Foden really catching when City attacked.

Foden set up Mahrez’s second goal and came very close to scoring himself, hitting the post in the second half.

And Ferdinand believes the England star is playing better than any of his contemporaries around the world, rating him above Kylian Mbappe and Borussia Dortmund striker Erling Haaland.

“At the moment I would say Phil Foden is the best young player in form, in the world right now, the former Manchester United defender told BT Sport.

“On form, I think he is. Whether he’s the best player…but on form I think he is.

“Mbappe didn’t play today, Haaland hasn’t played at this level. I’m not saying Foden’s the best player but at the moment, right now he’s the most in-form.

“It feels like he’s unfazed at this level, semi-final of the Champions League and he’s come in here making match-defining moments and he’s 20-years-old.”