NIGERIA: NDP OFFICIAL SUPPORTS BABANGIDA FOR

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 ABUJA 002166 SIPDIS E.O. 12958: DECL: 07/23/2007 TAGS: PREL PGOV KDEM NI SUBJECT: NIGERIA: NDP OFFICIAL SUPPORTS BABANGIDA FOR PRESIDENT CLASSIFIED BY AMBASSADOR HOWARD F. JETER. REASON 1.5 (B) and (D). ¶1. (C) Summary. Architect Baba Isimi, Director General of the National Secretariat of the newly registered NDP July 1 told Poloff that the NDP would nominate IBB as Presidential candidate if given the option. According to Isimi, the NDP considers itself a centrist party, touting a new generation of politicians who represent ideology over personality. Isimi failed to see the inconsistency between this avowal and his support for the Faustian Babangida. Claiming the need for more time to prepare, the party will canvas to postpone local government elections until December 2002. End Summary. -------------- Party Background and Philosophy -------------- ¶2. (C) The National Democratic Party (NDP) was one of three new political parties to be registered in Nigeria June 22 (septel). Poloff met Isimi, of the National Democratic Party, July 1 in order to learn about the new party. Isimi explained the NDP was borne out of dissatisfaction with the People's Democratic Party (PDP) and particularly President Obasanjo. According to Isimi, Obasanjo was not part of the original PDP. Rather, when he was freed from prison a deal was cut to impose Obasanjo on the party. (Note: What Isimi forgot to add was that Babangida was an important architect of that deal. End Note). Out of the disgruntled PDP membership emerged first the Arewa Frontiers, which became the National Frontiers. The National Frontiers then split into the NDP and the UNDP (now the UNPP). The NDP considers itself a moderate party, open to dialogue with all regions of Nigeria. ¶3. (U) Asked what the NDP had to offer as an opposition party, Isimi replied that the party has a strong ideological base rather than one based on personalities. He believes that Nigeria should realize that it needs help and should find a "national mentor" to emulate. (Note: In subsequent conversation it was clearer that he thinks Nigeria should find a rich uncle. End Note) Isimi described himself and his party as the new generation of Nigerian politicians, who have spent their entire lives in the post-colonial era. -------------- Candidates -------------- ¶4. (C) When asked about the differences between the NDP and the United Nigerian People's Party (UNPP),Isimi stated the UNPP wants IBB as their candidate. The NDP, on the other hand, is sympathetic toward IBB and believes it has his goodwill, but reiterated that the NDP is a party of ideals rather than personalities. He continued by stating that if IBB chose the NDP, the NDP would accept him as its candidate. He believes that IBB will emerge as the consensus candidate of the North and that he has the political savvy to win the election and lead the country. Isimi also believes that IBB's main priority is not to become President, but to remove Obasanjo from Aso Rock; contesting his run for a second term may be the only way to accomplish this. ¶5. (C) On other candidates Isimi considers Vice-President Abubakar worse than President Obasanjo, and declared Anyim was too "stupid" to become President. He believes a Buhari candidacy is also destined to fail. In order to get the ANPP nomination, Buhari needs to have an ally capture the ANPP chairmanship, which he thinks unlikely. In some quarters Buhari has a reputation for being against corruption; however, there are many who haven't forgotten that they suffered from Buhari's fight against corruption and still bear a grudge. -------------- Comment -------------- ¶6. (C) The rhetoric of the NDP is, to put it charitably, interesting and a bit confusing. Perhaps most honestly put, it is simply pragmatic. Isimi is articulate, intelligent and excited to be among the members of a new party that will contest in the 2003 elections. However, his attempt to paint himself and his party as a fresh start fell flat. While disavowing the politics of personality and exalting ideology, on the one hand, he openly tugged at Babangida's coattails with the other. Isimi seemed unaware of the contradiction presented by touting IBB as the NDP's preferred candidate. Likewise, he didn't appear to appreciate the irony when he talked about the NDP's plans for a convention. He stated that there would be no convention for three years, because "you can see from the other parties, what a destabilizing effect intra-party elections have." JETER