TV CO-OP PROPOSAL FOR NIGERIA

UNCLAS ABUJA 000236

SIPDIS


STATE FOR PA/OBS/BS, GSANTULLI
AF/PD FOR PZABRISKIE,

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: KPAO OPRC OIIP CVIS
SUBJECT: TV CO-OP PROPOSAL FOR NIGERIA

REF: STATE 210798


1. SUMMARY: The U.S. Mission to Nigeria would like to
propose a TV co-op on "Democratic Elections: Lessons from
2006 US Mid-Term Elections." This co-op will be done by
four persons Independent Radio and Television crew of Lagos-
based Africa Independent Television (AIT),and Kano-based
Freedom Radio. AIT is the most-popular Nigerian private TV
station with international satellite license and broadcasts
to the US and other African countries, while Freedom Radio
is the largest private radio station in Northern Nigeria
with liberal editorial policy and a large Muslim and Hausa-
speaking youth audience. END SUMMARY.


2. The 2007 elections will be a test for the survival of
Nigeria's democracy. Competition for elected political
offices has expanded since the Military left the stage in
1999 with 30 political parties now registered. The 2003
elections at the local state and federal levels were
characterized by violence due to widespread voting
irregularities as well as procedural flaws, particularly in
collating and counting votes. The ruling party won and
efforts by the opposition to challenge the results were
unsuccessful. The recent attempts to circumvent
constitutional term limits is heating up and posing a
serious challenges to a smooth democratic transition in

2007.


3. The target audience would be "average" Nigerians who are
just beginning to understand their rights and roles in a
transparent, democratic society; those with some high school
or college education, those under age 45, those working as
civil servants in state and local governments and generally
those with enough income to purchase and read newspapers
occasionally or watch television news regularly, and those
with little or no education who listen to radio news
programs regularly in either English or Hausa language and
through that, able to form opinions and influence decisions.
This is not the "A" list of society, but rather the majority
of Nigerians who can make a difference in a truly democratic
setting where the government is really accountable to the
people.


4. We envision the TV co-op program focusing on the 2006 US
Mid-Term elections; issues; electioneering campaign
processes; and events reflecting broad-based participatory
democracy. It will emphasize how issues shape voters
decisions and why those decisions expressed by their ballots
should be respected. The Coop will also emphasize the
importance of transparency in governance and peaceful
processes for changing corrupt leaders through the ballot
boxes. This TV Co-op will emphasize that elections at other
levels such as state legislatures and the congress are as
important as the Presidential election. The coop will
explore how issues are addressed in the U.S. Post believes
that the TV Coop could provide valuable lessons learned for
Nigeria's 2007 elections. Such a program would link
directly to the Mission MPP goal of democracy and
governance.



6. We propose four crew members, three TV crew members from
the AIT, and one Radio reporter from the Freedom Radio, Kano
for the TV Co-op.


7. PAS Information Officer, Rudolph Stewart is the Mission
point of contact (e-mail: StewartRE@state.gov, telephone
numbers: office-234-9-461-4202; home 234 -9-314-3862 and
mobile 234-803-665-1240. Please also CC PAO Lagos Atim
Eneida George (e-mail GeorgeAE@state.gov on subsequent
cables and e-mail responses.


CAMPBELL