PDP STALWART WARNS OF CONTINUING TERM EXTENSION

C O N F I D E N T I A L ABUJA 003196 SIPDIS SIPDIS E.O. 12958: DECL: 12/12/2016 TAGS: PGOV PREL KDEM NI ELECTIONS SUBJECT: PDP STALWART WARNS OF CONTINUING TERM EXTENSION PLANS Classified By: Political Counselor Russell J. Hanks for reasons 1.4 (b) and (d). ¶1. (C) Founding member of the ruling People's Democratic Party (PDP) and a member of its Board of Trustees Isyaku Ibrahim discussed the continued interest of President Obasanjo in extending his term in the press and privately with PolCouns. He predicted that no elections would take place in 2007. Ahead of the PDP nominating convention, he stated to the press that the "Third Term plot is still alive." He warned of the danger to Nigeria of any term extension and charged the National Assembly to be "vigilant." Privately, he said the only way to be sure that Obasanjo was unable to extend his time in office was an impeachment. "The mood in the National Assembly is black, and I expect disgruntled PDP members to link up with the ANPP opposition very soon," he claimed. ¶2. (C) Isyaku then stated that Obasanjo has been "a very bad leader." He complained that the President had soiled the party and commented that "people should be ashamed to be associated with a party that has no respect for the rule of law and has become, in the words of Wole Soyinka, "a nest of killers." The future, he claimed, had to be a "responsible Northern candidate" not among the "thieves that hold office in both parties." ¶3. (C) In the press, he complained that no one seemed interested in asking about the money being spent on the campaigns. He urged journalists to look for the sources of the funds. Privately, he said that Rivers Governor Peter Odili had spent 50 billion naira ($390 million) to date. "All Odili has done is to tour the country to share cash and vehicles with politicians and traditional rulers," he said. He claimed that others, including Cross River Governor Donald Duke and Bauchi Governor Ahmadu Mu'azu had also been spending huge sums, "but nowhere near that of Odili." He asked rhetorically why no efforts had been made by INEC or the EFCC to investigate the sources of the "planeloads of cash" moving about the country. ¶4. (C) COMMENT: Isyaku Ibrahim is one of the founding members of the PDP and the only one that remains on the board of trustees. His obvious frustration with the antics of his own party have been evident for some time and he appears to be seeking a more public profile to vent his frustration and influence the developments of the next couple of weeks. CAMPBELL