Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
06LAGOS1396
2006-12-04 13:52:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Consulate Lagos
Cable title:  

ABIA STATE SUPPORTERS SWITCH PARTIES TO BACK KALU

Tags:  PREL PGOV KDEM NI ELECTIONS 
pdf how-to read a cable
VZCZCXRO5445
RR RUEHPA
DE RUEHOS #1396/01 3381352
ZNY CCCCC ZZH
R 041352Z DEC 06
FM AMCONSUL LAGOS
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 8232
INFO RUEHZK/ECOWAS COLLECTIVE
RUEHUJA/AMEMBASSY ABUJA 8076
C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 LAGOS 001396 

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STATE FOR AF/W
STATE FOR INR/AA

E.O. 12958: DECL: 09/11/2016
TAGS: PREL PGOV KDEM NI ELECTIONS
SUBJECT: ABIA STATE SUPPORTERS SWITCH PARTIES TO BACK KALU
PRESIDENTIAL BID

REF: A. LAGOS 607 B. 05 LAGOS 1801

Classified By: Consul General Brian L. Browne for reasons 1.4 b and d

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 LAGOS 001396

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SIPDIS

STATE FOR AF/W
STATE FOR INR/AA

E.O. 12958: DECL: 09/11/2016
TAGS: PREL PGOV KDEM NI ELECTIONS
SUBJECT: ABIA STATE SUPPORTERS SWITCH PARTIES TO BACK KALU
PRESIDENTIAL BID

REF: A. LAGOS 607 B. 05 LAGOS 1801

Classified By: Consul General Brian L. Browne for reasons 1.4 b and d


1. (SBU) Summary: Abia State Governor Orji Kalu's aides
claim President Obasanjo has punished the State, by
withholding federal resources and assistance, for Kalu's
vociferous opposition to President Obasanjo. In support of
Kalu's presidential bid, Kalu's advisors say his youth would
allow him to relate to armed militants in a manner that will
ameliorate the Niger Delta crisis. Many Kalu supporters have
switched to the Progressive People's Alliance (PPA) party,
but the Governor remains in the People's Democratic Party
(PDP) for now. End summary.

-------------- -
Abia State Conditions No Better Than Elsewhere
-------------- -


2. (U) In early November Poloff and Polspec visited Umuahia,
capital of Abia State. Umuahia is no better than other
cities in the Southeast. Roads are poor. Power shortages
are commonplace. During the visit, Poloff noticed one
neighborhood with immaculate grounds and well-serviced roads.
It happened to be the neighborhood where the Abia State
Speaker resides.

-------------- --------------
Infrastructure Reflects Obasanjo's Dislike of Kalu
-------------- --------------


3. (C) Victor Onochie, Senior Special Assistant for Special
Duties to the Governor, ascribed the State's poor
infrastructure to Kalu's inveterate feud with Obasanjo. Kalu
opposed the third term amendment, and has opposed Obasanjo's
attempt to control Abia State, Onochie contended. According
to Onochie, the President responded to Kalu's strident
opposition by canceling funding for numerous projects and
zeroing funds for the maintenance of federal roads in Abia.
As a result, the people of Abia have suffered, Onochie added.


4. (C) Another source of friction has been Kalu's
presidential ambitions, Onochie opined. According to
Onochie, Kalu started eyeing the presidency the moment he
became Governor, and has spent his two terms building toward
this goal.

-------------- --------------

Kalu Presidency Would Address Niger Delta Crisis...
-------------- --------------


5. (SBU) When Poloff asked what would be the priorities of a
Kalu presidency, Onochie remarked that Kalu would be fair to
all sections and groups in Nigeria. Kalu, at 46 one of the
youngest of the presidential contenders, would represent a
new generation, Onochie asserted. Kalu's relative youth
would enable him to better deal with the Niger Delta
militants, as he would go to them himself and talk to their
leaders. As Onochie described it, "The boys in the creeks
are the boys of our generation, and they have seen too many
broken promises from the government".


6. (U) Sunday Nwakama, a journalist with Abia State,
described Kalu as the one candidate who truly champions the
Igbo cause. However, backtracking a few steps from this
ethnic chauvinism, Nwakama noted that Kalu as governor has
employed people from different ethnicities, and is the
candidate with the best understanding of Nigeria's ethnic
mosaic.

--------------
...And Uphold Rule of Law
--------------


7. (SBU) According to Onochie, Kalu's successful business
background makes him likely to honor contracts, both
political and commercial. Obasanjo has a poor understanding
of economics and has not had the patience to learn. The top
priority of a Kalu presidency would be building
infrastructure and provide consistent electric power, Onochie
stressed.


8. (C) Onochie told Poloff that Kalu initiated contact with
opposition candidates Ibrahim Babangida, Vice-President Atiku
and Muhammadu Buhari to form an alliance. Kalu is reaching
out to potential allies to form an alliance in opposition to
Obasanjo, Onochie stated.


LAGOS 00001396 002 OF 002


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Kalu Supporters Switch to the PPA
--------------


9. (U) On the recommendation of Onochie, Poloff visited the
Abia Progressive People's Alliance (PPA) secretariat. The
PPA secretariat occupies the building that formerly housed
the People's Democratic Party (PDP),which has now moved 200
meters down the same street. Fresh blue and white paint
representing the PPA has replaced the PDP colors of red,
white, and green. At the PPA office, posters touting Kalu
for President were ubiquitous.


10. (C) Dr. Emeka Onuoha, Administrative Secretary for the
Abia PPA, explained that important, pro-Kalu members of the
Abia PDP have switched to the PPA. According to Onuoha, PPA
members are disenchanted with the pro-Obasanjo National
Secretariat trying to control the State chapter. The PDP, in

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Onuoha's opinion, is no longer relevant to people's lives.
PDP has monetized all party offices and nominations. Every
position has a pricetag, he lamented. In contrast, the PPA
planned to have open nominations and follow a democratic
process. The PPA will run candidates for all the major
positions in Abia, Onuoha stated. (Comment: Onuoha's
statement about an open process would be perjurious if
uttered in court. Kalu has governed Abia as a closed shop.
We doubt the PPA will function any differently. End comment)


11. (C) When Poloff asked Onuoha about the Kalu posters, he
responded that "Of course, he is not a member (of the PPA),
but he is the Governor." PPA has an existing structure,
Onuoha claimed, as "nongovernmental organizations (NGOs) have
rallied to us".

-------------- --------------
An EFCC Investigation Looms, but No Impeachment Yet
-------------- --------------


12. (C) Kalu is one of the governors squarely in the
crosshairs of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission
(EFCC). Speaking before the Senate, EFCC Chief Ribadu
charged Kalu with misappropriating over 65 billion Naira (500
million USD) of public funds. Responding to the charges,
Onochie repeated an earlier Kalu charge that the EFCC has
been a very active tool of President Obasanjo to shackle the
Governor and other opponents. Onochie claimed that after the
EFCC team's visit to Abia months ago, the investigation has
fizzled.

--------------
APGA Rejects Kalu
--------------


13. (SBU) Longman Nwachukwu, factional Abia State chairman of
the All-Progressive Grand Alliance (APGA) to which Kalu
earlier reached out for support (Ref B),described Kalu as
incompetent and corrupt. Citing as examples a power plant
scheduled for Abia that went to Ogun and a dry port that went
to Kano instead of Abia, Nwachukwu commented that Abia has
lost important infrastructure projects and experienced severe
shortages in water and electricity during Kalu's tenure.
Reciting the EFCC charges against Kalu, Nwachukwu also
claimed Kalu set up an eight billion Naira account (60
million USD) in his daughter's name. Nwachukwu also charged
that the Broadcasting Corporation of Abia (BCA) refused to
show paid announcements from APGA, while devoting coverage
glorifying Kalu and his mother.


14. (C) Comment: Kalu has made no secret of his ambition for
the presidency, and has openly clashed with Obasanjo on the
third term and other governance issues. (ref A) Kalu is a
longshot as a presidential candidate, and has suffered a
diminution in his popularity as a result of the poor state of
Abia's transportation grid and waste management.
Nevertheless, he still has some popularity, particularly
among young Igbo males. Depending on how the die is cast, he
could emerge as a Vice-Presidential candidate on a serious
ticket. End comment.
BROWNE