LAGOS GOVERNOR TINUBU PREDICTS NO APRIL ELECTION

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 LAGOS 001398 SIPDIS SIPDIS STATE FOR AF/W STATE FOR INR/AA E.O. 12958: DECL: 10/05/2016 TAGS: PGOV PHUM KDEM NI SUBJECT: LAGOS GOVERNOR TINUBU PREDICTS NO APRIL ELECTION REF: ABUJA 2842 Classified By: Consul General Brian L. Browne for reasons 1.4 b and d ¶1. (C) Summary: In a conversation with Consul General on November 18, Lagos State Governor Bola Tinubu declared his intention to seek the presidency under the Action Congress (AC) banner. Tinubu predicted that elections would not hold in April and that a six-month interim government, perhaps minus President Obasanjo, would be required to place the electoral process on track. End summary. ¶2. (C) In a conversation with Consul General on November 18, Lagos State Governor Bola Tinubu declared his intention to seek the presidency. Tinubu is the primary financier behind the new Action Congress (AC) party and is gauging whether to use it as a platform to sustain his ambition for higher office. In actuality, Tinubu, a Yoruba, harbors little expectation of a successful presidential bid. However, still bruised from the losses suffered in the southwest during the 2003 when the AC's predecessor failed to run a presidential candidate in deference to fellow Yoruba President Obasanjo, he sees his candidacy as the best way to mobilize AC supporters in the southwest to battle Obasanjo's People's Democratic Party (PDP) candidates. -------------- National Political Scene -------------- ¶3. (C) Tinubu, a loyalist and friend of Vice President Atiku, told Consul General that he hopes the vice president would be able to steer clear of the legal squabbles currently dogging him, thus freeing Atiku to campaign for the presidency. For example, Tinubu held out hope that the courts would decide in the vice president's favor in the case Atiku brought to void the indictment rendered against him several months ago by a pro-Obasanjo panel of inquiry. Tinubu said he believed a decision would be rendered in that case before the PDP convention, then clearing Atiku's name so he could run for the PDP nomination. ¶4. (C) However, Tinubu's optimism that Atiku would be successful in clearing these legal and political hurdles was markedly less pronounced than in prior meetings we have had with the governor (Comment: Tinubu's loyalty to Atiku is remarkable given the degree of opportunism that usually informs most electoral calculations here. Tinubu probably still nurses the dream of being the junior partner on an Atiku-led Tinubu ticket However, that dream is steadily fading under the glare of political reality. Atiku's chances are slim given the intensity of President Obasanjo's animus against him. End comment.) ¶5. (C) Notwithstanding the frantic political machinations taking place throughout the country, Tinubu predicted elections would not occur in April. Electoral preparations have not kept pace and have been woefully outdistanced by political intrigue, he asserted. Voter registration, where it has occurred, has been shoddy. In most places, registration has been nonexistent. If INEC is incapable of shepherding a reliable voter registration when the 2003 rolls could serve as a decent starting point, Tinubu argued, there is little hope INEC could conduct credible general elections, particularly given that 2007 will be Nigeria's maiden attempt at electronic voting. Emphasizing this point, Tinubu said the machines necessary for electronic voting are not even in country (reftel). (Comment: Notwithstanding INEC's current position that it will not use electronic voting, Tinubu believes INEC will soon resurrect electronic voting as a way to turn the electoral process into a more complete hugger-mugger that begs for a postponement. End comment.) ¶6. (C) Nigeria must prepare for the likelihood that elections will not take place in April, contended Tinubu. He predicted the establishment of an interim government for a six-month period with the primary mandate of conducting elections. President Obasanjo would view this as an aperture to extend his tenure, Tinubu offered. However, Tinubu asserted the opposition must begin planning how to turn this apparent opening, so attractive to President Obasanjo, into a cul-de-sac to get him to relinquish power and conduct decent elections. Tinubu exuded confidence that the opposition could outwit Obasanjo by thoroughly limiting presidential power during this electoral interregnum. However, he did not divulge any specifics on how he planned to obtain this objective. (Comment: We have the sense that while Tinubu may be able to articulate his overall objective should this scenario unfold, his silence as to ways and means to saddle LAGOS 00001398 002 OF 002 Obasanjo was more than coyness. Tinubu is probably grappling with the numerous uncertainties inherent in such an extra-constitutional predicament and how these could be turned to disadvantage President Obasanjo. End comment). ¶7. (C) Tinubu also raised that possibility that Obasanjo may still take a more frontal approach to extending his tenure by resurrecting the third term constitutional amendment. Obasanjo, who has been canvassing the National Assembly, is trying to woo Senate President Ken Nnamani, claimed Tinubu. Tinubu believes Obasanjo promised Nnamani control of the PDP apparatus in Enugu State, thereby dumping current PDP Governor Chimaroke Nnamani, a long-time Obasanjo loyalist. In exchange, the senate president would use his leadership post and his solid popularity in the chamber to help push through the amendment. This is why the Enugu governor has been under Electoral and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) heat lately. Also, by choking off Atiku and former military ruler Ibrahim Babangida (IBB),Obasanjo thinks he has stopped money flowing to the hands of third-term oppositionists in the National Assembly, Tinubu said. As a result, buying votes in support of a third-term amendment would be easier than it was when the amendment was defeated last May. -------------- Lagos State -------------- ¶8. (C) Within Tinubu's party, dozens of politicians are vying for the gubernatorial nomination. Tinubu confided that he supported his Chief of Staff over more seasoned politicians, including Deputy Governor Femi Pedro. Chief of Staff Babatunde Fashola, an attorney, has been a long-time confidant of Tinubu and has proven to be a faithful subordinate. Other politicians have been much more opaque in their loyalty and performance of duty, opined Tinubu. However, Tinubu's support for the favored candidate would have to be subtle, a difficult feat given that Tinubu's preference is known in some circles. While he will give material support to all candidates, the chief of staff would receive a little extra comfort and assistance, Tinubu explained. -------------- PDP in Lagos -------------- ¶9. (C) PDP Southwest Vice President Bode George has his eye on the gubernatorial nomination. George has been President Obasanjo's strong-armed lackey in Yorubaland and is not well-liked, said Tinubu. Once Obasanjo leaves office, George needs the gubernatorial seat to avoid falling into trouble due to this lack of goodwill and abundant examples of financial malfeasance. Tinubu insisted George had a hand in the assassination of PDP gubernatorial aspirant Funsho Williams. In a move that can only be described as the acme of cynicism, George has encouraged Williams's widow to run in place of her late husband. Meanwhile, other PDP candidates are being detained and harassed by the police over Williams's murder. Via this strategy, George hoped to exploit the Williams good name and the sympathy it evokes. Many people and much money would rally around her. At the last minute, he would then convince her to relinquish the campaign to a tough man who can deal with the hurly-burly of Lagos State politics, Tinubu vaticinated. -------------- Comment -------------- ¶10. (C) Comment: Tinubu, like a growing number politicians, is coming to grips with the reality that electoral preparations are behind schedule and of threadbare quality. Unless an about-face is quickly negotiated by the electoral commission, Tinubu's prediction that elections will not hold in April will become an increasingly likely prospect. And, like Tinubu, not only will other Nigerians have to deal with this, but the international community, including the U.S., should begin to wrestle with this dilemma beforehand. End comment. BROWNE