GROUPS MOVE UNSUCCESSFULLY FOR OYO STATE

C O N F I D E N T I A L LAGOS 000004 SIPDIS STATE FOR AF/W STATE FOR INR/AA E.O. 12958: DECL: 12/29/2015 TAGS: PREL PGOV NI SUBJECT: GROUPS MOVE UNSUCCESSFULLY FOR OYO STATE RECONCILIATION REF: LAGOS 1921 Classified By: Consul General Brian L. Browne for Reason 1.4 (D) -------------- SUMMARY -------------- ¶1. (C) Despite intervention by the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP),Afenifere, and the Yoruba Council of Elders (YCE),the political standoff in Oyo State remains. The eighteen assemblymen who initiated impeachment proceedings against Governor Rasheed Ladoja remain firm in their resolve to see the process through, and the Oyo High Court denied an injunction sought by Ladoja supporters, saying the court had no jurisdiction. Meanwhile, lavishing Lamidi Adedibu with encomiums at a recent public gathering, President Obasanjo has many people questioning his impartiality. End summary. -------------- MANY INTERCESSIONS -------------- ¶2. (U) Since violence erupted December 20 at the Oyo State House of Assembly between supporters of Governor Ladoja and his rival, Lamidi Adedibu, several groups have attempted to mediate, including the national leadership of the PDP. On December 28, a five-man panel established by the PDP held a meeting with the feuding party members to help identify ways out of the crisis. The two southwest socio-cultural groups, Afenifere and the YCE, also have intervened. ¶3. (U) However, these interventions seem not to have cooled the passions of the feuding groups. The eighteen assemblymen who started the impeachment process have vowed to continue, claiming the dispute between Governor Ladoja and Adedibu is not the gravamen of their claims against the Governor. The group is expected to petition for appointment of an investigative panel shortly. That step was delayed by a bomb scare at the House on December 29 which postponed sessions until police can assure the facility is safe. -------------- HIGH COURT REFUSES TO STOP IMPEACHMENT -------------- ¶4. (U) The Oyo High Court declined to issue an injunction in the suit brought by the fourteen pro-Ladoja assemblymen, ruling that it had no jurisdiction to interfere in impeachment, which the court described as a purely legislative process. -------------- COMMENT -------------- ¶5. (C) Protestations are not completely convincing that the dispute between Ladoja and the eighteen assemblymen is purely local and not linked to the Ladoja-Adedibu animus. Most likely Adedibu is a sponsor of the move against Ladoja. Quite plausibly, Adedibu believes he has the tacit endorsement of Abuja. President Obasanjo's recent pro-Adedibu comments, coupled with Ladoja's past association with Vice President Atiku, indicate that 2007 electoral politics, both national and state, have contributed to this welter. End comment. BROWNE