PDP POLICY RALLY FOR THE NEWLY ELECTED

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 ABUJA 001065 SIPDIS SIPDIS DOE FOR CAROLYN GAY E.O. 12958: DECL: 05/23/2017 TAGS: KDEM NI PGOV ELECTIONS SUBJECT: PDP POLICY RALLY FOR THE NEWLY ELECTED Classified By: Political Counselor Russell J. Hanks for Reasons 1.4 (b & d) ¶1. (C) On May 19, Poloff attended the PDP Policy Retreat for the newly elected members of the PDP held in Abuja at the International Conference Center. The Keynote speaker was former U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations and current lobbyist/chairman of Goodworks International Andrew Young. The two day event was replete with the party's main figures including current President Obasanjo as well as President elect Umar Musa Yar'adua and Vice President elect Goodluck Jonathan. Touting party slogans and distributing party propaganda to all participants, the discussions on policy that were advertised were little more than venues for talking points to be read and loyalty to the party stressed at all costs. President Obasanjo even remarked "one cannot be loyal to Nigeria if one is not loyal to the party", referring of course to the PDP. The event began with the arrival of President Obasanjo, Umar Musa Yar'adua and Goodluck Jonathan to the delight of the partisan crowd. President Obasanjo delivered his opening remarks in a prepared speech, which mused about his accomplishments, derided the opposition and called for complete and total loyalty to the party. Twice during the speech, Obasanjo reiterated the need for all party members to be current on their dues, no doubt of prime importance to the outgoing president as he will now oversee the party. The concept of 2020 20, whereby Nigeria will be one of the top twenty countries economically by the year 2020, was prevalent throughout the speech. The two day retreat focused on eleven distinct topics as dictated by party leaders and served as a formal session in which the PDP could lay out its policy objectives. End Summary. ¶2. (C) Development as a function of National Security: The party resolved that development can only occur when a nation such as Nigeria is secure. PDP officials cited examples of physical, economic, cultural, psychological and political security that needed to be improved upon in order for Nigeria to move forward. While not limited to national security, the party highlighted the Niger Delta crisis as a prime example of where a lack of security was hindering progress. Party members also cautioned against speaking out against the party as that would threaten to destabilize not only the party, but the country at large. ¶3. (C) Party-Government Leadership: PDP members spoke at length about the need for the party to lead effectively in the new government. At the forefront was the belief that since the PDP brought civilian rule to Nigeria, that they were in the best position to move the country forward. During this segment and others party officials made disparaging remarks towards the opposition parties closing with the following assertion. "While the party assists the government to be productive, the government assists the party to institutionalize. This is synergy per excellence." ¶4. (C) Fiscal Prudence and Education: PDP leaders laid forth general plans in which to restrain government spending, ensure micro-ecnomic growth in an effort to manage inflation. Party leaders highlighted the need to better regulate the quality of government expenditures and seemed to believe that the most effective way to do that was to not spend money. In quick succession was the emphasis to revamp the education system in Nigeria. Lecturers called on increased spending for schools, so that Nigerians can participate more fully in their economy. Predicting the need for a highly educated work force PDP members stressed the need to modernize both the curriculum as well as facilities. ¶5. (C) Comment: The following topics were lumped together and elaborated in even less detail than the other topics. Cooperative Federalism, Economic growth, health care, creating a 100 percent rule of law state, talents of the creative sector of the Nigeria economy, war against corruption and the millennium development goals and debt relief. Each presenter took the opportunity to congratulate one another for the PDP victory and seemed uninterested in having a serious policy dialogue even within the party itself. The two day retreat was advertised as a way for new party members to become familiar with the policies of the party and derive new plans for its implementation. However, it was little more than a rally focused on promoting the PDP ABUJA 00001065 002 OF 002 and ensuring that all its members would adhere to the policies laid forth by the outgoing president Obasanjo. In the end, there was little in the way of substance and no new initiatives were announced or even discussed. While too early to discern at this point, it appears that any PDP policy objectives will continue to come from the top and not from a free exchange of ideas among its party members. End Comment. CAMPBELL