CIVIL SOCIETY SEEKS TO ENGAGE THE POPULACE TO JOIN

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 LAGOS 000392

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

STATE FOR AF/W
STATE FOR INR/AA
STATE PASS OPIC FOR ZHAN AND MSTUCKART
DOE FOR CAROLYN GAY
WARSAW FOR LISA PIASCIK
CIUDAD JUAREZ FOR DONNA BLAIR
ISTANBUL FOR TASHAWNA SMITH
SAO PAOLO FOR ANDREW WITHERSPOON

E.O. 12958: DECL: 09/11/2016
TAGS: PGOV KDEM PHUM NI
SUBJECT: CIVIL SOCIETY SEEKS TO ENGAGE THE POPULACE TO JOIN
THE PROTESTS

REF: LAGOS 368

LAGOS 00000392 001.2 OF 002


Classified By: Consul Alan B. C. Latimer for reasons 1.4 (B) and (D)


1. (C) Summary: In a May 21 meeting with Poloff, Chairman of
the Coalition for Democracy and Rule of Law (CODERL) and
Pronaco Media and Publicity Director Wale Okunniyi discussed
the election, Pronaco's proposed new constitution, and plans
for future protests. Civil society organizations will
participate in the sit-down protests planned for May 28-29,
and are planning future protests to press for an overturn of
the April election results. End summary.

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Civil Society to Engage Populace in the Protests
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2. (C) In a May 21 meeting, Chairman of CODERL Wale Okunniyi
told Poloff that civil society would continue using protests
to press for a negotiated transitional government and new
elections. They had planned a series of sit-downs and street
protests for May 28-29, which would encourage residents to
show their displeasure by refusing economic activity and
avoiding the inauguration festivities. Okunniyi said they
would protest the incompetence and insincerity of the
Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and the
ruling People's Democratic Party (PDP).


3. (C) Civil society groups would not rely on the election
tribunals for justice, but after the sit-down strike would
meet to determine their next move. Although Poloff requested
more details, Okunniyi replied while they have future plans
now was not the time to divulge them. Asked how civil
society would convince common traders to join the struggle,
Okunniyi responded that civil society would sensitize the
populace to join the protests by going to the people and
asking them to sit down to make a short-term sacrifice for
long-term economic and political gain. Okunniyi said they
would educate the populace about the current economic
structure, which he characterized as a system designed
largely to benefit the elite.


4. (C) When Poloff asked about the quality of the Lagos
gubernatorial elections, Okunniyi responded that although the
Lagos elections were not free of shortcomings and
malpractices, because residents voted for Action Congress
(AC) Governor-elect Babatunde Fashola the results represented
the will of the people. This made them acceptable, Okunniyi
stated.

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Pronaco Unveils a Proposed Constitution
--------------


5. (C) Okunniyi, also Pronaco's Media and Publicity
Director, eagerly discussed the new draft constitution, which
Pronaco subsequently unveiled on May 22. Pronaco was founded
in 2005 by the People's National Congress, a union of
multiple ethnic interests and civil society groups which was
formed in reaction to the National People's Reform Congress
convened by President Obasanjo. As a result of the
military-imposed constitution, Nigeria has a disconnect
between its people and the government, particularly the
federal government's failure to recognize ethnic aspirations,
Okunniyi contended. The Pronaco constitution gives more
power to the people to enforce their rights, which is not
possible in the 1999 constitution. Chief Anthony Enahoro
served as Pronaco Chairman and Nobel laureate Wole Soyinka
was Deputy National Chairman. (Note: Soyinka was once very
active in Pronaco. However, in his autobiography he
criticized Enahoro's leadership and he did not attend
Pronaco's press conference announcing the proposed
constitution. End note)


LAGOS 00000392 002.2 OF 002



6. (C) The Pronaco constitution, designed to devolve more
power to the states, created 18 regions based on ethnicity
with provision for self-determination based on a plebiscite.
Instead of the federal government taking a lion's share of
revenues, the regions would take their share first at 50
percent, with 35 percent shared by all regions and 15 percent
allocated to the federal government. Okunniyi explained to
Poloff that this devolution would keep people from being
repressed by the federal government, and the reduced national
share would force people look into their own regions for
wealth rather than rely on Abuja or the Niger Delta.

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Comment
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7. (C) Civil society in Lagos is filled with veterans of
previous pro-democracy struggles, but for mass mobilization
largely relies on the participation of the labor unions,
whose ability to mobilize determines the success of any civil
protest. While civil society is still attempting to rouse
public ire against the elections, so far the police and
military have successfully kept Lagos from mass disturbance.
In addition, civil society has not convinced the populace to
actively participate in the protests, as Lagosians largely
welcomed the election of Fashola and have not been engaged in
protest since then. The Pronaco constitution is useful as
the expression of the aspirations of some groups, but those
supporting the Pronaco constitution are political outsiders
without the clout to make their aspirations a reality. End
comment.

BROWNE