SELECTION OF PDP PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE CAUSES RIFT

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 LAGOS 000048 SIPDIS SIPDIS STATE FOR AF/W STATE FOR INR/AA CIUDAD JUAREZ FOR DONNA BLAIR ISTANBUL FOR TASHAWNA SMITH SAO PAULO FOR ANDREW WITHERSPOON E.O. 12958: DECL: 09/11/2016 TAGS: PREL PGOV KDEM NI SUBJECT: SELECTION OF PDP PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE CAUSES RIFT REF: A. LAGOS 1399 ¶B. LAGOS 607 LAGOS 00000048 001.2 OF 002 Classified By: Consul General Brian L. Browne for reasons 1.4 (b and d) ¶1. (C) Summary: Many influential PDP members were stunned by President Obasanjo,s unalloyed, convention-eve endorsement of Katsina Governor Umaru Yar,Adua as PDP presidential candidate, presidential advisor Lawal Batagarawa told Consul General. Obasanjo,s somewhat Delphic selection of Yar,Adua, and the President's insistence that other candidates abandon their quests for the nomination turned many prominent politicians' calculations and expenditures into detritus. This has weakened the PDP in some of its traditional southern bastions as aggrieved insiders contemplate strategic alliances outside of their party. End summary. ¶2. (C) Many influential PDP members were stunned by President Obasanjo,s endorsement of Katsina Governor Umaru Yar,Adua as PDP presidential candidate, Special Presidential Advisor Lawal Batagarawa said in a December conversation with Consul General. ¶3. (C) While Obasanjo presented Yar,Adua as a consensus candidate, that unanimity was more ersatz than real, gauged Batagarawa. The more genuine consensus was that the other candidates, although not paragons of any recognizable virtues themselves, nonetheless had been shabbily treated. No one was more ill-treated than Rivers Governor Peter Odili, continued Batagarawa, who disclaimed holding any brief or special sentiment for the Rivers Chief executive. (Comment: Despite the claims of surprise, Yar,Adua,s candidacy may not have come out of the blue. Yar,Adua wanted the nomination for months but knew the sine qua non was Obasanjo,s backing. The quiescent politician may have understood Obasanjo,s contrarian spirit better than most. Yar'Adua knew he would remain in good standing with the President as long as he appeared reticent about the PDP ticket. Rather than campaign openly, Yar'Adua developed ties with the new business elite, the "Transcorp Gang", created by Obasanjo. Yar,Adua developed ties with business giants Alhaji Dangote, Tony Elumelu, Jim Ovia, Femi Odetola, as well as Andy Uba, a close presidential advisor, and Kwara Governor Bukola Saraki. It was this group who began to steer Obasanjo toward Yar'Adua a few months before the PDP convention. End comment.) -------------- -------------- Buhari Strong In North; PDP,s Fate In South Uncertain -------------- -------------- ¶4. (C) Evaluating Yar,Adua,s chances against former military leader Muhammadu Buhari, Batagarawa concluded the north would back Buhari. Yar,Adua might be able to maintain the support of northern traditional rulers, but Buhari would win the support of northern intellectuals and the Ulema, the assemblage of prominent northern Muslim clerics, Batagarawa predicted. The northern rank-and-file could also stand behind Buhari, assessed Batagarawa. ¶5. (C) The PDP can no longer afford to be smug, Batagarawa insisted. Given the fact that Obasanjo did not consult widely and waited until the very last to anoint Yar,Adua, it would be difficult to bring back into the fold the now estranged northern power brokers. Illustrating this point, Batagarawa said Yar,Adua tried to meet former NSA and PDP presidential candidate Aliyu Gusau. Gusau and Yar'Adua have a long, almost filial, history, with the latter having helped the former secure the Katsina governorship in 1999. However, after the PDP convention, Gusau refused to see Yar'Adua. Concerned about Yar'Adua's relative political inexperience, Batagarawa suggested Buhari might be a better candidate. Buhari had support in the north and was respected by the military; if he could find a strong southern running mate, he might beat Yar,Adua, Batagarawa speculated. -------------- PDP Vulnerable in the South-South... -------------- ¶6. (C) Less certain, according to Batagarawa, would be the outcome in the South. Despite its strong standing in the South in 2003, the PDP now stood weakened because of how the convention was conducted, he observed. LAGOS 00000048 002.2 OF 002 ¶7. (C) Peter Odili, who spent millions of dollars pursuing the PDP presidential nomination, lost not only the presidential ticket. Odili was told he would get the VP slot, but minutes before the convention was declared open, Odili's nomination for that spot was declared closed when a few insiders, led by EFCC Chairman Ribadu, convinced Obasanjo to change his mind. Odili strode into the convention confidently, but left befuddled and disappointed, according to Batagarawa. Because of this brusque handling, Odili was seriously considering renouncing the PDP. Should Odili decide to leave the PDP, the party would be weakened in the South-South, Batagarawa observed. Cross River Governor Donald Duke was also poorly treated, said Batagarawa. A dalliance by Duke with the opposition ANPP is not out of the cards. Additionally, he noted that Akwa Ibom Governor Victor Atta would likely find greener pastures in an alliance with ANPP flagbearer Muhamadu Buhari or Vice President Atiku in the AC. -------------- ...Faces Difficulties in the Southeast... -------------- ¶8. (C) The PDP faced an uphill battle in Imo State. Governor Udenwa, incensed at Obasanjo,s ultimatum for the other candidates to make room for Yar'Adua, was the last governor to acquiesce to the president's request. Batagarawa predicted Udenwa would likely join forces with Atiku. Abia Governor Orji Kalu already has split from the PDP (Ref B). Batagarawa observed that Anambra State is in the throes of political upheaval and could similarly prove a challenge for the PDP. -------------- ...And Southwest -------------- ¶9. (C) Lagos State remained up for grabs, opined Batagarawa. The PDP would also face a difficult time controlling Ekiti, he predicted. The gubernatorial candidate in Ekiti was another figure imposed at President Obasanjo's behest. The candidate was the puppet of Obasanjo's closest private attorney, Afe Babalola, and unpopular with mostly everyone in the PDP save for his patron. Oyo State would be problematic for the PDP because Obasanjo has stood behind Oyo strongman Adedibu while embattled Governor Ladoja has garnered local sympathy as the victim of Adedibu's harsh political tactics. Ladoja would likely split from the PDP since he did not win its gubernatorial nomination. -------------- Comment -------------- ¶10. (C) Comment: The opaque manner in which Obasanjo handled the presidential nomination has sent tremors through the PDP and has established a realignment of power with the party. Some have lost while others have gained in this new constellation. Batagarawa's observations about immediate post-convention reactions seem accurate. However, as the dust starts to settle and people begin to make hard, cold political calculations based on their self-interest and not in response to the rumblings of their viscera, we suspect most of the southern politicians who contested for the presidency will resign themselves to sticking to the PDP. In the final analysis, they have no where else to go. They figure the PDP will control the South as it did in 1999 and ¶2003. For them, it is better to be a loser on the winning side than a winner on the losing side. End comment. BROWNE