MILITANTS SEIZE PDP CHIEFTAINS IN ONDO STATE; MEND

C O N F I D E N T I A L LAGOS 000622 SIPDIS SIPDIS STATE FOR AF/W STATE FOR INR/AA STATE PASS OPIC FOR ZHAN AND MSTUCKART DOE FOR CAROLYN GAY E.O. 12958: DECL: 09/11/2017 TAGS: PGOV KDEM NI SUBJECT: MILITANTS SEIZE PDP CHIEFTAINS IN ONDO STATE; MEND DISAVOWS RESPONSIBILITY REF: LAGOS 103 Classified By: Acting Consul General Donald McConnell for reasons 1.4 ( B) and (D) ¶1. (U) On September 9, militants claiming to be members of Movement for the Emancipation of the Niger Delta (MEND) seized 11 chieftains of the People's Democratic Party (PDP) in Ondo State, a state which had previously been unscathed by kidnapping activity. However, a MEND spokesperson disclaimed responsibiity for the kidnapping, alleging the kidnapping was criminal in nature. On September 10 the militants released two chieftains, but it is not known if the militants received compensation. ¶2. (U) The abductions occurred in southern Ondo State, an oil-rich region populated by the Ijaw and Itsekiri who have long claimed marginalization by the Yoruba-dominated state government. The militants publicly claimed the Ondo State government reneged on its promises and failed to provide adequate compensation for their services in rigging the April 2007 elections. Opposition Labour Party (LP) candidate Olusegun Mimiko had previously alleged the PDP manipulated the April election, particularly in southern Ondo, in incumbent Governor Olusegun Agagu's favor. Mimiko's case is at the electoral tribunal. -------------- Abduction Appears to be of Parochial Nature -------------- ¶3. (C) Ade Adetimehin, State Welfare Officer for the Alliance for Democracy (AD) dismissed the notion Agagu reneged on an agreement, stating flatly that, "politicians do their payoffs right away and do not wait to pay later." Adetimehin told Polspec the actual conflict was between two rival PDP factions in Obe, who are contending for the PDP nominations in the Local Government Council (LGC) elections anticipated for December. The kidnapping of the chieftains was a bold attempt to gain the upper hand, Adetimehin said. -------------- Comment -------------- ¶4. (C) What distinguishes this kidnapping and garnered front-page local media attention is its location outside the traditional Niger Delta region. Ondo presents the same combustible combination of ethnicity, politics, and oil wealth which has proven deadly in the Niger Delta. This kidnapping appears to be parochial reasons and pitting Ijaws against fellow Ijaws. The Ondo militants have apparently derived inspiration from their neighbors in both methods and in linking their claims to the disputed April elections and ethnic marginalization. Governor Agagu is not particularly popular and still faces the electoral tribunal with the possibility former allies will expose PDP electoral malfeasance. With the Chevron-operated Olokola Liquified Natural Gas (OKLNG) pipeline straddling the borders of Ondo and Ogun states, security in Ondo will need continued attention. MCCONNELL