Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
10ABUJA125
2010-01-29 18:02:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Abuja
Cable title:
PRESSURE MOUNTS FOR YAR'ADUA TO STEP ASIDE
how-toVZCZCXRO1777 OO RUEHPA DE RUEHUJA #0125/01 0291807 ZNY CCCCC ZZH O 291802Z JAN 10 FM AMEMBASSY ABUJA TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 0120 INFO ECOWAS COLLECTIVE IMMEDIATE RHEFDIA/DIA WASHINGTON DC IMMEDIATE RHEHAAA/NATIONAL SECURITY COUNCIL WASHINGTON DC IMMEDIATE RHMFISS/HQ USAFRICOM STUTTGART GE IMMEDIATE RUEAIIA/CIA WASHINGTON DC IMMEDIATE RUEHOS/AMCONSUL LAGOS IMMEDIATE 0099 RUEHSA/AMEMBASSY PRETORIA IMMEDIATE 0043
C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 ABUJA 000125
SIPDIS
STATE FOR AF/FO, AF/W, AF/RSA, AF/PDPA, DRL, INR/AA
AMEMBASSY YAOUNDE PASS TO AMEMBASSY MALABO
E.O. 12958: DECL: 2020/01/26
TAGS: PGOV PREL PINR SOCI KPAO NI
SUBJECT: PRESSURE MOUNTS FOR YAR'ADUA TO STEP ASIDE
REF: ABUJA 0109 AND PREVIOUS
CLASSIFIED BY: James P. McAnulty, Political Counselor, U.S. Embassy
Abuja, Political Section; REASON: 1.4(B),(D)
--------------------------------------
EMINENT ELDERS CALL FOR POWER TRANSFER
--------------------------------------
C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 ABUJA 000125
SIPDIS
STATE FOR AF/FO, AF/W, AF/RSA, AF/PDPA, DRL, INR/AA
AMEMBASSY YAOUNDE PASS TO AMEMBASSY MALABO
E.O. 12958: DECL: 2020/01/26
TAGS: PGOV PREL PINR SOCI KPAO NI
SUBJECT: PRESSURE MOUNTS FOR YAR'ADUA TO STEP ASIDE
REF: ABUJA 0109 AND PREVIOUS
CLASSIFIED BY: James P. McAnulty, Political Counselor, U.S. Embassy
Abuja, Political Section; REASON: 1.4(B),(D)
--------------
EMINENT ELDERS CALL FOR POWER TRANSFER
--------------
1. (SBU) An Eminent Elders Group led by former Heads of State
Alhaji Shehu Shagari, General Yakubu Gowon, and Chief Ernest
Shonekan submitted letters to Senate President David Mark and House
Speaker Dimeje Bankole January 28 demanding that President Yar'Adua
hand over power formally to Vice President Jonathan, according to
press reports and other contacts. Other group members, who
caucused January 27 in Abuja, reportedly included former Vice
President Alex Ekwueme, all three former Chief Justices of Nigeria
(Justices Mohammed Uwais, Alfa Belgore, and Idris Kutigi),former
Finance Minister Adamu Ciroma, ex Information Minister Jerry Gana,
former Defense Minister and Army Chief Lieutenant General
Theophilus Yakubu Danjuma, Niger Delta senior statesman Chief Edwin
Clark, and former People's Democratic Party (PDP) Chairperson
Solomon Lar.
-------------- --------------
REPRESENTATIVES JOIN SENATE COLLEAGUES IN CALLING FOR HAND OVER
-------------- --------------
2. (SBU) Similarly, some 200 members of the 360-member House of
Representatives signed a letter calling upon President Yar'Adua to
hand over power formally to his deputy, according to the press.
Such action follows up a non-binding resolution unanimously
approved by the Senate that called upon Vice President Jonathan to
become Acting President (reftel).
--------------
MOST SENATORS PUSHING FOR REMOVAL
--------------
3. (C) Jonathan Mark, Special Assistant to (and son of) Senate
President David Mark, told LabOff January 29 that 90 percent of
Senators now want Yar'Adua removed because of what they perceive as
a "leadership problem." To reverse the momentum, he said,
Yar'Adua would have to prove he "is fit -- which everyone knows he
is not." Pressure on Yar'Adua to go has transcended North-South
considerations. He identified the holdout Yar'Adua loyalists as
former Delta State Governor (and Yar'Adua 2007 campaign financier)
James Ibori, Attorney General Michael Aaondoakaa, Principal Private
Secretary David Edevbie, and first lady Turai Yar'Adua.
--------------
COMMENT
--------------
4. (C) The amorphous Eminent Elders Group has had various
manifestations depending on the issue of the day, but this is the
first time that we know of that General Gowon, one of the group's
principal drivers, has included both Northern and Southern leaders
in the line-up. Many observers agree that the pressure on Yar'Adua
loyalists to cede real powers to Jonathan is growing, but they
differ on the cause. Some say Jonathan has gained grudging respect
ABUJA 00000125 002 OF 002
from Northerners for the resolve he showed in dealing with the Jos
violence, noting that Jonathan was welcomed in Jos in the immediate
aftermath of the violence while Yar'Adua's motorcade was stoned by
angry Fulanis when he visited Jos several months after the November
2008 violence. Some point to embarrassment over an obvious
leadership vacuum, and others suggest that the civilian elites want
to ensure that they do not leave any opening for military
intervention. END COMMENT.
SANDERS
SIPDIS
STATE FOR AF/FO, AF/W, AF/RSA, AF/PDPA, DRL, INR/AA
AMEMBASSY YAOUNDE PASS TO AMEMBASSY MALABO
E.O. 12958: DECL: 2020/01/26
TAGS: PGOV PREL PINR SOCI KPAO NI
SUBJECT: PRESSURE MOUNTS FOR YAR'ADUA TO STEP ASIDE
REF: ABUJA 0109 AND PREVIOUS
CLASSIFIED BY: James P. McAnulty, Political Counselor, U.S. Embassy
Abuja, Political Section; REASON: 1.4(B),(D)
--------------
EMINENT ELDERS CALL FOR POWER TRANSFER
--------------
1. (SBU) An Eminent Elders Group led by former Heads of State
Alhaji Shehu Shagari, General Yakubu Gowon, and Chief Ernest
Shonekan submitted letters to Senate President David Mark and House
Speaker Dimeje Bankole January 28 demanding that President Yar'Adua
hand over power formally to Vice President Jonathan, according to
press reports and other contacts. Other group members, who
caucused January 27 in Abuja, reportedly included former Vice
President Alex Ekwueme, all three former Chief Justices of Nigeria
(Justices Mohammed Uwais, Alfa Belgore, and Idris Kutigi),former
Finance Minister Adamu Ciroma, ex Information Minister Jerry Gana,
former Defense Minister and Army Chief Lieutenant General
Theophilus Yakubu Danjuma, Niger Delta senior statesman Chief Edwin
Clark, and former People's Democratic Party (PDP) Chairperson
Solomon Lar.
-------------- --------------
REPRESENTATIVES JOIN SENATE COLLEAGUES IN CALLING FOR HAND OVER
-------------- --------------
2. (SBU) Similarly, some 200 members of the 360-member House of
Representatives signed a letter calling upon President Yar'Adua to
hand over power formally to his deputy, according to the press.
Such action follows up a non-binding resolution unanimously
approved by the Senate that called upon Vice President Jonathan to
become Acting President (reftel).
--------------
MOST SENATORS PUSHING FOR REMOVAL
--------------
3. (C) Jonathan Mark, Special Assistant to (and son of) Senate
President David Mark, told LabOff January 29 that 90 percent of
Senators now want Yar'Adua removed because of what they perceive as
a "leadership problem." To reverse the momentum, he said,
Yar'Adua would have to prove he "is fit -- which everyone knows he
is not." Pressure on Yar'Adua to go has transcended North-South
considerations. He identified the holdout Yar'Adua loyalists as
former Delta State Governor (and Yar'Adua 2007 campaign financier)
James Ibori, Attorney General Michael Aaondoakaa, Principal Private
Secretary David Edevbie, and first lady Turai Yar'Adua.
--------------
COMMENT
--------------
4. (C) The amorphous Eminent Elders Group has had various
manifestations depending on the issue of the day, but this is the
first time that we know of that General Gowon, one of the group's
principal drivers, has included both Northern and Southern leaders
in the line-up. Many observers agree that the pressure on Yar'Adua
loyalists to cede real powers to Jonathan is growing, but they
differ on the cause. Some say Jonathan has gained grudging respect
ABUJA 00000125 002 OF 002
from Northerners for the resolve he showed in dealing with the Jos
violence, noting that Jonathan was welcomed in Jos in the immediate
aftermath of the violence while Yar'Adua's motorcade was stoned by
angry Fulanis when he visited Jos several months after the November
2008 violence. Some point to embarrassment over an obvious
leadership vacuum, and others suggest that the civilian elites want
to ensure that they do not leave any opening for military
intervention. END COMMENT.
SANDERS