C O N F I D E N T I A L ABUJA 000032

SENSITIVE
SIPDIS

STATE FOR AF/FO, AF/W, AF/RSA, DRL, INR/AA;
STATE PLEASE PASS TO HOMELAND SECURITY
HOMELAND SECURITY FOR DEPUTY SECRETARY LUTE

E.O. 12958: DECL: 07/31/2017
TAGS: PGOV PREL OVIP ASEC NI
SUBJECT: CIVIL SOCIETY TO PROTEST PRESIDENT YAR'ADUA'S
PROLONGED ABSENCE

REF: A. ABUJA 00017 AND PREVIOUS

B. 09 ABUJA 2341 (NOTAL)

Classified By: Political Counselor James McAnulty
for reasons in sections 1.4. (b) and (d).


1. (SBU) Civil society organizations, under the umbrella of
the "Save Nigeria Group," plan to lead a protest march on
January 12 in Abuja, according to the media and local
contacts, to protest the continued absence of President
Yar'Adua from Nigeria which has a constitutional crisis
looming. We understand that this will be a peaceful march,
but in Nigeria the situation can always rapidly change.
Professor and Nobel Laureate Wole Soyinka, human rights
lawyer and West African Bar Association President Femi
Falana, former Kaduna Governor Balarabe Musa, and former
Biafran leader Dim Chukwuenmeka Ojukwu reportedly plan to
address the protesters. The marchers will walk from the
Abuja Unity Fountain (across from the Transcorp Hilton Hotel)
through Eagle Square to the National Assembly.


2. (C) U.S. Homeland Security Deputy Secretary Lute will stay
at the Transport Hilton, and we have briefed her security
team on this planned demonstration. We will coordinate
closely with Deputy Secretary Lute's team regarding any
affects on her visit.


3. (SBU) Former Governor of Sokoto Attahiru Bafarawa told
PolCouns and PolOff January 11 that this march represented
the first of several protests to occur in Abuja, Lagos,
London, and Washington. He estimated that some 5,000 people
would participate in the protest in Abuja and expressed hope
that future protests would attract larger crowds.


4. (SBU) Nobel Laureate Soyinka earlier told the Ambassador
December 23 (ref b) that he planned to work with several
civil society organizations on a series of civil disobedience
efforts, including holding a major demonstration to coincide
with Nigerian Democracy Day on May 29. In addition, Ijaw
leader Chief Edwin Clark noted the upcoming protest to the
Mission during his January 8 meeting (septel), emphasizing
that several southern groups would be part of this event.


5. (SBU) Embassy will monitor and report on developments
involving the protest march.

SANDERS