VZCZCXRO5991
RR RUEHMA RUEHPA
DE RUEHOS #1320/01 3050727
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
R 010727Z NOV 06
FM AMCONSUL LAGOS
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 8109
INFO RUEHZK/ECOWAS COLLECTIVE
RUEHUJA/AMEMBASSY ABUJA 7974

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 LAGOS 001320 
 
SIPDIS 
 
SIPDIS 
 
STATE FOR AF/W 
STATE FOR INR/AA 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: PREL PGOV NI
SUBJECT: FOLLOW THE ROADS TO FIND THE PROBLEMS IN EDO STATE 
 
 
¶1.  Summary: Conflictual politics and benighted leadership in 
local and state governments have contributed to miserable 
conditions for the residents in Edo State, best characterized 
by the overloaded, cratered roads of this trade-oriented 
State.  Governor Lucky Igbinedion, lacking both vision and 
verve to get things done and further enfeebled by intra-party 
struggles, has been unable to improve his State during two 
terms in office.  While the People's Democratic Party (PDP) 
remains the most powerful in the State, brewing internecine 
frictions could make the PDP vulnerable in the 2007 
elections.  The poor performance and internal squabbles 
within the PDP provide an aperture for a populist candidate 
to make some headway.  Former Nigerian Labour Congress (NLC) 
President Adams Oshiomhole hopes to fill the bill and seize 
the Edo Governorship come 2007.  End summary. 
 
---------------------------------- 
Bad Condition of Edo's Roads . . . 
---------------------------------- 
 
¶2.  On a late September visit to Benin City, Poloff 
experienced the dismal state of the roads of Edo State.  The 
State's official sobriquet is the "Heartbeat of Nigeria" 
because its geographic position makes it a trading 
crossroads--significant trade pulsates through the state's 
major arteries to Lagos, Port Harcourt, and other parts of 
Nigeria.  Unfortunately, crater-sized potholes have turned a 
busy highway into a moonscape.  At three stretches in the 
road, the eastbound lanes proved impassable, forcing traffic 
to shift to westbound lanes.  The resultant congestion and 
disorder brought traffic to a near standstill.  Only 
impromptu directing by Motorized Police managed to get 
stalled traffic moving again.  Numerous cars, buses, and 
trucks had broken down and were abandoned alongside the 
highway.  Poloff struggled through a bone-rattling seven hour 
drive that should have lasted only four hours. 
 
---------------------------------- 
. . . Reflects Governor's Weakness 
---------------------------------- 
 
¶3.  Journalist Michael Otunba, Political Editor for the 
Independent Television News and Chair of the Edo State 
Nigeria Union of Journalists, told Poloff that Edo's Roads 
are a product of the weakness of two-term Edo State Governor 
Lucky Igbinedion.  The disrepair of the roads reflects the 
overall condition of the State.  Igbinedion, son of Gabriel 
Igbinedion, one of the State's wealthiest men and an 
important traditional ruler, became governor as a result of a 
1999 alliance between close presidential advisor and PDP 
official Anthony Anenih, a citizen of Edo, and the elder 
Igbinedion, Otunba stated. 
 
¶4.  However, that accord proved to be mortal.  The 
Anenih-Igbinedion alliance dissolved ignobly and very 
publicly after Igbinedion's 2003 re-election, as disputes 
over control of state appointees and Igbinedion's successor 
proved irreconcilable.  Conditions in Edo State have suffered 
as Igbinedion refused to fix the main thoroughfares in Benin 
City, claiming they are federal roads outside of his purview. 
 However, the Governor has spent state funds on soccer fields 
and other projects most Edo citizens would deem frivolous. 
Not wanting to do anything that would benefit Igbinedion 
politically, Anenih held tight the federal public works purse 
strings so that no funds would be used to fix these roads. 
 
¶5.  Igbinedion has managed to move the State bureaucracy to 
fix some state roads but crucial thoroughfares remain in 
tatters.  For example, Otunba characterized the main road 
from center city to the University of Benin a "disaster". 
The trip through the main market area of Benin City is as 
much an obstacle course as a road. 
 
¶6.  Even on those roads for which the Governor has managed to 
issue contracts, the work is often not completed or done 
poorly, Otunba added. 
 
--------------------------------------------- ------ 
Flight of Supporters to AC Further Weakens Governor 
--------------------------------------------- ------ 
 
¶7.  Igbenedion was twice elected on the PDP ticket, but PDP 
infighting has weakened Igbinedion's control over the party 
mechanism considerably, Otunba said.  As the 
Anenih-Igbinedion alliance faltered and control of the PDP 
apparatus seemed to fall into Anenih's hands due to his 
closeness to President Obasanjo, many of Igbeinedion's 
supporters defected to the Advanced Congress of Democrats 
(ACD) and then its successor, the Action Congress (AC), while 
 
LAGOS 00001320  002 OF 002 
 
 
Igbinedion has remained in the PDP.  Speculation is rampant 
that Igbinedion might leave the PDP as well. 
 
¶8.  Igbinedion is finishing his second term, and is 
constitutionally barred from a third term.  He has not 
declared himself a candidate for president, said Otunba.  He 
has tried to position himself as a Vice-Presidential 
candidate and has the strong backing of close friend and 
political big brother, Delta State Governor James Ibori. 
Because of his poor record, his lobbying for the 
Vice-Presidential slot has not gotten much traction. 
 
--------------------------------------------- --- 
Some Services Have Improved, but Problems Remain 
--------------------------------------------- --- 
 
¶9.  Igbinedion has been able to deliver some improvements in 
services that affect people's lives, said Otunba.   One and a 
half years ago crime in Benin City was termed "terrible and 
dangerous" after 6:00 pm, as gangs roamed the streets 
targeting cell phones in particular.  It was unsafe to take 
motorcycle taxis and there were few taxicabs.  However, 
Igbinedion began to work on the crime problem and the city is 
now much safer, Otunba conceded. 
 
¶10.  Other sectors also suffer from problems that Igbinedion 
has been unable to fix.  The Benin City Hospital, which is 
over a hundred years old, suffers frequent blackouts. 
Although the hospital has a generator, Otunba told Poloff 
that the hospital's wiring is so old that it cannot handle 
the electricity the generator creates. 
 
------------------------------- 
Governor Has No Clear Successor 
------------------------------- 
 
¶11.  Despite the intra-party infighting, the PDP apparatus in 
Edo State continues to make it the strongest party.  There 
are no other parties beside the PDP that have particularly 
strong positions within the state, Otunba stated.  The 
still-powerful Anenih has made Odion Ugbesia the PDP's 
gubernatorial favorite, but Anenih distanced himself from the 
presidential third-term bid and thus has lost some favor with 
Obasanjo.  The loss of favor also means a diminution of 
clout.  Anenih's candidate will not automatically win the 
Party nomination.  Sensing that Anenih's stock has dropped, 
the Igbinedions are feeling a bit more confident in battling 
Anenih for control of the PDP. 
 
¶12.  Nigerian Labour Congress (NLC) President Adams 
Oshiomhole has declared his candidacy for the governorship 
under a small opposition party, the Labour Party.  Although 
popular, Oshiomhole has an uphill battle.  Without the 
benefit of a major party with a strong organizational 
structure, he will be hard pressed to carry the state against 
candidates fielded by the PDP, Otunba remarked. 
 
¶13.  Comment: Political infighting in Igbinedion's second 
term has contributed to the dereliction of Edo State. 
Although not solely the fault of Igbinedion, as Governor he 
must shoulder the brunt of responsibility.  While Tony Anenih 
remains a power in the State, his recent estrangement from 
Obasanjo will affect his preferred candidate Ugbesia.  The 
PDP gubernatorial nomination is shaping up to be a 
tug-of-war.  Meanwhile, the opposition remains a jumble.  It 
remains to be seen whether Oshiomhole can generate enough 
popular enthusiasm to overcome his lack of political 
organizational strength.  End comment. 
 
BROWNE