OVERSEAS REACTION: NIGERIA

UNCLAS ABUJA 002559

SIPDIS


DEPARTMENT FOR TASK FORCE 1 - PD, S/ES, AF/PD, AF/W
LAGOS FOR CG, POL, PAS


E.O. 12598: N/A
TAGS: KPAO OPRC NI
SUBJECT: OVERSEAS REACTION: NIGERIA

REFTEL: SECSTATE 175484



1. Press reporting of humanitarian actions: The
humanitarian actions were reported as straight news in
Nigerian newspapers on Monday, October 8, quoting
President Bush, but this news was buried deep in the
stories that focused on the attacks on Taleban
targets. Only one newspaper, the Nigerian Tribune in
Ibadan, headlined the humanitarian support.



2. Nigerian government support for the U.S.: A few
Monday newspapers and most Tuesday newspapers reported
the Nigerian government's support for the U.S. action
against against terrorists. It was stated by Tunji
Oseni, the Senior Special Media Assistant to President
Obasanjo. The Kaduna-based, government-owned ew
Nigerian, eported on 10/9, for instance, r. Tunji
Oseni, Senior Special Media Assistant to the Nigerian
President reiterates Nigeria support for actions
aimed at combating terrorism. It is in the interest
of all peoples to make the world a safer place for
all, especially for civilians who are engaged in their
normal day-to-day activities.



3. Reactions from local Islamic leaders to attacks on
Taleban targets: The Abuja-based independent aily
Trust 10/9),reports Nigerians reactions to the
attacks on Taleban targets:


rom Katsina, former Deputy Senate President, Alhaji
Mamman Abubakar Dan Musa, yesterday warned the United
States and her allies of the possibility of
hostilities escalating further, endangering the
fragile world peace and security . . .


A Katsina-based Islamic scholar, Sheikh Yakubu Musa
described the attacks on Afghanistan as a ploy by the
US and her allies to strangulate the Afghan people in
particular and Islam in general.


From Ilorin, the capital of Kwara State, former Grand
Khadi of the Sharia Court of Appeal, Alhaji Abdulkadir
Orire criticized the American military action in
Afghanistan as nworkable

A University don in the Department of Islamic studies
in the University of Jos who is also Chief Imam of the
Fiber Mosque in Jos described the attacks as
hocking ince investigations into the September 11
attacks are still ongoing.


Sheikh Uthman bin Uthman, Chairman, Islamic
Propagation Committee of Kano State said, by its
military option, America has finally proved to the
world that its primary objective was not to attack bin
Laden but Islam.


Sheikh Shehu Mai Hula, a Kano-based Islamic scholar
lambasted Northern Nigerian Muslim governors for not
organizing support for Afghanistan and bin Laden
despite their claim of Sharia implementation.



4. Food drops by the U.S.: In an article headlined
"US, Britain Attack Afghanistan: Kano Ulama declares
support for Bin Laden, he Abuja-based independent
aily Trust 10/8),reported : he Chairman of
Kano State Council of Ulama, Sheikh Umar Ibrahim, has
criticized the humanitarian drops by the USAF as
eceptive Sheikh Umar told over 5000 Muslims who
gathered at the Aliyu bin Abi Talib Mosque yesterday
in Kano that the humanitarian assistance to Afghan
refugees by the United States is deceptive because
America created the problem in the first place He
stated that Muslims in Afghanistan and, indeed, the
whole world are not afraid of America arsenals
because they are less superior to "laila-ha-illalah"
(there is no deity worthy of worship save Allah).




JETER