NIGERIA: OBASANJO VISIT TO WASHINGTON ON NOV 2

C O N F I D E N T I A L ABUJA 002707 SIPDIS E.O. 12958: DECL: 10/24/2011 TAGS: OVIP PREL PTER NI SUBJECT: NIGERIA: OBASANJO VISIT TO WASHINGTON ON NOV 2 REF: STATE 184924 Classified by Ambassador Howard F. Jeter; Reasons 1.5 (b/d). ¶1. (C) On October 24, I orally delivered President Bush's formal invitation to President Obasanjo to visit Washington on November 2. Obasanjo accepted the invitation with pleasure, and said a written acceptance would follow the next day. I also told President Obasanjo that a meeting with Secretary Powell had been scheduled. Asked if he desired SIPDIS meetings with Treasury Secretary O'Neill and Energy Secretary Abraham, if such meetings could be arranged, Obasanjo readily agreed to the proposal. ¶2. (C) As far as we know now, President Obasanjo and his party plan to arrive in Washington on November 2 at 0700. Although the official delegation is still being decided, we understand that it will be small and will almost certainly include Foreign Minister Sule Lamido, National Security Advisor General Aliyu Mohammed (rtd),State House Chief of Protocol Ambassador Jonathan Coker, the President's Special Assistant Adobe Obe and Chief Economic Advisor to the President, Magnus Kpakol. Jeter