NIGERIA: GOMBE STATE BIOGRAPHIC REPORTING

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 ABUJA 003015

SIPDIS


FOR INR/B


E.O. 12958: DECL: 11/05/2012
TAGS: PINR NI NI KISL
SUBJECT: NIGERIA: GOMBE STATE BIOGRAPHIC REPORTING


CLASSIFIED BY AMBASSADOR HOWARD F. JETER FOR REASON 1.5
(B).



1. (C) SUMMARY: Governor Alhaji Abubakar Habu
Hashidu is a key power broker in Northeast Nigeria.
Deputy Governor Joshua M. Lidani is an intelligent
technocrat; a Christian who balances Gombe State's
Muslim-dominated government. The Emir of Gombe Alhaji
Shehu Usman Abubakar remains an important and
influential Northeast Nigerian Islamic leader. END
SUMMARY



2. (C) Gombe State Governor Alhaji Abubakar Habu
Hashidu is a popular political figure who has managed
to maintain good ties with both the Northern power
elite and the Obasanjo Administration. He is one of a
number of northern career civil servants who joined
politics after retirement. An US-educated
agricultural specialist, Hashidu won the gubernatorial
seat in 1999 under the All Peoples' Party (APP)
ticket, beating his friend and colleague, Peoples
Democratic Party (PDP) candidate Ambassador Yerima
Abdullahi. Because of the influence of former Head of
State Babangida and others in the Northern political
elite, the Governor and several other APP governors
then quietly swung their states' support behind
President Obasanjo in the 1999 presidential election.
Hashidu was a member of the Vision 2010 Committee
during the Sani Abacha regime (1993-1998) and served
as Chairman of the Presidential Task Force on Grain
Distribution. The Governor was Secretary for the
Movement for the Creation of Gombe State, which was
carved out of Bauchi State in 1996, and served as Minister of
Agriculture and Water Resources under the Babangida
regime (1988-1993). He earlier served as Permanent
Secretary and Commissioner in Bauchi State. The

SIPDIS
Governor also served as Chief Agricultural Officer,
Assistant General Manager and later General Manager,
Upper Benue River Basin from 1977 to 1980. He worked
at Kainji Dam and Biu in Borno State as an
Agricultural Officer in the 1970s.



3. (C) Hashidu attended a three-month advanced
management course at the University of Pittsburgh in

1975. Hashidu received his BS in Agricultural Science
from Missouri's Lincoln University (1965-69) and
attended summer courses at Utah State University
(1967) and the University of New Hampshire (1966).
The Governor studied at Nigeria's Ahmadu Bello
University (1964) in Zaria. Born in 1944 in Dukku,
the Governor holds the traditional title of Muttawali
of Dukku. Hashidu, a Muslim and ethnic Fulani, is
married to Aishatu Abubakar. The Governor has three
sons and three daughters. He speaks excellent
English, Hausa, and Fulani. (COMMENT: The politically
savvy and sophisticated Hashidu is an earnest and
engaging interlocutor. The Governor is frank and well
spoken. During 3-plus years in office, Hashidu has
given Gombe's citizens improved drinking water and
security for rural residents, particularly the farmers
who were for years subjected to the armed cattle
raiders and banditry emanating from marauding gangs.
Hashidu, an excellent political strategist, has
stunted PDP (Nigeria's ruling party, dominant among
Gombe's elite) aspirations to unseat him in elections
slated for 2003, by sticking to populist grassroots
projects, such as improving infrastructure and rural
security. The Governor is a good friend and supporter
of Babaginda. He is also well disposed to the United
States. END COMMENT)



4. (C) Deputy Governor Joshua M. Lidani, an
intelligent and successful lawyer, likely keeps his
post because Governor Hashidu needs a Christian to
politically balance his Muslim-dominated state
government. However, a Christian is much less of a
potential rival to Hashidu. (COMMENT: During a 75-
minute meeting with the Ambassador and the Governor in
early October 2002, Lidani said nothing, but appeared
to have the Governor's confidence. Embassy sources
report that Lidani is not a power broker in the Gombe
State Government, but is an influential leader in the
minority Christian community (30% of Gombe State); he
has also donated money for new church construction and
Christian schools for the handicapped. In private
discussions with Econoff, Lidani was professional and
friendly. Born in Kaltungo, Lidani is married and
speaks excellent English and several African
languages. END COMMENT)



5. (C) His Highness the Emir of Gombe Alhaji Shehu
Usman Abubakar is one of the most influential Muslim
leaders in Northeast Nigeria. The Emir, who assumed
the throne in 1986, is Chairman of Gombe State Council
of Chiefs. The Emir supported Governor Hashidu's
(1999-present) chief opponent in 1999, the PDP
candidate and present Nigerian Ambassador to Malaysia
Yerima Abdullahi, who is married to one of the Emir's
daughters. Before his appointment as Emir, Abubakar
was a career civil servant in former Bauchi State.
The Emir speaks English well, Hausa and Fulani. He
has four wives and many children. (COMMENT: Abubakar
is an open and engaging man. He is not a stickler for
protocol and welcomes visits by US officials. During
a meeting with Ambassador Jeter, the Emir spoke fondly
of a visit by former President Bush's son Neil to the
Emir's palace several years ago. His Highness is a
horse aficionado, with a stable of over sixty, mainly
South American, horses. END COMMENT)
ANDREWS