PUBLIC REACTION TO TAYLOR ASYLUM AND LIBERIA

C O N F I D E N T I A L ABUJA 001559

SIPDIS


E.O. 12958: DECL: 09/04/2013
TAGS: PREL PGOV PHUM MARR LI NI
SUBJECT: PUBLIC REACTION TO TAYLOR ASYLUM AND LIBERIA
DEPLOYMENT


CLASSIFIED BY DCM RICK ROBERTS FOR REASONS 1.5 (b) AND (d).


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SUMMARY
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1. (U) The Nigerian press headlined President Bush's
recent commendation of President Obasanjo's efforts in
Liberia, and the Nigerian President, received a heroic
welcome in Liberia early this week. Nevertheless, Obasanjo
is still facing criticism at home for granting political
asylum to Charles Taylor and deploying Nigerian troops to
Liberia. End summary.


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President Bush's Commendation Letter
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2. (C) The President's letter to Obasanjo was front-page
news in most Nigerian newspapers on September 1 ) even
those usually critical of U.S. foreign policy. Subsequent
publications did not carry any comments, positive or
negative, on the letter. Most Nigerians have focused
instead on domestic criticism of Obasanjo.


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NIGERIANS CRITICIZE ASYLUM FOR TAYLOR
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3. (U) The Nigerian Union of Journalists has threatened to
file a legal action against Taylor for the death of two
Nigerian journalists, allegedly killed on Taylor's orders
in 1990. One local writer described Nigeria as the "new
haven of Hitlers of Africa" and accused President of
Obasanjo for being insensitive to prevailing local opinion.



5. (U) General Victor Malu, former Nigerian Chief of Army
Staff and former Commander of ECOMOG was furious: "Charles
Taylor has been responsible for the death of so many
Nigerians, to say that Nigeria, of all the countries in
West Africa is the one granting him asylum is the greatest
insult to Nigerians, and whoever took that decision does
not have the interest of this country", Malu told an
influential local newspaper last month.



6. (U) Tom Ikimi, politician and former Nigerian foreign
minister described as "dangerous" the granting of asylum
and deploying Nigerian soldiers. Ikimi told a recent press
conference in Abuja that "Nigeria may be the strongest
nation in West Africa, it is today weaving its way through
a maze of complications all in the quest for solutions to a
range of fundamental problems at home. That is why no
matter the justification for the more than $4 billion so
far expended on Liberia, the ordinary Nigerian would find
it difficult to understand why in addition to the further
costs that are bound to follow we should bear the burden of
looking after a character like Charles Taylor."



7. (U) House Committee Chair on Appropriations Gabriel
Suswan criticized President Obasanjo of spending money on
Liberia without approval from the House. The Daily Trust
alleged that the current Liberian initiative has already
cost Nigeria more than 65 million dollars.


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COMENT
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8. (C) While President Obasanjo is receiving accolades and
recognition from the international community for his peace
efforts in Liberia and other international engagements, his
popularity at home is under attack due to hard harsh
economic conditions and insecurity. His critics on those
issues also attack him on Liberia for good measure.
MEECE