KADUNA GOVERNOR: ON POLIO, COMMUNAL VIOLENCE, AND

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 ABUJA 001320 SIPDIS SENSITIVE E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: PGOV PREL PHUM ECON NI SUBJECT: KADUNA GOVERNOR: ON POLIO, COMMUNAL VIOLENCE, AND COMMUNITY POLICING REF: A. ABUJA 1319 ¶B. ABUJA 1289 AND PREVIOUS ¶1. (SBU) Summary. On July 15, the Ambassador traveled to the northern city of Kaduna where he met Governor Ahmed Makarfi and others (reftel A). Kaduna has been a battleground between Muslims and Christians over the last few years. However, while other Northern trouble spots (notably Plateau and Kano) erupted recently, Kaduna remained peaceful, a feat attributed to the leadership of Governor Makarfi. Three major themes dominated the discussion: (1) the ongoing controversy on polio (reftel B),(2) communal conflict, and (3) the newly introduced community policing in the State. Makarfi stated that his government had never stopped the polio vaccination campaign but Kaduna's proximity to neighboring Kano State led to erroneous reports that his state participated in the suspension. Makarfi stated that agitation around the selection of new traditional leaders and the injustice in distributing Kaduna's resources contributed to communal conflicts. Makarfi praised the USG for providing training and logistical support to Kaduna's community policing initiative, but expressed his fears that bureaucratic bottlenecks might impede its successful implementation. End Summary. ¶2. (U) On July 15, the Ambassador traveled to the northern city of Kaduna, where he met a range of people, including Governor Ahmed Makarfi. While Kaduna has been a battleground between Muslims and Christians over the last few years, the spate of recent eruptions of violence left Kaduna unscathed, a feat attributed to the leadership of Governor Makarfi. -------------- Polio -------------- ¶3. (SBU) Makarfi stated that his government had never stopped the polio vaccination campaign but Kaduna's proximity to neighboring Kano State led to erroneous reports that his state participated in the suspension. -------------- Communal Conflict -------------- ¶4. (SBU) Makarfi told the Ambassador when crises occurred, it normally takes some years before life can return to normal, and that Kaduna was no exception. He said that despite some dislocations resulting from past ethno-religious crises, Kaduna was gradually picking up, and more people were coming back to the city. According to Makarfi, most crises witnessed in the city had their roots outside the state. ¶5. (SBU) Continuing, Makarfi explained that communal crises could also be fueled by local problems such as agitation for more autonomy in appointing traditional leaders and the unequal distribution of resources and services from the government. According to him, past military regimes distributed resources inequitably in some areas of the state. Because of this, Makarfi said, he had granted more chiefdoms to the southern parts of Kaduna. The South, mostly Christians and non-Hausas, had for years been agitating to get its own traditional institutions separate from the Muslim Zazzau Emirate headquartered in Zaria, in the northern part of the state. ¶6. (SBU) Makarfi assured the Ambassador that he was fair in distributing and executing projects, sharing of political positions and disbursing resources to all the religious and ethnic groups in the State. The groups in the state "know my position on issues," he said, claiming that he refused to be "hijacked" by any of these groups. "They now understand what I can do and what I cannot do for them," Makarfi stated. "That explains why both Muslims and Christians criticize me. As a leader, it is my duty to remain fair," he concluded. -------------- Community Policing -------------- ¶7. (SBU) Makarfi commended the USG for supporting the successful launch of a community policing initiative destined to expand throughout Nigeria. He said that the initiative was valuable and relevant to society, arguing that the policy could easily improve the current negative image of the Nigerian police. Makarfi enthusiastically recalled how residents of a local community in the state recently sent a delegation to the State Government expressing their happiness with the work of the US-trained community policing personnel. According to him, the villagers were so impressed with the techniques employed by the officers in settling disputes and stopping crimes that they thought such officers were not part of the regular Nigerian police force. "The villagers thought these officers were from another country, or perhaps they came from the moon," Makarfi joked. ¶8. (SBU) However, Makarfi expressed concern that bureaucratic bottlenecks and unnecessary adherence to the chain of command within the Nigerian police could impede the progressive implementation of community policing. He said the current structure of the police concentrates too many powers at the national headquarters with state Police commissioners relying more on the Inspector General of Police (IG) in Abuja than the governor of the state. According to Makarfi, the IG micromanages commissioners down to the smallest details. Makarfi mentioned that the Kaduna State Police Commissioner recently confided in him that though these officers involved in the community policing work under his command, he had to rely on Abuja for their welfare, posting, and logistical support. Makarfi cited as example the recent USG donation of bicycles, saying that the Kaduna police commissioner was forced to await instructions from Abuja on how to use them. ¶9. (SBU) Makarfi pointed out other problems the community police would face, including irregular payment of salaries, along with envy that might arise from colleagues outside the initiative. He posited that corruption could not be eliminated in the Nigerian police if wages were not paid promptly. He recalled how President Obasanjo, at a recent meeting, furiously challenged IG Tafa Balogun upon hearing that some police officers in Kaduna were owed salary arrears of several months. Makarfi explained that he personally reported the matter to the President Obasanjo because non-payment of salary was a security problem. "You cannot expect them to effectively discharge their duties if they are not paid," Makarfi told Obasanjo, he said. -------------- Comment -------------- ¶10. (SBU) Many laudable programs in Nigeria die for lack of continuity and sustainability. This inconsistency and lack of commitment by the policy makers is one hurdle Makarfi says he is trying to overcome. If he succeeds, then like every other Nigerian politician, he will likely set his sights on national office. His view of Kaduna's economy is more sanguine than that of the business people with whom the Ambassador had met on the same trip. CAMPBELL