SECURITY COOPERATION: OBASANJO EMPHASIZES HUMAN

C O N F I D E N T I A L ABUJA 001365

SIPDIS

AF/W FOR EPSTEIN
AF/RSA FOR BITTRICK

E.O. 12958: DECL: 08/06/2014
TAGS: PREL PGOV PHUM MARR MASS NI HUMANRIGHTS
SUBJECT: SECURITY COOPERATION: OBASANJO EMPHASIZES HUMAN
RIGHTS IN WAR COLLEGE GRADUATION SPEECH

REF: A. STATE 155895


B. ABUJA 1330

C. ABUJA 1295

D. ABUJA 1126

Classified By: AMBASSADOR JOHN CAMPBELL FOR REASONS 1.5 (B) AND (D).


1. (U) President Obasanjo emphasized the importance of
military respect for human rights during an August 6 address
to the graduating class of the National War College. He
termed support for democratic institutions, and respect for
human rights, to be a fundamental aspect of professionalizing
the Nigerian military, and he noted his administration's
dedication to professionalization. Obasanjo said his
government has a "zero tolerance" policy towards human rights
abuses. Any member of the "military or security services"
implicated in human rights abuses would be "held accountable
by proper legal authorities." Obasanjo went on to say that
the military had a duty to respect human rights and to
protect them actively, and he also charged senior officers to
ensure that their subordinates did so. Obasanjo's themes
were briefly echoed by the Commandant of the National War
College, Read Admiral Adedeji, during his remarks.


2. (C) COMMENT: President Obasanjo reacted positively to our
conversations with his advisors (reftels) regarding all of
the steps necessary to re-energize the USG-GON security
assistance relationship in the wake of Congressional
sanctions imposed following the October 2001 Benue incident.
His comments to the National War College graduates were clear
and forceful, and were well received by his audience large
audience. Among them were the Minister of Defense, senior
military officers, GON officials, diplomats and military
families. The graduation event also attracted significant
media attention. We will monitor print and broadcast media
over the next week to gauge public reaction to the speech.


3. (C) COMMENT CONTINUED: The Obasanjo government met the
tests set forth in Ref A and did so in almost record time.
The GON also went to extraordinary lengths to insure our
Mission's presence at the speech. Commandant Adedeji told
POLOFF August 4 that he had instructions from Minister of
Defense Kwankwaso to personally deliver the invitation to the
Ambassador and the Minister phoned the Embassy this morning
to insure the Mission would be represented. Clearly, the GON
wanted to make certain we, as well as Nigerians, heard
Obasanjo's remarks. Obasanjo, and those who promoted this
course of action to him, will now expect the USG to move as
quickly they did. We urge the Department to take every
available step to lift the sanctions against Nigeria and to
restore what had previously been a robust security assistance
relationship. END COMMENT.
CAMPBELL