VIEWS ON THE NIGER DELTA, FROM THE NIGER DELTA;

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 03 LAGOS 000575

SIPDIS

C O R R E C T E D COPY - ADDING USEUCOM

E.O. 12958: DECL: 04/13/2008
TAGS: PGOV PREL PHUM ECON CASC NI
SUBJECT: VIEWS ON THE NIGER DELTA, FROM THE NIGER DELTA;
AMBASSADOR TRAVELS TO PORT HARCOURT

REF: LAGOS 563

Classified By: Ambassador John Campbell per 1.4 b and d


1. (SBU) Summary: During Ambassador Campbell's April 5-7
visit to Port Harcourt, Nigerian interlocutors identified
poverty and corruption as their chief concerns. American
citizens working in the area cited the absence of law and
order as their biggest worry. Contacts said working in the
Delta is akin to operating in a "criminal environment." Our
interlocutors maintained that ethnic conflict and militia
violence could be reined in by the GON if it had sufficient
political will. Responses to the Ambassador's questions
concerning the way forward ranged from the specific --
implement the Niger Delta Development Commission's master
plan, to the sweeping -- transform Nigerian values from the
bottom-up. Interlocutors concurred electoral reform was
integral to bringing accountable governance to the Niger
Delta region. End Summary.


2. (U) During his visit, Ambassador met separately with
Rivers State Governor Peter Odili, SPDC Managing Director
Basil Oyimi, the Anglican and Catholic archbishops, Niger
Delta Development Commission (NDDC) staff, and University of
Port Harcourt personnel. He also hosted a town hall for
American Citizens, a civil society roundtable, a dinner for
representatives of American oil service and maritime
companies, and a dinner with civil society and governmental
guests. This cable summarizes the majority of those
meetings. See septels where noted.

Nigerians: Poverty and Corruption Root of the Problem
-------------- --------------


3. (C) The Anglican and Catholic Archbishops serving the
Niger Delta told Ambassador that poverty most troubled their
parishioners. Both religious leaders stated they provide
food, income-generating activities, and shelter to many in
their folds, which total well over one million individuals.
Neither bishop blamed government or the oil companies for the
impoverishment many of their parishioners face. The Anglican
archbishop even praised usually reviled Rivers Governor Peter
Odili, pronouncing him a "good man."


4. (C) Shell Petroleum and Development Corporation (SPDC)
Managing Director (MD) Basil Oyimi told Ambassador
eradicating corruption is the key to redressing the Niger
Delta crisis. Oyimi stated there were few ideological girds
to the crisis. It's simple, people want good schools, clean
water, and jobs. Unfortunately, the only current way to
attain those basic services is through political patronage.
If you redress corruption and distribute resources fairly,
the Niger Delta problem will resolve itself, he said (reftel).


5. (C) Human rights activist, Patrick Naagbanton, told
Ambassador corruption is at the core of Nigeria's problems
and Niger Delta Governors Odili of Rivers State and
Alamieyeseigha of Bayelsa State are its master craftsmen. As
a result, electoral government has translated into few
tangible gains for the populace. Naagbanton and other civil
society actors affirmed that many are beginning to view life
under the former military regime nostalgically, with some
plaintively asserting, "Life was better under Abacha."


Americans: Niger Delta Poses Criminal Operating Environment
-------------- --------------


6. (C) American citizens told Ambassador their chief
concern is law and order. Though the city had not seen
significant violence since the major flare-up in Fall 2004,
American citizens reported tensions remain elevated. In
addition to daily concerns about potential violence, oil
service company representatives told Ambassador they operate
in a "criminal environment." Shake-downs are quotidian and
cut into already narrow profit margins, they maintained
(septel).


7. (C) Rivers State Officials and the NDDC Managing
Director claimed separately that Port Harcourt "has no
security problems." As proof, they asserted residents
circulate freely, frequenting nightclubs and restaurants at
all hours. If there were a security problem the streets
would be empty at night, they contended.

Ethnic Conflict and Militia Gangs:
What Politics Created, Politics Can Undo
--------------


8. (C) Interlocutors concurred that, to a large degree,
politicians had engineered ethnic conflict and militia gangs
in the Niger Delta. Michael Karipko, an environmental rights
activist, said leaders politicize ethnic tensions when it
suits them. Corking these tensions was challenging, but not
impossible, he stated. Similarly militias had been created
by politicians to "carry" the 2003 elections. A democracy
activist told Ambassador, if militias are disarmed now, there
will be no violence in the 2007 elections. He mused, "these
kids won't spontaneously pick up arms to fight for a
candidate because they are so enamored with his political
platform." The consensus among contacts was "what politics
can do, politics can undo."


9. (C) Pressed by Ambassador whether the GON is capable of
arresting the now well-armed militia groups, SPDC MD Oyimi
replied affirmatively. Militias, he said, could out-gun the
Nigerian military only as long as the GON "dealt with them
with kid gloves." Oyimi said a high-ranking Air Force
officer assured him the militias posed no contest if the GON
decided to "take them out." However, for now, the GON is
exercising caution to avoid collateral damage. Oyimi
emphasized it was not necessary to counter these groups with
military force. "All these militias are for hire. Look at
(Niger Delta People's Volunteer Force leader) Asari. He's
quiet now, because he's been paid."

The Way Forward: Plethora of Ideas
--------------


10. (C) Civil society roundtable participants offered a
range of views on what should be done to improve the Niger
Delta. Ediri Iruagua, who coordinates an entrepreneurial
program for youth in Rivers State, told Ambassador the Niger
Delta Development Commission's (NDDC) 15-year master plan is
a solid economic development strategy. If implemented it
would herald concrete improvements in the region, Iruagua
stated. Civil society and international partners should
focus on ensuring the plan's execution, he added. Other
participants argued removing the plutocracy and bringing in a
new generation of politicians was sine qua non to change.
Egondo Esinwoke, who works at the grass-roots level on
conflict resolution, stated the Nigerian people need to be
"transformed." Starting from the bottom-up, they need to be
educated as to their civic rights and duties under a
democracy.

Electoral Reform Needed Sooner Rather Than Later
-------------- ---


11. (C) Contacts concurred electoral reform was critical to
make the 2007 elections more credible than the 2003 mishap.
Civil society contacts said confidence in the democratic
process is lower in the Delta region than most of Nigeria
given the widespread rigging which took place there not only
in 2003, but also in subsequent local level elections. Dr.
Adefemi Isumonah, a research fellow at respected Port
Harcourt think-tank the Center for Advanced Social Science
(CASS),told Ambassador civil society needs help pressuring
political leaders in the run-up to 2007. Others must join
the effort, he said. The National Political Reform
Conference (NPRC) presented an opportunity to create the
necessary structures for credible elections in 20007,
Isumonah asserted.


12. (C) Rivers State Governor Peter Odili (and possible
vice-presidential candidate) voiced tempered support for
electoral reform. It was important that "lapses" from 2003
be corrected, Odili said. Odili agreed with Ambassador that
domestic election monitors offered some advantages to foreign
observers. The governor stipulated, however, that domestic
watchers must not harbor "political agendas" (septel).
Separately, Rivers State Commissioner of Information Magnus
Abbe told Ambassador he supports the idea being bandied in
the NPRC of six-year, one-term limits for officeholders.
Speaking off the record, he said term limits were the only
throttle to graft and corruption. Freedom from re-election
worries would allow politicians to focus more on governance
and less on building their warchests, he maintained.


Comment
--------------


13. (C) For most residents in the Delta region, poverty
compounded and partially caused by corruption, appears to be
the most gnawing problem. Making government and government
resources work for them is what they want. As one
interlocutor suggested, the NDDC may have a major role to
play and we will be taking a hard look at the agency and its
master plan to see if it can contribute to the region's
development and stability.


14. (C) Comment Cont'd: Corruption of the electoral
process is another major vice. However, many politicians are
in office because they mastered this game and they do not
appear to be on the road to penitence. Civil society
representatives observe, and we concur, that the window in
which to enact meaningful electoral reform is rapidly
closing. However, they don't seem to be mobilizing in any
meaningful way to pressure the government to cure the
electoral system.


15. (C) Comment Cont'd: Last, it was beneficial to visit
Port Harcourt to spend time with the American community there
and hear their security concerns. We will maintain close
contact with our citizens there and continue to provide the
services and information they need to manage the risks of
working in the important but tough Niger Delta.





BROWNE