Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
06ABUJA2891
2006-11-03 12:37:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Abuja
Cable title:
RAMADAN OUTREACH REVEALS CRITICISM, COMMENDATION
how-toVZCZCXRO8802 PP RUEHBC RUEHDBU RUEHDE RUEHKUK RUEHLH RUEHPA RUEHPW RUEHROV DE RUEHUJA #2891/01 3071237 ZNY CCCCC ZZH P 031237Z NOV 06 FM AMEMBASSY ABUJA TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 7671 INFO RUEHZK/ECOWAS COLLECTIVE PRIORITY RUCNISL/ISLAMIC COLLECTIVE PRIORITY RUEHOS/AMCONSUL LAGOS PRIORITY 5432 RHMFISS/HQ USEUCOM VAIHINGEN GE PRIORITY RHEHNSC/NSC WASHINGTON DC PRIORITY RUEKDIA/DIA WASHDC PRIORITY RUEAIIA/CIA WASHINGTON DC PRIORITY
C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 04 ABUJA 002891
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
STATE FOR U/S KAREN HUGHES, AF/W, AF/PD, AF/R, AF/RSA,
INR/AA
E.O. 12958: DECL: 11/03/2016
TAGS: PGOV PINR PREL KISL KPAO KIRF NI KWMN KDEM
KMDR, SCUL
SUBJECT: RAMADAN OUTREACH REVEALS CRITICISM, COMMENDATION
Classified By: Ambassador John Campbell, for reasons 1.4 (b) and (d)
C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 04 ABUJA 002891
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
STATE FOR U/S KAREN HUGHES, AF/W, AF/PD, AF/R, AF/RSA,
INR/AA
E.O. 12958: DECL: 11/03/2016
TAGS: PGOV PINR PREL KISL KPAO KIRF NI KWMN KDEM
KMDR, SCUL
SUBJECT: RAMADAN OUTREACH REVEALS CRITICISM, COMMENDATION
Classified By: Ambassador John Campbell, for reasons 1.4 (b) and (d)
1. (SBU) SUMMARY: During the month of Ramadan (September
24-October 23),Embassy Abuja organized several
public-speaking engagements, media outreach, and Iftar events
to discuss U.S. policy toward the Muslim world and Muslim
life in America. Local media outlets reported favorably and
widely the impact and exhaustiveness of Embassy Ramadan
outreach activities throughout the Nigerian Muslim community.
2. (C) While generally responsive to and appreciative of
Post's outreach attempts, some Nigerian Muslims also
exploited our forums to malign USG policy objectives in the
Muslim world as evidence of either unequivocal or latent
hostility towards Muslims and Islam. The animosity we
witnessed underscores the lack of access to reliable
information, capacity of ideologically-driven individuals to
influence and contort youth opinion, marginalization felt by
large segments of the Nigerian Muslim community, and
self-incorporation of Northern Nigeria into the vicissitudes
confronting the global Islamic community, particularly with
respect to its affairs with the West. END SUMMARY.
-------------- --------------
UNIVERSITY AND MOSQUE EXCHANGES: ADDRESSING INTER-FAITH
DIALOGUE, SHOWCASING AMERICAN MUSLIM LIFE
-------------- --------------
3. (C) Under the aegis of Department's Brain Trust
initiative, PDOff and PolOff conceived a three-part Ramadan
lecture series in collaboration with Abuja-based
al-Habibiyyah Islamic Society to address the importance of
inter-faith dialogue and showcase American Muslim life.
PolOff delivered the inaugural lecture, entitled "Achieving a
Dialogue of Civilizations", to a diverse, capacity audience
at the University of Abuja, Faculty of Law (Gwagwalada) on
September 26. Other guest speakers included Dr. Taofiq
Abdulazeez, Professor of English; Dr. Kabir Mato, Professor
of Political Science; and University of Abuja Muslim Student
Society President.
4. (C) Dr. Taofiq Abdulazeez appeared suspicious, at times
livid during the course of his diatribe against U.S. foreign
policy objectives in the Muslim world, insisting that USG
military actions in Iraq and Afghanistan have "fueled dislike
and suspicion of American intentions" among the Nigerian
Muslim community. Aggravating endemic anti-American
sentiment in the crowd, Dr. Kabir Mato sanctioned suicide
bombing as "justifiable resistance" though stopped short of
endorsing violence against Americans.
5. (C) PolOff attempted to calm tensions by amending a
prepared speech with refutations to Abdulazeez and Mato's
extemporaneous commentary, noting that "by speaking to each
other in a fraternity of cooperation and mutual respect we
are reminded not only of the plurality and diversity of our
views, but also of our unique ability to work together
towards a shared goal." Furthermore, PolOff emphasized the
innumerable contributions of American Muslims to making the
U.S. a place of esteemed tolerance and co-existence. The
ensuing Q & A session revealed student audience hostility and
parroting of Abdulazeez's virulent views.
6. (C) Contacts later noted that PolOff's remarks detailing
the positive experience of American Muslims and subsequently
covered by several Nigerian newspapers, aided in diffusing
antagonism and "providing food for thought." Moreover,
sources averred that dismissing Abdulazeez and Mato as
"merely blowing off steam" does not vitiate the fact that
they typify the attitude of "average Muslims" in Nigeria.
Public Affairs FSNs distributed copies of PolOff's speech
during the event and, upon request, several occasions
thereafter.
7. (C) With the support of United States Institute of Peace
(USIP)-funded Kaduna-based Inter-faith Mediation Center:
Muslim-Christian Dialogue Forum, on October 2 PolOff
presented a second in a three-part lecture series speech
addressing the importance of inter-religious dialogue at
Ahmadu Bello University in Zaria. The Forum's principal
architects, Imam Dr. Muhammad Nurayn Ashafa, Imam Muhammad
ABUJA 00002891 002 OF 004
Sani Isah, and Pastor James Movel Wuye joined PolOff in
expounding upon the critical role youth exercise in thwarting
Christian-Muslim violence in Northern Nigeria. During Q & A,
audience members quarreled about the impetus for
inter-religious violence in Nigeria, highlighting deep
fissures in Christian-Muslim communal relations.
Particularly worrisome, noted several audience members, given
the notorious history of neighboring Kaduna's religious
rioting in 2000 and 2002 as well as the Nigerian proclivity
for religious identity politicking, is the facility with
which religious passions may be inflamed and manipulated in
the run-up to the 2007 elections.
8. (C) In the last of the series of lectures, PolOff in
concert with Ustaz Abubakar Siddeeq Muhammad of Abuja Central
Mosque and recent International Visitor Program grantee Imam
Fouad Adjemi spoke on the topic of "Community
Responsibilities in Islam" at the demolished grounds of
al-Habibiyyah Islamic Society in Abuja on October 9. (Note:
Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Minister Nasir el-Rufai razed
al-Habibiyyah Mosque in early August 2006, reportedly for
violation of city zoning laws. Al-Habibiyyah Founder Imam
Fouad maintains the demolition's illegality and currently is
negotiating with FCT Minister el-Rufai for an out-of-court
settlement. End Note.) Nigerian Television Authority (NTA)
covered the event and thrice featured PolOff's remarks on
"Community in Islam: An American Muslim Perspective" during
its popular early morning transmission "Suhur Live."
-------------- --------------
MEDIA OUTREACH: EXPLAINING MUSLIM LIFE IN AMERICA, USG POLICY
VIS--VIS THE MUSLIM WORLD
-------------- --------------
9. (U) On October 3, PolOff appeared on Kano State
Television for a discussion of U.S. policy towards the Muslim
world and Muslim life in America, aired during primetime
Saturday. PolOff fielded questions on the
Israeli-Palestinian conflict, Global War on Terror, USG
support for democratization in the Muslim world, and American
Muslims. During the hour-long call-in show "Bakin Zaren" at
Freedom Radio on October 4, PolOff spoke about challenges to
development and democratization in Africa, USG policy towards
Nigeria, and American Muslim civic, political, and religious
life. (Note: Private station Freedom Radio commenced
operations in December 2003, conceiving of itself as the
opposition's answer to the government-owned Federal Radio
Corporation of Nigeria. The Nigerian National Broadcasting
Commission (NBC) briefly suspended Freedom Radio's
broadcasting on March 27, 2006, reportedly for playing
anti-Third Term music. End Note.) Embassy Ramadan outreach
activities closed on October 20 with an interview at Abuja's
Hot FM, in which PolOff detailed the breadth of Ramadan
activities and spoke about life in America as an American
Muslim.
-------------- ---
IFTAR EVENTS UNCOVER CRITICISM AND COMMENDATION
-------------- ---
10. (U) The Ramadan tradition of gathering to break fast and
share a meal, known as Iftar, underscores the rite's communal
nature as well as its importance as a vehicle through which
ideas and information are exchanged. Undoubtedly, USG Iftar
hosting respectfully acknowledges the centrality of Ramadan
and its spirit of togetherness for the Nigerian Muslim
community.
11. (C) On September 28, Ambassador John Campbell hosted
members of the Diplomatic Corps and the Nigerian Muslim
community. Guests from the Diplomatic Corps included the
Ambassadors of Saudi Arabia, Pakistan, Egypt, Lebanon, Turkey
and senior-level representatives of Morocco, Canada, and
Trinidad and Tobago. Prominent Nigerian guests included
former National Security Agency Director, former Inspector
General of Police, House of Representative Minority Leader,
Chair of the House Committee on Appropriations, Founding
Member and Board of Trustee of the ruling Peoples' Democratic
Party (PDP),as well as Editor-in-Chief of the "Daily Trust"
(Northern Nigeria's most influential newspaper),several
business leaders and high-level representatives of the
Minister of Defense and the Chief Imam of Abuja Central
ABUJA 00002891 003 OF 004
Mosque.
12. (U) Attendees welcomed Ambassador Campbell's remarks
highlighting Muslim contributions to the American religious
landscape. EmbOffs engaged guests on a host of domestic and
international issues, most notably the 2007 elections and the
extant Obasanjo-Abubakar impasse. While acknowledging USG
efforts to dialogue with Muslims world-wide, several guests
stressed the critical need to maintain contact with Muslim
religious leaders and youth, in particular.
13. (C) PolCouns hosted on October 2 a joint Iftar for
prominent male and female leaders in Kaduna's Muslim
community. Participants included former President, General
Muhammad Buhari, three Kaduna gubernatorial candidates,
National and State Assembly members, and leading business,
media, and civil society actors. Following PolCouns' remarks
emphasizing U.S. respect for Islam, General Buhari, widely
viewed as the most credible, honest, and capable candidate to
lead Nigeria in 2007, publicly lauded USG efforts at
democracy promotion in Nigeria. While underscoring the
immensity of the task given rampant corruption and lack of
transparency, Buhari solicited continued USG support for
democratization, observing that "democracy is the only
political system that can work in Nigeria."
14. (SBU) PolOff hosted female contacts in a private room,
stressing in her remarks the importance of building and
maintaining alliances with Kaduna's vociferous female Muslim
populace - noting its extensive participation in civic,
political, and religious life. Appreciative, though
surprised at and suspicious of USG intentions to reach out to
the Nigerian Muslim community, many women used the Iftar as a
forum to criticize the U.S., decrying U.S. military
intervention in Iraq and Afghanistan as evidence of
deep-seated antipathy towards Muslims. Guests queried
current USG intentions vis--vis the Nigerian Muslim
community, stating that the 1994 closure of the U.S.
Consulate in Kaduna and subsequent perceived Mission bias
towards the "Christian" South served to exacerbate, if not
irrevocably dissolve (as posited by some) relations by
effectively disbanding USG communication with the Muslim
North.
15. (C) PolCouns convened a second group of Northern
political, leaders on October 3 in Northern Nigeria's
commercial epicenter, Kano. Deputy Governor of Kano, Ciroman
(Crown Prince) and eldest son of Kano Emir Sanusi Ado Bayero,
Manufacturers Association of Nigeria National President,
Dantata Co. Deputy Director, former civilian and military
Kano Governors, and representatives of the Kano State Council
of Ulama, Lebanese and academic community, media and film
industry (Kannywood),and Chamber of Commerce joined sixty
other guests at the Iftar. PolCouns and PolOffs entertained
discussions on likely 2007 candidates, Obasanjo's posturing
and maneuvering to elongate term in office, and U.S. policy
towards Palestine.
16. (C) Dismissing notions of U.S. policy objectives in the
Muslim world as guided by the desire to undermine Islamic
activism and religious expression, Deputy Governor of Kano,
Engineer Magaji Abdullahi, hailed the Iftar as evidence of
"America's goodwill towards Muslims."
17. (C) Playing host to notable Kano women, including
Commissioner of Women Affairs Dr. Fatima Gaji Dantata, media,
academic, and religious sector contacts, PolOff addressed
ubiquitous criticism of U.S. policy vis--vis the Islamic
world to an exceedingly impassioned and aggressive audience.
PolOff debunked conspiratorial, conjectural statements
regarding USG attitudes towards Muslims.
18. (C) Country PAO Atim George, accompanied by USAID, NIH,
and PolOffs, assembled accomplished Abuja women, including
House Assembly member Saudatu Sani, Senatorial aspirant Ireti
Kingibe, and other seminal civil society actors at the Chief
of Mission Residence on October 11. The Iftar's informal
tenor allowed for candid discussion on obstacles to women's
empowerment in Nigeria.
--------------
AND HORSES, TOO
ABUJA 00002891 004 OF 004
--------------
19. (U) To cap off the month of Ramadan, Nigerian
traditional leaders host a series of parades and displays of
horsemanship beginning on the "Sallah Day" holiday. PolCouns
participated in two parades during the celebrations, riding
through the streets of Dutse, Jigawa State, with the Emir of
Duste and a half-mile long entourage of horses, camels,
snakes and hyenas. Throughout the 6-mile ride, the streets
were lined with onlookers seeking a look at the Emir and
exchanging greetings with the participants. The presence of
PolCouns was widely noted and both television and radio
broadcasts of the event featured the U.S. Mission's
participation prominently.
20. (U) Repeating the performance in Zaria, headquarters of
the Zazzau Emirate in Kaduna State, PolCouns again rode
through the streets, this time with the "Prince," Yeriman
Zazzau. An even greater crowd attended and the Kaduna State
Television station interviewed many onlookers who expressed
their delight with U.S. Embassy participation and commented
on the respect and concern shown by the USG towards Nigeria's
development.
-------------- --------------
COMMENT: SUSTAINED ENGAGEMENT, MEANINGFUL DIALOGUE
-------------- --------------
21. (C) While the amount of goodwill generated by Embassy
Ramadan outreach efforts is apparent through overwhelmingly
positive media coverage and numerous tte--ttes with
contacts, Post contends that sustained engagement, meaningful
dialogue, increased utilization of radio and television
media, and willingness to reach out to diverse audiences are
the best way to address pervasive anti-American sentiment,
particularly among impressionable Northern Nigerian youth.
22. (C) Predictably, Northern Nigerian antipathy towards
America stems from profound misinformation and cognition of
Nigeria as constituent member of the global Islamic
community, which adjures its allegiance, loyalty, and
empathy. Exchanges involving American Muslim personalities,
capable and willing to elucidate their positive experiences
as vital civic, political, and religious actors in American
society gainfully illustrates American amity towards Muslims,
discredits more incendiary views, and aids in mollifying
aggressive audiences. Importantly, the decorous statement
that "America is waging a war on Islam" tentatively serves to
undermine the gamut of Mission policy objectives, including
democracy promotion, education and healthcare sector reform,
and HIV-AIDS treatment and prevention as ideologically-driven
Nigerians seek to impute ulterior motives to USG actions.
END COMMENT.
CAMPBELL
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
STATE FOR U/S KAREN HUGHES, AF/W, AF/PD, AF/R, AF/RSA,
INR/AA
E.O. 12958: DECL: 11/03/2016
TAGS: PGOV PINR PREL KISL KPAO KIRF NI KWMN KDEM
KMDR, SCUL
SUBJECT: RAMADAN OUTREACH REVEALS CRITICISM, COMMENDATION
Classified By: Ambassador John Campbell, for reasons 1.4 (b) and (d)
1. (SBU) SUMMARY: During the month of Ramadan (September
24-October 23),Embassy Abuja organized several
public-speaking engagements, media outreach, and Iftar events
to discuss U.S. policy toward the Muslim world and Muslim
life in America. Local media outlets reported favorably and
widely the impact and exhaustiveness of Embassy Ramadan
outreach activities throughout the Nigerian Muslim community.
2. (C) While generally responsive to and appreciative of
Post's outreach attempts, some Nigerian Muslims also
exploited our forums to malign USG policy objectives in the
Muslim world as evidence of either unequivocal or latent
hostility towards Muslims and Islam. The animosity we
witnessed underscores the lack of access to reliable
information, capacity of ideologically-driven individuals to
influence and contort youth opinion, marginalization felt by
large segments of the Nigerian Muslim community, and
self-incorporation of Northern Nigeria into the vicissitudes
confronting the global Islamic community, particularly with
respect to its affairs with the West. END SUMMARY.
-------------- --------------
UNIVERSITY AND MOSQUE EXCHANGES: ADDRESSING INTER-FAITH
DIALOGUE, SHOWCASING AMERICAN MUSLIM LIFE
-------------- --------------
3. (C) Under the aegis of Department's Brain Trust
initiative, PDOff and PolOff conceived a three-part Ramadan
lecture series in collaboration with Abuja-based
al-Habibiyyah Islamic Society to address the importance of
inter-faith dialogue and showcase American Muslim life.
PolOff delivered the inaugural lecture, entitled "Achieving a
Dialogue of Civilizations", to a diverse, capacity audience
at the University of Abuja, Faculty of Law (Gwagwalada) on
September 26. Other guest speakers included Dr. Taofiq
Abdulazeez, Professor of English; Dr. Kabir Mato, Professor
of Political Science; and University of Abuja Muslim Student
Society President.
4. (C) Dr. Taofiq Abdulazeez appeared suspicious, at times
livid during the course of his diatribe against U.S. foreign
policy objectives in the Muslim world, insisting that USG
military actions in Iraq and Afghanistan have "fueled dislike
and suspicion of American intentions" among the Nigerian
Muslim community. Aggravating endemic anti-American
sentiment in the crowd, Dr. Kabir Mato sanctioned suicide
bombing as "justifiable resistance" though stopped short of
endorsing violence against Americans.
5. (C) PolOff attempted to calm tensions by amending a
prepared speech with refutations to Abdulazeez and Mato's
extemporaneous commentary, noting that "by speaking to each
other in a fraternity of cooperation and mutual respect we
are reminded not only of the plurality and diversity of our
views, but also of our unique ability to work together
towards a shared goal." Furthermore, PolOff emphasized the
innumerable contributions of American Muslims to making the
U.S. a place of esteemed tolerance and co-existence. The
ensuing Q & A session revealed student audience hostility and
parroting of Abdulazeez's virulent views.
6. (C) Contacts later noted that PolOff's remarks detailing
the positive experience of American Muslims and subsequently
covered by several Nigerian newspapers, aided in diffusing
antagonism and "providing food for thought." Moreover,
sources averred that dismissing Abdulazeez and Mato as
"merely blowing off steam" does not vitiate the fact that
they typify the attitude of "average Muslims" in Nigeria.
Public Affairs FSNs distributed copies of PolOff's speech
during the event and, upon request, several occasions
thereafter.
7. (C) With the support of United States Institute of Peace
(USIP)-funded Kaduna-based Inter-faith Mediation Center:
Muslim-Christian Dialogue Forum, on October 2 PolOff
presented a second in a three-part lecture series speech
addressing the importance of inter-religious dialogue at
Ahmadu Bello University in Zaria. The Forum's principal
architects, Imam Dr. Muhammad Nurayn Ashafa, Imam Muhammad
ABUJA 00002891 002 OF 004
Sani Isah, and Pastor James Movel Wuye joined PolOff in
expounding upon the critical role youth exercise in thwarting
Christian-Muslim violence in Northern Nigeria. During Q & A,
audience members quarreled about the impetus for
inter-religious violence in Nigeria, highlighting deep
fissures in Christian-Muslim communal relations.
Particularly worrisome, noted several audience members, given
the notorious history of neighboring Kaduna's religious
rioting in 2000 and 2002 as well as the Nigerian proclivity
for religious identity politicking, is the facility with
which religious passions may be inflamed and manipulated in
the run-up to the 2007 elections.
8. (C) In the last of the series of lectures, PolOff in
concert with Ustaz Abubakar Siddeeq Muhammad of Abuja Central
Mosque and recent International Visitor Program grantee Imam
Fouad Adjemi spoke on the topic of "Community
Responsibilities in Islam" at the demolished grounds of
al-Habibiyyah Islamic Society in Abuja on October 9. (Note:
Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Minister Nasir el-Rufai razed
al-Habibiyyah Mosque in early August 2006, reportedly for
violation of city zoning laws. Al-Habibiyyah Founder Imam
Fouad maintains the demolition's illegality and currently is
negotiating with FCT Minister el-Rufai for an out-of-court
settlement. End Note.) Nigerian Television Authority (NTA)
covered the event and thrice featured PolOff's remarks on
"Community in Islam: An American Muslim Perspective" during
its popular early morning transmission "Suhur Live."
-------------- --------------
MEDIA OUTREACH: EXPLAINING MUSLIM LIFE IN AMERICA, USG POLICY
VIS--VIS THE MUSLIM WORLD
-------------- --------------
9. (U) On October 3, PolOff appeared on Kano State
Television for a discussion of U.S. policy towards the Muslim
world and Muslim life in America, aired during primetime
Saturday. PolOff fielded questions on the
Israeli-Palestinian conflict, Global War on Terror, USG
support for democratization in the Muslim world, and American
Muslims. During the hour-long call-in show "Bakin Zaren" at
Freedom Radio on October 4, PolOff spoke about challenges to
development and democratization in Africa, USG policy towards
Nigeria, and American Muslim civic, political, and religious
life. (Note: Private station Freedom Radio commenced
operations in December 2003, conceiving of itself as the
opposition's answer to the government-owned Federal Radio
Corporation of Nigeria. The Nigerian National Broadcasting
Commission (NBC) briefly suspended Freedom Radio's
broadcasting on March 27, 2006, reportedly for playing
anti-Third Term music. End Note.) Embassy Ramadan outreach
activities closed on October 20 with an interview at Abuja's
Hot FM, in which PolOff detailed the breadth of Ramadan
activities and spoke about life in America as an American
Muslim.
-------------- ---
IFTAR EVENTS UNCOVER CRITICISM AND COMMENDATION
-------------- ---
10. (U) The Ramadan tradition of gathering to break fast and
share a meal, known as Iftar, underscores the rite's communal
nature as well as its importance as a vehicle through which
ideas and information are exchanged. Undoubtedly, USG Iftar
hosting respectfully acknowledges the centrality of Ramadan
and its spirit of togetherness for the Nigerian Muslim
community.
11. (C) On September 28, Ambassador John Campbell hosted
members of the Diplomatic Corps and the Nigerian Muslim
community. Guests from the Diplomatic Corps included the
Ambassadors of Saudi Arabia, Pakistan, Egypt, Lebanon, Turkey
and senior-level representatives of Morocco, Canada, and
Trinidad and Tobago. Prominent Nigerian guests included
former National Security Agency Director, former Inspector
General of Police, House of Representative Minority Leader,
Chair of the House Committee on Appropriations, Founding
Member and Board of Trustee of the ruling Peoples' Democratic
Party (PDP),as well as Editor-in-Chief of the "Daily Trust"
(Northern Nigeria's most influential newspaper),several
business leaders and high-level representatives of the
Minister of Defense and the Chief Imam of Abuja Central
ABUJA 00002891 003 OF 004
Mosque.
12. (U) Attendees welcomed Ambassador Campbell's remarks
highlighting Muslim contributions to the American religious
landscape. EmbOffs engaged guests on a host of domestic and
international issues, most notably the 2007 elections and the
extant Obasanjo-Abubakar impasse. While acknowledging USG
efforts to dialogue with Muslims world-wide, several guests
stressed the critical need to maintain contact with Muslim
religious leaders and youth, in particular.
13. (C) PolCouns hosted on October 2 a joint Iftar for
prominent male and female leaders in Kaduna's Muslim
community. Participants included former President, General
Muhammad Buhari, three Kaduna gubernatorial candidates,
National and State Assembly members, and leading business,
media, and civil society actors. Following PolCouns' remarks
emphasizing U.S. respect for Islam, General Buhari, widely
viewed as the most credible, honest, and capable candidate to
lead Nigeria in 2007, publicly lauded USG efforts at
democracy promotion in Nigeria. While underscoring the
immensity of the task given rampant corruption and lack of
transparency, Buhari solicited continued USG support for
democratization, observing that "democracy is the only
political system that can work in Nigeria."
14. (SBU) PolOff hosted female contacts in a private room,
stressing in her remarks the importance of building and
maintaining alliances with Kaduna's vociferous female Muslim
populace - noting its extensive participation in civic,
political, and religious life. Appreciative, though
surprised at and suspicious of USG intentions to reach out to
the Nigerian Muslim community, many women used the Iftar as a
forum to criticize the U.S., decrying U.S. military
intervention in Iraq and Afghanistan as evidence of
deep-seated antipathy towards Muslims. Guests queried
current USG intentions vis--vis the Nigerian Muslim
community, stating that the 1994 closure of the U.S.
Consulate in Kaduna and subsequent perceived Mission bias
towards the "Christian" South served to exacerbate, if not
irrevocably dissolve (as posited by some) relations by
effectively disbanding USG communication with the Muslim
North.
15. (C) PolCouns convened a second group of Northern
political, leaders on October 3 in Northern Nigeria's
commercial epicenter, Kano. Deputy Governor of Kano, Ciroman
(Crown Prince) and eldest son of Kano Emir Sanusi Ado Bayero,
Manufacturers Association of Nigeria National President,
Dantata Co. Deputy Director, former civilian and military
Kano Governors, and representatives of the Kano State Council
of Ulama, Lebanese and academic community, media and film
industry (Kannywood),and Chamber of Commerce joined sixty
other guests at the Iftar. PolCouns and PolOffs entertained
discussions on likely 2007 candidates, Obasanjo's posturing
and maneuvering to elongate term in office, and U.S. policy
towards Palestine.
16. (C) Dismissing notions of U.S. policy objectives in the
Muslim world as guided by the desire to undermine Islamic
activism and religious expression, Deputy Governor of Kano,
Engineer Magaji Abdullahi, hailed the Iftar as evidence of
"America's goodwill towards Muslims."
17. (C) Playing host to notable Kano women, including
Commissioner of Women Affairs Dr. Fatima Gaji Dantata, media,
academic, and religious sector contacts, PolOff addressed
ubiquitous criticism of U.S. policy vis--vis the Islamic
world to an exceedingly impassioned and aggressive audience.
PolOff debunked conspiratorial, conjectural statements
regarding USG attitudes towards Muslims.
18. (C) Country PAO Atim George, accompanied by USAID, NIH,
and PolOffs, assembled accomplished Abuja women, including
House Assembly member Saudatu Sani, Senatorial aspirant Ireti
Kingibe, and other seminal civil society actors at the Chief
of Mission Residence on October 11. The Iftar's informal
tenor allowed for candid discussion on obstacles to women's
empowerment in Nigeria.
--------------
AND HORSES, TOO
ABUJA 00002891 004 OF 004
--------------
19. (U) To cap off the month of Ramadan, Nigerian
traditional leaders host a series of parades and displays of
horsemanship beginning on the "Sallah Day" holiday. PolCouns
participated in two parades during the celebrations, riding
through the streets of Dutse, Jigawa State, with the Emir of
Duste and a half-mile long entourage of horses, camels,
snakes and hyenas. Throughout the 6-mile ride, the streets
were lined with onlookers seeking a look at the Emir and
exchanging greetings with the participants. The presence of
PolCouns was widely noted and both television and radio
broadcasts of the event featured the U.S. Mission's
participation prominently.
20. (U) Repeating the performance in Zaria, headquarters of
the Zazzau Emirate in Kaduna State, PolCouns again rode
through the streets, this time with the "Prince," Yeriman
Zazzau. An even greater crowd attended and the Kaduna State
Television station interviewed many onlookers who expressed
their delight with U.S. Embassy participation and commented
on the respect and concern shown by the USG towards Nigeria's
development.
-------------- --------------
COMMENT: SUSTAINED ENGAGEMENT, MEANINGFUL DIALOGUE
-------------- --------------
21. (C) While the amount of goodwill generated by Embassy
Ramadan outreach efforts is apparent through overwhelmingly
positive media coverage and numerous tte--ttes with
contacts, Post contends that sustained engagement, meaningful
dialogue, increased utilization of radio and television
media, and willingness to reach out to diverse audiences are
the best way to address pervasive anti-American sentiment,
particularly among impressionable Northern Nigerian youth.
22. (C) Predictably, Northern Nigerian antipathy towards
America stems from profound misinformation and cognition of
Nigeria as constituent member of the global Islamic
community, which adjures its allegiance, loyalty, and
empathy. Exchanges involving American Muslim personalities,
capable and willing to elucidate their positive experiences
as vital civic, political, and religious actors in American
society gainfully illustrates American amity towards Muslims,
discredits more incendiary views, and aids in mollifying
aggressive audiences. Importantly, the decorous statement
that "America is waging a war on Islam" tentatively serves to
undermine the gamut of Mission policy objectives, including
democracy promotion, education and healthcare sector reform,
and HIV-AIDS treatment and prevention as ideologically-driven
Nigerians seek to impute ulterior motives to USG actions.
END COMMENT.
CAMPBELL