NIGERIAN FOREIGN MINISTER'S WORLD VIEW

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 ABUJA 002020 SIPDIS SIPDIS EO 12958; DECL: 9/14/2017 TAGS: PGOV PREL PINR NI SUBJECT: NIGERIAN FOREIGN MINISTER'S WORLD VIEW ¶1. (C) Summary. Chief Ojo Maduekwe, the new Minister of Foreign Affairs for Nigeria, has a long history of involvement in politics, where he is a survivor, as well as some involvement with foreign relations. Since taking over the helm of the ministry in late July 2007, he has pontificated to the diplomatic community as a group and to the press stating that Nigeria's diplomacy will henceforth be "citizen oriented" and "reciprocal," i.e. if Nigeria is portrayed in a poor light, then Nigeria will deem that country to be "hostile" and treat it accordingly. Yet, because Maduekwe remains elusive (it is nearly impossible to schedule a substantive discussion with him),we are not able to judge how these sentiments will actually drive foreign relations with the U.S. End Summary. ¶2. (C) Biography. Chief Ojo Maduekwe, about sixty, is an Igbo from Apia State in the South. Trained as a lawyer, but a life long politician, he was a firebrand and a radical in his youth. Early on he decided to become a "nationalist" rather than a regional advocate for Igbo (Biafrian) causes. He opposed the Babangida government in the late 1980s; was elected to the House and then the Senate from whence, as a "hard-line Christian" he spoke out against Sharia law. In recent years he has thrown his lot in completely with the powers that be. First to Obasanjo, in whose cabinet he served as Minister of Transportation and in whose service most recently he labored as Secretary General of the Peoples' Democratic Party (PDP) that rigged SIPDIS last April's election. As a reward for delivering the presidency to Yar'Adua, he was named to the Foreign Affairs portfolio. The assignment was not completely unexpected as Maduekwe had done a stint there earlier as an advisor to then-minister Babagana Kingibe. Certainly the connection to Kingibe, now Secretary to the Federal Government, i.e. Nigeria's most senior non-elected (sic) official, was also a factor in Maduekwe's appointment. ¶3. (C) Maduekwe is tall, cuts an imposing figure and is an excellent speaker. As is true of many from the Nigerian political class, he has a large ego. At one time he harbored presidential ambitions. For now, in the absence of anyone named by Yar'Adua to function as an international affairs advisor at the presidency, Maduekwe seems to have the inside track to the president's ear. At any rate he seems to spend most of the working day at the villa rather than at the ministry. If indeed he is to be credited, his counsel to the President on the broad strokes of foreign policy has been wise. Yar'Adua has underlined that his administration's objectives of electoral reform, adherence to the rule of law, the combat of corruption, the achievement of peace and stability in the Delta and reform of economic policies, inter alia to attract new investment, are national priorities. ¶4. (SBU) However, Maduekwe has also put forward other concerns. He was angry at the treatment of Nigerians in Spain, where a man died in police custody, and in Greece, where an illegal immigrant jumped to his death while supposedly being pursued by police. The minister demanded that Nigerians be better treated. He then linked these instances of denigration of citizens to the poor treatment of visa applicants by embassies in Abuja. He complained that Nigerians were forced to wait in long lines and inclement weather before being forced to grovel for permission to travel. (As an aside, we note that an impediment to the acquisition of U.S. visas by his in-laws was just overcome.) ¶5. (SBU) The minister also took diplomats as a group to task for reporting negatively on Nigeria accusing us of fear mongering vis a vis the Delta. He stated that portraying the Niger Delta region as dangerous and counseling expatriates to stay out contributed to intractableness of the crisis. Comment: The irony, that the place really is dangerous and that he asked more of the foreign community than he did of Nigeria, went unrecognized. End Comment. ¶6. (SBU) Minister Maduekwe's latest diatribe came on September 12 when he announced a policy of "consequences." If you will be nice to us, we'll be nice to you. He warned that any country that presents Nigeria as corrupt would be declared "hostile." Elaborating on his thoughts, the Minister observed that Nigeria's foreign policy had accomplished little for its citizens. He ruminated on the fact that Nigeria's image was poor; one of drug pushers and scam artists. He bemoaned the fact that skin color was a factor. As long as corruption, HIV/AIDS and ethnic conflict were colored black, race remained "the defining paradigm of international relations." Yet, he felt that it was Nigeria's destiny, right and responsibility to become the world's black success story. ¶7. (C) Comment: The Foreign Minister has certainly shared his preoccupation with image. He is genuinely offended by what he perceives as the belittling of Nigeria by the rest of the world. He is a proud nationalist and insists that Nigeria be given its rightful place. Part of his approach to his job - and unfortunately true of most of the political class - is to believe that rhetoric makes ABUJA 00002020 002 OF 002 truth. We understand that much of the minister's posturing is aimed at domestic audiences, designed to convince voters that the new administration has their best interests at heart, especially vis a vis an uncaring outside world. Beyond that we do not know if the minister's bluster will trump the pragmatism that appears evident in President Yar'Adua's discussions. ¶8. (C) Comment continued. The change of administrations provides the opportunity for a fresh look at foreign policy issues. At minimum, we see a retreat from Obasanjo's personal flamboyance and desire to be involved in global issues. However, the foreign policy team here is quite comfortable in asserting a global mandate, but is not inclined to exercise any initiative or leadership to claim it. On multi-lateral issues Nigeria will stay true to its staunch NAM positions that wallow in the commonality of third world unity. We predict that Yar'Adua and his team will be less active in Africa - Sudan and Somalia - in ECOWAS, but also with neighbors in the Gulf of Guinea where the need for engagement is apparent. ¶9. (C) Comment continued. Part of the problem is bureaucratic. The policy machinery and the decision making apparatus have become so cumbersome that few issues can be addressed in a logical or timely fashion. For example, I, along with every other Chief of Mission in town, have been completely stonewalled in efforts to see the minister privately. He is just not available. Nor are any senior members of his team. Consequently, pressing diplomatic business is at a standstill. We initially thought the snub might be because a mere Charge d'Affaires was seeking an urgent meeting or because of ire at the issuance of our terrorist warden message, but all diplomatic missions in Abuja report similar blockage. We at the U.S. Embassy are trying to figure out how to proceed. If I ever see the Minister, his deputies or the Permanent Secretary, I'll ask. More realistically, we suspect that over time modalities for engagement will fall into place. End Comment. GRIBBIN