Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
07LAGOS409
2007-06-01 13:28:00
SECRET
Consulate Lagos
Cable title:
VICE PRESIDENT-ELECT GOODLUCK JONATHAN BIO
how-toVZCZCXRO2707 RR RUEHPA DE RUEHOS #0409/01 1521328 ZNY SSSSS ZZH R 011328Z JUN 07 FM AMCONSUL LAGOS TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 9028 INFO RUEHZK/ECOWAS COLLECTIVE RUEHUJA/AMEMBASSY ABUJA 8840 RUEHNY/AMEMBASSY OSLO 0062 RUEHWR/AMEMBASSY WARSAW 0397 RUEHCD/AMCONSUL CIUDAD JUAREZ 0376 RUEHIT/AMCONSUL ISTANBUL 0375 RUEHSO/AMCONSUL SAO PAULO 0369 RUFOADA/JAC MOLESWORTH AFB UK RUEKJCS/SECDEF WASHINGTON DC RUCPDOC/DEPT OF COMMERCE WASHDC RHEBAAA/DEPT OF ENERGY WASHINGTON DC RUEATRS/DEPT OF TREASURY WASHDC RUEAIIA/CIA WASHINGTON DC RHEFDIA/DIA WASHINGTON DC
S E C R E T SECTION 01 OF 03 LAGOS 000409
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
STATE FOR AF/W, INR/AA
WARSAW FOR LISA PIASCIK
CIUDAD JUAREZ FOR DONNA BLAIR
ISTANBUL FOR TASHAWNA SMITH
SAO PAULO FOR ANDREW WITHERSPOON
OSLO FOR HELENA SCHRADER
DOE FOR GPERSON, CAROLYN GAY
TREASURY FOR ASEVERENS, SRENENDER, DFIELDS
COMMERCE FOR KBURRESS
STATE PASS USTR FOR ASST USTR FLISER
STATE PASS TRANSPORTATION FOR MARAD
STATE PASS OPIC FOR ZHAN AND MSTUCKART
STATE PASS TDA FOR NCABOT
STATE PASS EXIM FOR JRICHTER
STATE PASS USAID FOR GWEYNAND AND SLAWAETZ
E.O. 12958: DECL: 06/01/2017
TAGS: PGOV PINR PREL NI
SUBJECT: VICE PRESIDENT-ELECT GOODLUCK JONATHAN BIO
INFORMATION
REF: A. SECSTATE 62189
B. LAGOS 325
C. LAGOS 343
D. LAGOS 310
E. ABUJA 786
LAGOS 00000409 001.2 OF 003
Classified By: Consul Alan B. C. Latimer for reasons 1.4 (B) and (D)
S E C R E T SECTION 01 OF 03 LAGOS 000409
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
STATE FOR AF/W, INR/AA
WARSAW FOR LISA PIASCIK
CIUDAD JUAREZ FOR DONNA BLAIR
ISTANBUL FOR TASHAWNA SMITH
SAO PAULO FOR ANDREW WITHERSPOON
OSLO FOR HELENA SCHRADER
DOE FOR GPERSON, CAROLYN GAY
TREASURY FOR ASEVERENS, SRENENDER, DFIELDS
COMMERCE FOR KBURRESS
STATE PASS USTR FOR ASST USTR FLISER
STATE PASS TRANSPORTATION FOR MARAD
STATE PASS OPIC FOR ZHAN AND MSTUCKART
STATE PASS TDA FOR NCABOT
STATE PASS EXIM FOR JRICHTER
STATE PASS USAID FOR GWEYNAND AND SLAWAETZ
E.O. 12958: DECL: 06/01/2017
TAGS: PGOV PINR PREL NI
SUBJECT: VICE PRESIDENT-ELECT GOODLUCK JONATHAN BIO
INFORMATION
REF: A. SECSTATE 62189
B. LAGOS 325
C. LAGOS 343
D. LAGOS 310
E. ABUJA 786
LAGOS 00000409 001.2 OF 003
Classified By: Consul Alan B. C. Latimer for reasons 1.4 (B) and (D)
1. (C) Summary: Bayelsa State Governor Goodluck Jonathan's
studied loyalty to his predecessor Diepreye Alamieyeseigha,
his humility, and his comparative honesty (by Nigerian
standards) are reportedly reasons President Obasanjo chose
him as Umaru Yar'Adua's vice presidential running mate.
Jonathan claims Ijaw ethnicity and the support of prominent
Ijaws, but recent attacks on Government House and his family
home while Jonathan was in residence show deep fissures in
his south-south support. Jonathan's advisors fear Yar'Adua,
who reportedly has not had a close relationship with his
deputy governors, will treat Jonathan similarly. End Summary.
--------------
FAMILY LIFE
--------------
2. (C) A native of Otuoke in Ogbia Local Government area of
Bayelsa State, Goodluck Jonathan comes from a humble social
background. He was born November 20, 1957 to the family of
Mr. and Mrs. Ebele Jonathan. Family sources disclosed
Jonathan displayed maturity and responsibility in his conduct
as a child. These attributes earned him the nickname
"Azikiwe" by his paternal grandmother who saw in him
leadership qualities similar to late southeast statesman
Nnamdi Azikiwe who championed the cause of Nigeria,s
independence.
3. (C) Jonathan is married to Patience Faka Jonathan, said
to have a more forceful personality than her husband. A
source in Bayelsa said Mrs. Jonathan "runs her own show and
the husband has little or no control over her." She is said
to have tremendous influence over Jonathan and his
administration. In September 2006, the Economic and
Financial Crimes commission (EFCC) seized USD 13.5 million
from Mrs. Jonathan at an airport. Reports indicated the money
was laundered through an associate; Jonathan managed to
distance himself from the deal. The anti-graft commission
investigating the source of the money has reported no
findings to date. Although Jonathan's name was on the 2006
list of governors accused of corruption, he has not been
publicly charged.
--------------
ACADEMIC LIFE AND POLITICAL ASCENT
--------------
4. (C) Jonathan attended primary school at St. Stephen's in
Otuoke and at St. Michael,s in Oloibiri, Bayelsa State. He
graduated from Mater Dei High School in Imiringi, Bayelsa
State in 1975. He obtained a Bachelor of Science Degree in
Zoology from the University of Port Harcourt in Rivers State
in 1981. He was awarded a Masters of Science degree in
Hydrobiology/Fisheries in 1985, and a Doctorate in Zoology in
LAGOS 00000409 002.2 OF 003
1995, from the University of Port Harcourt, Rivers State.
5. (C) Jonathan worked as a Science Inspector of Education
in the former Rivers State Civil Service Commission and as an
academic in the Biology Department at the College of
Education for ten years. He voluntarily resigned his
appointment with the college in 1993 to become Assistant
Director of Ecology in the defunct Oil Minerals Producing
Areas Development Commission (OMPADEC). Jonathan's first
political experience came when he was nominated to be Chief
D.S.P. Alamieyeseigha's running mate under the People's
Democratic Party in the 1999 gubernatorial race. He became
Governor of Bayelsa in December 2005 when Alamieyeseigha was
arrested and charged for money laundering in the United
Kingdom.
--------------
POLITICAL LIFE: JONATHAN AS GOVERNOR
--------------
6. (C) Jonathan served as Governor of Bayelsa State for 18
months. Often referred to as a humble politician, Jonathan
reportedly listens to his advisors, many of whom were
friendly towards the United States. Jonathan has engaged
U.S. diplomats and the international community on numerous
occasions, including during hostage crises and to ask for
advice or assistance on economic development issues.
Jonathan's advisors have visited the consulate's Foreign
Commercial Service office to seek out U.S. sources of
training and materials. Jonathan will likely remain
accessible as Vice President and willing to continue
exchanges with U.S. diplomats. Jonathan attended a short
seminar on Public Policy and Governance at Harvard's JFK
School of Government in late April.
7. (C) It is not clear how Jonathan views Nigeria's role as
an international or regional power. Jonathan may accept
international input and assistance in addressing the issues
of the Niger Delta but would rely on Yar'Adua's lead and on
the advice of close advisors. We have no indication of his
position towards counterterrorism.
--------------
BAYELSA POLITICS AS USUAL
--------------
8. (C) Jonathan worked closely with Secretary to the Bayelsa
State Government Dr. Godknows Igali, tagged to be his Special
Presidential Advisor on the Niger Delta, during hostage
crises. During the 2007 elections, an interlocutor suggested
Jonathan was trying to manipulate militants into abstaining
from electoral violence through a "divide and conquer"
strategy. That strategy may have backfired; one interlocutor
suggests the April 20 attack on Government House was
masterminded by senior militants upset the government was
trying to win the support of their subordinates. However,
another interlocutor reports this attack may have been
instigated by Delta Governor James Ibori, jealous that
Jonathan received the PDP's nomination for Vice President.
Militants have said that they attacked the residence because
rigging was taking place there.
LAGOS 00000409 003.2 OF 003
--------------
LEADERSHIP STYLE AND VIEWS ON DISSENT
--------------
9. (C) Jonathan's inner circle is primarily composed of
Bayelsa State indigenes, some with prior government
experience, others active in civil society. Jonathan's
demeanor is reserved. In a recent meeting he listened to
others and spoke only when he drew the meeting to a close
with his own comments. In our experience, he does not veer
far from the party line.
10. (C) Jonathan's defining characteristic is loyalty. When
his former boss was arrested in London, Jonathan was
reluctant to take over as governor or to appear too eager to
fill his superior's shoes. He waited until he was compelled
by the presidency to claim the governorship. Jonathan still
supports the Alamieyesiegha family. It is his loyalty that
likely compelled President Obasanjo to select him as
Yar'Adua's running mate, perhaps to forestall the type of
conflict Obasanjo perceived himself to have experienced with
Atiku.
--------------
POPULAR SUPPORT
--------------
11. (C) Jonathan's ascent to the Vice Presidency is a source
of pride for many Ijaws and he has the support of prominent
(although marginalized) Ijaw elders such as E.K. Clark.
However, his appointment as Yar'Adua's running mate earned
him political enemies. Attacks on Jonathan's campaign
offices, Government House, and family home have not been
linked definitively to individuals or groups, they reflect
deep fissures in his south-south support base. He is unknown
outside of this region, however.
-------------- --------------
JONATHAN: RELATIONS WITH YAR'ADUA AND THE MILITARY
-------------- --------------
12. (C) When not campaigning with Yar'Adua, Jonathan spent
much of his time in Bayelsa. He and Yar'Adua are not known
to consult with one another on a regular basis. Jonathan's
advisors fear Yar'Adua, who reportedly has not had a close
relationship with his Deputy Governors, will treat Jonathan
similarly. As a result, they believe that Yar'Adua will have
to involve himself personally in resolution of the Niger
Delta crisis. Others, however, suggest their academic
backgrounds will make it easy for the two to work together.
13. (S) Jonathan does not have extensive ties to the
military establishment, but is close to the Chief of Army
Staff, General Andrew Azazi, a fellow Ijaw Christian.
LATIMER
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
STATE FOR AF/W, INR/AA
WARSAW FOR LISA PIASCIK
CIUDAD JUAREZ FOR DONNA BLAIR
ISTANBUL FOR TASHAWNA SMITH
SAO PAULO FOR ANDREW WITHERSPOON
OSLO FOR HELENA SCHRADER
DOE FOR GPERSON, CAROLYN GAY
TREASURY FOR ASEVERENS, SRENENDER, DFIELDS
COMMERCE FOR KBURRESS
STATE PASS USTR FOR ASST USTR FLISER
STATE PASS TRANSPORTATION FOR MARAD
STATE PASS OPIC FOR ZHAN AND MSTUCKART
STATE PASS TDA FOR NCABOT
STATE PASS EXIM FOR JRICHTER
STATE PASS USAID FOR GWEYNAND AND SLAWAETZ
E.O. 12958: DECL: 06/01/2017
TAGS: PGOV PINR PREL NI
SUBJECT: VICE PRESIDENT-ELECT GOODLUCK JONATHAN BIO
INFORMATION
REF: A. SECSTATE 62189
B. LAGOS 325
C. LAGOS 343
D. LAGOS 310
E. ABUJA 786
LAGOS 00000409 001.2 OF 003
Classified By: Consul Alan B. C. Latimer for reasons 1.4 (B) and (D)
1. (C) Summary: Bayelsa State Governor Goodluck Jonathan's
studied loyalty to his predecessor Diepreye Alamieyeseigha,
his humility, and his comparative honesty (by Nigerian
standards) are reportedly reasons President Obasanjo chose
him as Umaru Yar'Adua's vice presidential running mate.
Jonathan claims Ijaw ethnicity and the support of prominent
Ijaws, but recent attacks on Government House and his family
home while Jonathan was in residence show deep fissures in
his south-south support. Jonathan's advisors fear Yar'Adua,
who reportedly has not had a close relationship with his
deputy governors, will treat Jonathan similarly. End Summary.
--------------
FAMILY LIFE
--------------
2. (C) A native of Otuoke in Ogbia Local Government area of
Bayelsa State, Goodluck Jonathan comes from a humble social
background. He was born November 20, 1957 to the family of
Mr. and Mrs. Ebele Jonathan. Family sources disclosed
Jonathan displayed maturity and responsibility in his conduct
as a child. These attributes earned him the nickname
"Azikiwe" by his paternal grandmother who saw in him
leadership qualities similar to late southeast statesman
Nnamdi Azikiwe who championed the cause of Nigeria,s
independence.
3. (C) Jonathan is married to Patience Faka Jonathan, said
to have a more forceful personality than her husband. A
source in Bayelsa said Mrs. Jonathan "runs her own show and
the husband has little or no control over her." She is said
to have tremendous influence over Jonathan and his
administration. In September 2006, the Economic and
Financial Crimes commission (EFCC) seized USD 13.5 million
from Mrs. Jonathan at an airport. Reports indicated the money
was laundered through an associate; Jonathan managed to
distance himself from the deal. The anti-graft commission
investigating the source of the money has reported no
findings to date. Although Jonathan's name was on the 2006
list of governors accused of corruption, he has not been
publicly charged.
--------------
ACADEMIC LIFE AND POLITICAL ASCENT
--------------
4. (C) Jonathan attended primary school at St. Stephen's in
Otuoke and at St. Michael,s in Oloibiri, Bayelsa State. He
graduated from Mater Dei High School in Imiringi, Bayelsa
State in 1975. He obtained a Bachelor of Science Degree in
Zoology from the University of Port Harcourt in Rivers State
in 1981. He was awarded a Masters of Science degree in
Hydrobiology/Fisheries in 1985, and a Doctorate in Zoology in
LAGOS 00000409 002.2 OF 003
1995, from the University of Port Harcourt, Rivers State.
5. (C) Jonathan worked as a Science Inspector of Education
in the former Rivers State Civil Service Commission and as an
academic in the Biology Department at the College of
Education for ten years. He voluntarily resigned his
appointment with the college in 1993 to become Assistant
Director of Ecology in the defunct Oil Minerals Producing
Areas Development Commission (OMPADEC). Jonathan's first
political experience came when he was nominated to be Chief
D.S.P. Alamieyeseigha's running mate under the People's
Democratic Party in the 1999 gubernatorial race. He became
Governor of Bayelsa in December 2005 when Alamieyeseigha was
arrested and charged for money laundering in the United
Kingdom.
--------------
POLITICAL LIFE: JONATHAN AS GOVERNOR
--------------
6. (C) Jonathan served as Governor of Bayelsa State for 18
months. Often referred to as a humble politician, Jonathan
reportedly listens to his advisors, many of whom were
friendly towards the United States. Jonathan has engaged
U.S. diplomats and the international community on numerous
occasions, including during hostage crises and to ask for
advice or assistance on economic development issues.
Jonathan's advisors have visited the consulate's Foreign
Commercial Service office to seek out U.S. sources of
training and materials. Jonathan will likely remain
accessible as Vice President and willing to continue
exchanges with U.S. diplomats. Jonathan attended a short
seminar on Public Policy and Governance at Harvard's JFK
School of Government in late April.
7. (C) It is not clear how Jonathan views Nigeria's role as
an international or regional power. Jonathan may accept
international input and assistance in addressing the issues
of the Niger Delta but would rely on Yar'Adua's lead and on
the advice of close advisors. We have no indication of his
position towards counterterrorism.
--------------
BAYELSA POLITICS AS USUAL
--------------
8. (C) Jonathan worked closely with Secretary to the Bayelsa
State Government Dr. Godknows Igali, tagged to be his Special
Presidential Advisor on the Niger Delta, during hostage
crises. During the 2007 elections, an interlocutor suggested
Jonathan was trying to manipulate militants into abstaining
from electoral violence through a "divide and conquer"
strategy. That strategy may have backfired; one interlocutor
suggests the April 20 attack on Government House was
masterminded by senior militants upset the government was
trying to win the support of their subordinates. However,
another interlocutor reports this attack may have been
instigated by Delta Governor James Ibori, jealous that
Jonathan received the PDP's nomination for Vice President.
Militants have said that they attacked the residence because
rigging was taking place there.
LAGOS 00000409 003.2 OF 003
--------------
LEADERSHIP STYLE AND VIEWS ON DISSENT
--------------
9. (C) Jonathan's inner circle is primarily composed of
Bayelsa State indigenes, some with prior government
experience, others active in civil society. Jonathan's
demeanor is reserved. In a recent meeting he listened to
others and spoke only when he drew the meeting to a close
with his own comments. In our experience, he does not veer
far from the party line.
10. (C) Jonathan's defining characteristic is loyalty. When
his former boss was arrested in London, Jonathan was
reluctant to take over as governor or to appear too eager to
fill his superior's shoes. He waited until he was compelled
by the presidency to claim the governorship. Jonathan still
supports the Alamieyesiegha family. It is his loyalty that
likely compelled President Obasanjo to select him as
Yar'Adua's running mate, perhaps to forestall the type of
conflict Obasanjo perceived himself to have experienced with
Atiku.
--------------
POPULAR SUPPORT
--------------
11. (C) Jonathan's ascent to the Vice Presidency is a source
of pride for many Ijaws and he has the support of prominent
(although marginalized) Ijaw elders such as E.K. Clark.
However, his appointment as Yar'Adua's running mate earned
him political enemies. Attacks on Jonathan's campaign
offices, Government House, and family home have not been
linked definitively to individuals or groups, they reflect
deep fissures in his south-south support base. He is unknown
outside of this region, however.
-------------- --------------
JONATHAN: RELATIONS WITH YAR'ADUA AND THE MILITARY
-------------- --------------
12. (C) When not campaigning with Yar'Adua, Jonathan spent
much of his time in Bayelsa. He and Yar'Adua are not known
to consult with one another on a regular basis. Jonathan's
advisors fear Yar'Adua, who reportedly has not had a close
relationship with his Deputy Governors, will treat Jonathan
similarly. As a result, they believe that Yar'Adua will have
to involve himself personally in resolution of the Niger
Delta crisis. Others, however, suggest their academic
backgrounds will make it easy for the two to work together.
13. (S) Jonathan does not have extensive ties to the
military establishment, but is close to the Chief of Army
Staff, General Andrew Azazi, a fellow Ijaw Christian.
LATIMER