Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
08ABUJA1248
2008-06-27 06:25:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Abuja
Cable title:  

NIGERIA: UN ENVOY GAMBARI'S CONCERNS ON NIGER

Tags:  PGOV PREL NI 
pdf how-to read a cable
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RHEBAAA/DEPT OF ENERGY WASHDC
RUEKJCS/DIA WASHINGTON DC
RUEAIIA/CIA WASHINGTON DC
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RUZEJAA/JAC MOLESWORTH RAF MOLESWORTH UK
RUCNDT/USMISSION USUN NEW YORK 0354
C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 ABUJA 001248 

SIPDIS

STATE FOR AF/W, INR/AA, DOE FOR GEORGE PERSON

E.O. 12958: DECL: 06/26/2028
TAGS: PGOV PREL NI
SUBJECT: NIGERIA: UN ENVOY GAMBARI'S CONCERNS ON NIGER
DELTA SUMMIT

REF: A. (A) ABUJA 1226

B. (B) SILSKI-SANDERS EMAILS

Classified By: Ambassador Robin Renee Sanders for reasons 1.4. (b & d).

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 ABUJA 001248

SIPDIS

STATE FOR AF/W, INR/AA, DOE FOR GEORGE PERSON

E.O. 12958: DECL: 06/26/2028
TAGS: PGOV PREL NI
SUBJECT: NIGERIA: UN ENVOY GAMBARI'S CONCERNS ON NIGER
DELTA SUMMIT

REF: A. (A) ABUJA 1226

B. (B) SILSKI-SANDERS EMAILS

Classified By: Ambassador Robin Renee Sanders for reasons 1.4. (b & d).


1. (C) Summary: In a June 24 late evening meeting with United
Nations Special Envoy, Professor Ibrahim Gambari (strictly
protect),he told Ambassador that things are "really falling
apart" on the Niger Delta Summit, and that it would be
impossible to hold meetings in July 2008, or even by year's
end given the current lack of serious input, coordination,
strategy, and capacity. Gambari met with the Ambassador just
after his 3 hour session at the Presidential Villa that
included Yar'Adua, Vice President (VP) Jonathan, National
Security Advisor Mukhtar, Secretary of the Government of the
Federation Kingibe, and others, where a power point on the
"strategy" by the VP's office special assistant Achoke (SIC)
was presented. Gambari's main points were that he:

-- Lamented the total lack of capacity in the VP's office to
handle the issue;

-- Was embarrassed by the document prepared by the UNDP
office in Abuja on the Niger Delta;

-- Would be moving in a "delicate manner" in the direction of
pushing the Summit back either to year's end or later
depending how his goal to reformulate preparations proceed;
and,

-- Would need someone that he has confidence in coming from
the UN system to coordinate daily activities on preparations.

Gambari also advised of his June 24 press statement where he
stressed the objectives of his role in the Consultative
Steering Committee (CSC),highlighting that input on the
Delta would involve all stakeholders. He asked the
Ambassador to keep his counsel on his concerns as he regarded
himself in a "delicate position" given the role of the VP and
his office in the shoddy preparation of a Niger Delta
strategy. Gambari has his work cut out for him not only on
postponing the summit but on stakeholder buy-in. The GON is
certainly not prepared to execute a summit in July. End
Summary.


2. (C) As regards to President Yar'Adua's reaction to the
current state of play and the poor performance by the VP and
his office, Gambari said that President Yar'Adua "hit the
roof and was furious" with the VP and his office after the

weak substance in the power point presentation on June 24.
Gambari added the UNDP-Abuja document that served as a
"basis" for some of the work the VP's office had done was
"poorly constructed," and did not reflect any input from
stakeholders. The UN Envoy noted that he foresaw (at least
for now),moving forward with stakeholder meetings,
preparatory committees, dialogue with the militants, public
diplomacy with periodic press conferences, and keeping the
international partners in Abuja informed. "As of now,"
Gambari explained, "there is no-buy on a Summit or the CSC
from the key players in the region. He also wondered if the
Ambassador had any ideas on getting stakeholders engaged.
The Ambassador noted the recent efforts and processes by the
Electoral Reform Committee (ERC) on public hearings and
proffered letters, as something that the UN Envoy would want
to look at to give him ideas on how to get more stakeholder
buy-in as this approach -- although very late and slow in
take-off -- has recently garnered improved respect for the
ERC in some quarters.


3. (C) Ambassador then asked Gambari about his standing with
Niger Delta stakeholder groups given press reports about his
role in the Ken Saro-Wiwa issues and what kind of challenges
this poses for his role in the CSC? Gambari said flatly
that, "he did not ask for or want this job," but that he will
do his best to put some structure and intellectual property
into the process so that there is a transparent framework --
both on structure and documentation -- that has buy-in from
stakeholders and militants. However, he will not allow his
integrity to be disrespected in the process, he noted.

ABUJA 00001248 002 OF 002


Ambassador told Gambari about the current efforts by the
local UNDP office to discuss its role in the working
documents submitted to the VP's office on the Niger Delta
issues, and that she would be attending their meeting on June

27. She also noted that she had made an effort to pull
together a luncheon that included the UK High Commission, and
the UNDP and World Bank (WB) Country Representatives, but
UNDP had not wanted to include the World Bank in any sort of
meetings. Gambari said any dialogue should be as inclusive
as possible and that the WB was certainly an important
player, restating his "embarrassment regarding the quality of
the Abuja-UNDP input for the documents."


4. (C) Gambari asked the Ambassador whether she had any
suggestions on strategy in addition to his discussions
recently in Washington. She said no as he was already aware
of USG policy views on the need for a framework to address
the real political and development issues, but added that
there also needed to be some way for the international
partners to support and help the process. She added that
many of us on the ground believed we had offered assistance
in various ways (including under GGESS),but there has hardly
been any response from the GON -- leaving many partners to
believe the GGESS process to be defunct, or certainly with
out senior political buy-in. The Ambassador noted that one
of the biggest challenges is to find some way to get buy-in
from the militants. Gambari took note of this, said he would
return to Nigeria in about 10 days, and would check back in
with the Ambassador at that time to let her know of his
progress, including putting in the building blocks to get the
Summit officially put off until such time as it can be done
right. Ambassador asked about Yar'Adua's stamina and
health-related appearance during the 3-hour meeting? Gambari
noted that Yar'Adua certainly showed control over the entire
3-hour session, including being furious at the VP.


5. (C) Comment: Overall, the policy platform for the Niger
Delta Summit is a mess. We had already heard reports on the
unhappiness of President Yar'Adua with his Vice President on
a number of issues, with his leadership on the Niger Delta
being at the top of the list. Ref A notes points by our UNDP
contact on the ground on the agency's concerns about the
current working document that it had some attendant role in
providing input to, although we recognize that the document
presented to Yar'Adua could or could not have included
UNDP-Abuja's points. The main issue, however, is that
Nigeria's leadership is not in a position to move forward
with a Niger Delta Summit or establish a competent CSC.
Gambari's first role will be to ensure that the membership of
the CSC is capable of doing the groundwork he believes needs
to be done, choosing a daily coordinator, and then getting
stakeholders, including the militants, buy-in. We doubt that
there will be a Niger Delta summit in July, however, to save
face despite the problems the GON may proceed anyway. End
comment.
SANDERS