NIGERIA: CODEL BERMAN VISITS HOUSE OF

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 03 ABUJA 001287 SENSITIVE SIPDIS DEPT FOR AF/W, INR/AA E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: PGOV PREL KCOR KDEM OREP NI SUBJECT: NIGERIA: CODEL BERMAN VISITS HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES REF: ABUJA 0077 AND PREVIOUS ¶1. (SBU) SUMMARY: On June 28, a CODEL, led by House Foreign Affairs Committee (HFAC) Chairman Howard Berman and the Ambassador visited the Nigerian National Assembly to meet with members of the Nigerian House of Representatives. Discussions included the progress and challenges of electoral reform, growing concern over the Niger Delta, the removal of Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) Chairman Nuhu Ribadu (ref A),and misperceptions about AFRICOM. The Nigerian Representatives asked for additional legislative capacity-building assistance, as well as the opportunity to be considered for a House Democracy Assistance Commission (HDAC) program. CODEL addressed continued US concerns over EFCC, and worries on the need to have more stakeholder input on Niger Delta. Ambassador pushed back on National Assembly negativity on AFRICOM. END SUMMARY. ELECTORAL REFORM -------------- ¶2. (SBU) In response to HFAC Chairman Berman's inquiry about electoral reform progress, Representative Habeeb Adekunle Fasinro, Chairman of the Committee on Electoral Matters, said the National Assembly is looking carefully at the electoral laws, which, though created with good intentions, are at times deficient or impractical. Fasinro praised President Yar'Adua for creating the Electoral Reform Committee (ERC) which is to compile a report on the 2007 elections and make recommendations on reforming the electoral system. However, Fasinro noted that whatever recommendations the ERC proposes will ultimately require the National Assembly to enact them into law. Fasinro also praised the judiciary. He pointed out that election tribunals have overturned some elections, upheld others, and ordered new polls in some cases, all of which, he maintained, should reassure the Nigerian people and the USG of judicial independence. Fasinro acknowledged that having so many legislators still in limbo one year after the election was a challenge. Those still awaiting a verdict are continuously distracted, making it difficult to get work done. Fasinro concluded by highlighting the electoral reform component of the Assembly's Constitutional Review, which he noted legislators are taking very seriously. ¶3. (SBU) Minority Whip Olufemi Gbajabiamila, noted that making the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) truly independent, and with a Chairman who is not beholden to whomever appoints him, were keys to successful electoral reform. Fasinro added that the INEC Chair is the first person who should be "sacked" whenever elections appear fraudulent, to which Gbajabiamila added that leaving the same flawed INEC team in charge of the rerun elections is pointless. Fasinro also highlighted the importance of internal party democracy, noting that when the process is ignored or circumvented people leave to create additional parties; there is even a risk of violence. NIGER DELTA -------------- ¶4. (SBU) Rep. George Miller raised the international community's growing concern over the Niger Delta situation, noting the worldwide repercussions of the increased lawlessness and cessation of oil production. In response, Gbenga Oduwaiye, Chairman of the Nigerian House Committee on Foreign Affairs, assured the CODEL that the GON is "as worried" as the USG about the situation. Oduwaiye maintained that Vice President Goodluck Jonathan's effort to broker a deal is making progress, and added that the initiative for the proposed Niger Delta Summit actually started with the National Assembly. Oduwaiye commended Jonathan for differentiating between the people who are suffering in the Delta and the criminals supposedly fighting for the people. Rep. Ed Royce compared the situation to Chicago in the 1930's, and suggested that in such a situation, the federal government must step in to restore law and order, eliminate weapons and strengthening economic growth. Gbajabiamila agreed with Royce, but countered that the situation in the Niger Delta is different than that of Chicago, in that the people in the Delta truly believe they are fighting for a cause, which is more difficult to suppress. Fasinro added that high energy prices are an additional concern and claimed ABUJA 00001287 002 OF 003 that Nigeria is losing approximately 400,000 - 500,000 barrels of crude oil a day due to criminality in the Niger Delta. EFCC -------------- ¶5. (SBU) Congressman Donald Payne inquired about the GON's commitment to transparency, sharing his disappointment with the removal of EFCC Chairman Nuhu Ribadu, who had traveled to the U.S. to testify before Congress about alleged corruption. Payne relayed the general perception that Ribadu was removed just as he was beginning to make progress on reforms and investigations into corruption. Fasinro replied that the GON did not handle the situation of Ribadu's removal well with regard to international and public opinion, but reminded the CODEL of the importance of supporting institutions rather than individual leaders, as the USG had done with Ribadu. He then noted GON sovereignty to put in place whomever the President appointed, but restated that the Ribadu issue was badly handled. AFRICOM -------------- ¶6. (SBU) Umar M. Bature, Deputy Chairman, House Committee on Defense, shared his opposition to AFRICOM, sharing his impression that it was the USG's attempt to militarize Africa in the name of combating terrorism. The Ambassador chimed in to clear up his misperceptions about AFRICOM, stressing that it was only an attempt to make our existing military cooperation with the continent more efficient, not militarize Africa. She stressed that press claims about creating a US military base in Africa were simply false. Oduwaiye said the biggest challenge the USG has in terms of AFRICOM is selling it to Africa. He agreed that people, including according to his estimates more than 85% of the legislators in the current National Assembly, misunderstand what AFRICOM is. He strongly urged the USG to be proactive in sharing information on such issues with parliamentarians, so as to avoid confusion. In turn, Bature urged the USG to build a closer bilateral military relationship with Nigeria, noting that Nigeria has the potential to be the USG's strongest partner in Africa. ASSISTANCE -------------- ¶7. (SBU) Chief Whip Nkem Ihedioha noted that "support to Nigeria is support to Africa," and requested additional capacity building assistance for the National Assembly. Ihedioha also asked that Nigeria be considered for a U.S. House Democracy Assistance Commission (HDAC) program. Chairman Berman agreed that it would be beneficial to both U.S. and Nigerian legislatures and said he would bring the request back to the members of HDAC. PARTICIPANTS -------------- ¶8. (U) GON Participants: -- Rep. Nkem Ihedioha, Chief Whip -- Rep. Olufemi Gbajabiamila, Minority Whip -- Rep. Gbenga Oduwaiye, Chairman, Committee on Foreign Affairs -- Rep. Habeeb Adekunle Fasinro, Chairman, Committee on Electoral Matters -- Rep. Umar M. Bature, Deputy Chairman, Committee on Defense -- Maurice Ekpenyong, Professional Staff Member, Office of the Speaker of the House of Representatives -- Peter Peter, Protocol Officer for the Office of the Speaker of the House of Representatives -- Umar Kamba, Protocol Officer for the Office of the Speaker of the House of Representatives ¶9. (U) USG Participants: -- Congressman Howard Berman, Chairman, Committee on Foreign Affairs -- Congressman George Miller, Chairman, House Education and Labor Committee -- Congressman Ed Royce, Ranking Member, Subcommittee on Terrorism, Nonproliferation and Trade -- Congressman Tom Davis, Ranking Member, Committee on Oversight and Government Reform ABUJA 00001287 003 OF 003 -- Congressman Donald Payne, Chairman, Subcommittee on Africa and Global Health -- Congresswoman, Linda Sanchez, Member, Committee on Foreign Affairs -- Bob King, Staff Director, House Committee on Foreign Affairs -- Pearl-Alice Marsh, PSM, House Committee on Foreign Affairs -- Tom Sheehy, PSM, House Committee on Foreign Affairs -- Doug Campbell, PSM House Committee on Foreign Affairs -- Colonel Michael Fleck -- Colonel Ceasar Junker -- Mrs. Jeanne Marie Davis -- Ambassador Robin Renee Sanders -- Terry Pflaumer, Political Counselor -- Nyree Tripptree ¶10. (U) This message was cleared by CODEL Berman staff. SANDERS