Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
08ABUJA2009
2008-10-10 16:34:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Abuja
Cable title:  

NIGERIA: THE VIEWS OF ONE DELTA POLITICIAN

Tags:  PGOV NI 
pdf how-to read a cable
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C O N F I D E N T I A L ABUJA 002009 

SIPDIS

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

E.O. 12958: DECL: 10/10/2018
TAGS: PGOV NI
SUBJECT: NIGERIA: THE VIEWS OF ONE DELTA POLITICIAN
ILLUSTRATE THE PERCEPTION GAP

Classified By: A/DCM Walter Pflaumer for reasons 1.4. (b & d).

C O N F I D E N T I A L ABUJA 002009

SIPDIS

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

E.O. 12958: DECL: 10/10/2018
TAGS: PGOV NI
SUBJECT: NIGERIA: THE VIEWS OF ONE DELTA POLITICIAN
ILLUSTRATE THE PERCEPTION GAP

Classified By: A/DCM Walter Pflaumer for reasons 1.4. (b & d).


1. (C) On October 9, Polcouns spoke with Sokonte Davies, PDP
Member of the House of Representatives for the Degema-Bonny
constituency in Rivers State (protect fully). Davies said
that, during a visit to his constituency a few days earlier,
he had met with "militant" commander Fara Dagogo. He
described Fara as the "real leader" of the "military wing" of
the Movement for the Emancipation of the Niger Delta (MEND).


2. (C) Davies said he pressed Fara on what would be needed to
get real negotiations started on a settlement to the conflict
in the Delta. To this, Fara replied that two elements were
key: a halt to the current Nigerian military campaign against
the militants in Rivers State; and a release of alleged MEND
leader, Henry Okah (currently on trial in Jos for treason,
terrorism and arms trafficking).


3. (C) Davies was reluctant to pass on more of what he and
Fara discussed. He said his own view was that negotiations
with MEND, local traditional leaders and other legitimate
stakeholders could yield real progress toward a settlement
within two to three months. He claimed local people view
MEND and other militants as freedom fighters, not criminals,
and that, between them, traditional leaders, local
communities and militants would easily be able to drive out
or hand over the real criminals in very short order if the
GON military operations were ended and a settlement were in
prospect.


4. (C) Davies said the key to a Delta settlement was to
deliver development which people in the region could see:
roads, schools and particularly jobs. He argued that the way
to do this was to increase the derivation percentage (the
share of Nigeria's oil and gas revenue which producing states
receive up front) from the current 13% to 25%.


5. (C) Polcouns replied that the problem was not that the
Delta states were not receiving enough money, but that
corrupt state politicians were stealing it. He questioned
whether doubling the amount of money going to the producing
states would accomplish anything unless something was done to
assure that the huge amount of funds the state governors were
already getting was actually spent to benefit local people.
The previous Delta governors were all accused of stealing
hundreds of millions of dollars. Davies leaped to the
defense of the previous Governor of Rivers State, Peter
Odili, claiming that he was only guilty of lack of attention
to what his subordinates were doing.


6. (C) Comment: We report Davies comments as being similar
to what we have heard from other Delta politicians, but are
skeptical of much of what he says here. It remains our sense
that MEND is, at best, a loose alliance of militant
commanders, along with members of Henry Okah's family who
issue after-the-fact claims of responsibility for militant
attacks as part of a thinly veiled campaign for Henry's
release. While many of the foot-soldiers in the various
militant groups are no doubt there because of desperation at
their poverty and lack of prospects, we question whether
there is any meaningful distinction between "criminal" and
"non-criminal" militant leaders. That said, the Delta people
have very real grievances about what they see as the
exploitation of their region for the benefit of the rest of
Nigeria, and (like Davies) tend to view the militants more as
Robin Hoods than criminals. Whatever the reality, that
perception is very much part of the problem in pursuing a
settlement in the Delta. End comment.


7. (U) This cable coordinated with Consulate Lagos.
Piascik