Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
08ABUJA2079
2008-10-21 17:02:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Abuja
Cable title:  

TRIP REPORT: ADAMAWA GOVERNOR TALKS NATIONAL

Tags:  PREL PGOV PINR KDEM NI 
pdf how-to read a cable
VZCZCXRO0636
PP RUEHPA
DE RUEHUJA #2079/01 2951702
ZNY CCCCC ZZH
P 211702Z OCT 08
FM AMEMBASSY ABUJA
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 4235
INFO RUEHZK/ECOWAS COLLECTIVE PRIORITY
RUEHYD/AMEMBASSY YAOUNDE PRIORITY 0425
RUEHOS/AMCONSUL LAGOS PRIORITY 0107
RHMFISS/HQ USAFRICOM STUTTGART GE PRIORITY
RHEHNSC/NSC WASHINGTON DC PRIORITY
RUEAIIA/CIA WASHINGTON DC PRIORITY
RUEKJCS/DIA WASHINGTON DC PRIORITY
RUZEJAA/JAC MOLESWORTH RAF MOLESWORTH UK PRIORITY
RHEBAAA/DEPT OF ENERGY WASHDC PRIORITY
RUCPDOC/DEPT OF COMMERCE WASHDC PRIORITY
RUEHC/DEPT OF AGRICULTURE WASHDC PRIORITY
C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 ABUJA 002079 

SIPDIS

DEPT FOR AF/W, INR

E.O. 12958: DECL: 10/19/2018
TAGS: PREL PGOV PINR KDEM NI
SUBJECT: TRIP REPORT: ADAMAWA GOVERNOR TALKS NATIONAL
POLITICS WITH THE AMBASSADOR

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

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 ABUJA 002079

SIPDIS

DEPT FOR AF/W, INR

E.O. 12958: DECL: 10/19/2018
TAGS: PREL PGOV PINR KDEM NI
SUBJECT: TRIP REPORT: ADAMAWA GOVERNOR TALKS NATIONAL
POLITICS WITH THE AMBASSADOR

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


1. (C) Summary: On October 17, the Ambassador (accompanied by
StaffAide, notetaker) met with Adamawa Governor Admiral
Murtala Nyako during her first trip to Adamawa State in
Northeastern Nigeria. The governor spoke candidly about
democracy, development, North/South politics, and President
Yar'Adua's health and its potential impact on the political
environment. While in Adamawa, the Ambassador also gave a
speech on democracy and elections at the American University
of Nigeria, participated in the ceremonial signing of a
$467,000 USTDA grant for a feasibility study to construct a
hydroelectric power plant in the state, and made a courtesy
visit to the Lamido of Adamawa (or Emir),the longest
reigning monarch in Nigeria and father-in-law of former Vice
President Atiku Abubakar. End Summary.

Northern Politics
=================


2. (SBU) In their 30-minute meeting, Governor Nyako, a
retired admiral and chief of naval staff, and owner of a
successful agribusiness, spoke candidly with the Ambassador
about the political environment in Nigeria. He said he was
very optimistic about Nigerian democracy, repeatedly
contrasting it with the Babangida and Abacha regimes of the
1980s and 90s, where "only those in the ruling family had a
voice." The Ambassador asked why people in Abuja are nervous
about democracy in Nigeria, to which the governor responded,
"city boys are always nervous". He said the culture of give
and take, accepting both political wins and losses, is not in
the psyche of the cities/elites, who fail to comprehend the
importance of diversity in a democracy. The governor also
said Nigerian political parties fail to grasp the meaning of
democracy and public service by making unnecessary demands on
public officials to contribute sums of money that are well
beyond the means of what a public servant should be
reasonably expected to afford. He opined that Nigeria was
becoming a one-party state where "everyone wants to be in the
ruling party," claiming that competition within the party has

become so fierce that the factions within the PDP are now
acting like separate parties themselves.


3. (C) In response to the Ambassador's questions on President
Yar'Adua's health and what that might mean for the future of
the country, the Northern governor and long-time public
servant said he was optimistic about how the transition would
unfold. He noted that the president's health has been a
serious concern for several years, but that when he was
governor of Katsina his travel outside the country for
medical treatment fell under the radar and few realized the
seriousness of his condition. The governor said that if the
president's health deteriorates further and he is unable to
finish his term, there is a general consensus in the North
that they would accept the succession outlined in the
Constitution. (Note: others have outlined a different
scenario where Vice President Jonathan would not succeed
Yar'Adua. End Note). He said the vice president should be
allowed to assume the presidency, which would "only be for a
couple of years before we (the North) would get it back." He
reiterated that the PDP would be able to select a strong vice
president from the North to serve with the acting southern
president until, he predicts, the North takes back the
presidency in 2011.

Agricultural Issues
===================


4. (SBU) On a side note, the governor spoke extensively about
agricultural development in Adamawa State, the second poorest
in Nigeria according to a World Bank report he cited. He
thanked the USG for its support of the Farmers Association of
Nigeria, which he chairs, and said the USG had been the
driving force for agriculture in Nigeria during the last ten
years. He requested further assistance to help strengthen
agriculture in the state through capacity building programs
aimed at improving grain yields and educating farmers on how
to use new technologies like hybrid seeds. The governor owns

ABUJA 00002079 002 OF 002


one of the largest mechanized farms in Nigeria employing
thousands of people in Adamawa State. The Ambassador said
she would connect the state's agricultural representatives
with the U.S. agricultural attach to explore opportunities
for cooperation.


5. (SBU) After the meeting, Governor Nyako and the Ambassador
participated in the ceremonial signing of a $467,000 USTDA
grant for a feasibility study to construct a hydroelectric
power plant in the state. While in Yola, the Ambassador also
delivered a policy speech to a packed auditorium of nearly
1,000 students, professors and community members at the
American University of Nigeria (AUN),a partner institution
of the American University in Washington, DC. She then paid
a courtesy visit to the Lamido of Adamawa (or Emir),Aliyu
Mustapha, the longest reigning emir in Nigeria. The Lamido is
the father-in-law of former Vice President Atiku Abubakar,
but unlike his son-in-law the emir was not interested in
discussing politics despite the Ambassador's attempts, on
several occasions, to engage with him on various political
and development issues and their impact on his people.
Sanders