Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
08LAGOS524
2008-12-31 06:28:00
SECRET//NOFORN
Consulate Lagos
Cable title:  

(S) NIGERIA: NSA MUKHTAR - A CLOSET EXTREMIST WE

Tags:  PGOV PINR PREL NI 
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PP RUEHPA
DE RUEHOS #0524/01 3660628
ZNY SSSSS ZZH
P 310628Z DEC 08
FM AMCONSUL LAGOS
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 0400
RUEHUJA/AMEMBASSY ABUJA 0041
INFO RUEHZK/ECOWAS COLLECTIVE
RUEHSA/AMEMBASSY PRETORIA 1616
RUEHYD/AMEMBASSY YAOUNDE 0190
RUEHOS/AMCONSUL LAGOS 0065
RHEFDIA/DIA WASHINGTON DC
RUEAIIA/CIA WASHINGTON DC
RHEHNSC/NSC WASHDC
RHEBAAA/DEPT OF ENERGY WASHINGTON DC
RUEWMFD/HQ USAFRICOM STUTTGART GE
RHMFISS/HQ USEUCOM VAIHINGEN GE
RUZEJAA/JAC MOLESWORTH RAF MOLESWORTH UK
S E C R E T SECTION 01 OF 02 LAGOS 000524 

NOFORN
SIPDIS

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

E.O. 12958: DECL: 12/22/2018
TAGS: PGOV PINR PREL NI
SUBJECT: (S) NIGERIA: NSA MUKHTAR - A CLOSET EXTREMIST WE
NEED TO WATCH

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

S E C R E T SECTION 01 OF 02 LAGOS 000524

NOFORN
SIPDIS

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

E.O. 12958: DECL: 12/22/2018
TAGS: PGOV PINR PREL NI
SUBJECT: (S) NIGERIA: NSA MUKHTAR - A CLOSET EXTREMIST WE
NEED TO WATCH

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


1. (S/NF) SUMMARY. Ambassador had a one-plus hour meeting
with National Security Advisor Major General Abdullahi Sarki
Mukhtar on December 22 to discuss a range of issues,
including the recent internecine violence in the northern
city of Jos. Mukhtar also voiced his criticism of our
bilateral relationship -- which he views as a one issue
relationship focused on former EFCC Chairman Ribadu, on top
of his negatively colored belief that the U.S. is
anti-Islamic. In addition, Mukhtar's comments about several
religious groups both in Nigeria and the U.S. were racist and
anti-Semitic. Ambassador hit Mukhtar back hard on his views
on the U.S. and our respect for Islam, and countered heavily
his disparaging remarks about a range of senior official U.S.
persons. The conversation was prickly, but USG points and
position on respect for religious diversity and official
Americans were strongly made throughout. The most useful
aspect of the meeting was his information on the days leading
up to the Jos crisis. Post believes that we need to be
extremely cautious in engaging with Muktar, especially in any
official U.S.-based meetings in which he may accompany
Nigerian President Yar,Adua. His comments and views border
on him being a radical fundamentalist as well as anti-U.S.
END SUMMARY.


2. (S/NF) Ambassador had a knock down, dragged out meeting on
December 22 with Nigerian National Security Advisor Major
General Abdullahi Sarki Mukhtar. Mukhtar, known as a hawk,
should also be known now as a racist and anti-Semite.
Mukhtar began the meeting by sharing his views on the
U.S.-GON bilateral relationship, which he saw as a one issue
relationship centered on former EFCC Chairman Ribadu.
Ambassador strongly disavowed him of this claim, noting that
the USG focus is on the EFCC as an institution, but clearly
stating that we thought the EFCC was floundering and needed
to do a lot better as regards to its role in the
anti-corruption fight. Mukhtar then turned to his view of
the world and the USG, which was as bizarre as it was

disconcerting. He said that the "perception is that the
USG,s goal was to eliminate Islam, like it did with
communism." Ambassador said clearly that not only was this
not true, but it did not make sense. She directly asked him
then whether this "perception" that he was stating was also
his personal view; Mukhtar refused to answer. In addition,
she pointed out the range of USG efforts that debunk this
perception, pointing not out what the U.S. Mission in Nigeria
was doing, but the USG overall, to help build better
relations in this area. The exchange continued in this
manner for a while before switching to his assessment of the
recent U.S. election. Here Mukhtar was equally disparagingly
racist, as well as anti-semitic, in his comments. Ambassador
told Mukhtar that he was missing the entire point of the
democratic process, which calls for respect of diversity --
religious, cultural or ethnic -- and that the U.S. has always
strived for that and this past election underscored these
values. She added that the NSA did not have a crystal ball
to make any predictions as to what the current or upcoming
U.S. administration would do on U.S. domestic and foreign
policy, nor was it his position to do so. Ambassador then
changed the subject to local issues, asking him for a
briefing on the recent violence in Jos.


3. (C) Despite the bizarre start of the meeting, Mukhtar was
candid in giving a good assessment of the Jos crisis and of
Plateau Governor Jang in particular. He basically called
Governor Jang an "idiot," telling Ambassador that Jang was
warned by senior GON officials, including himself,
as much as three weeks before not to hold the election in the
manner he did. Jang, he maintained, was trying to ensure
that his cousin (who lives in the predominantly Christian Jos
South district and financed Jang's election as Governor)
became the Local Government Area (LGA) Chairman of the
predominantly Hausa/Muslim Jos North district. Mukhtar
explained that this was the crux of the problem. He told the
Ambassador that Chadians and Nigeriens had participated in

LAGOS 00000524 002 OF 002


the violence, but that they were long time residents of the
area rather than recent arrivals. He said that there was no
evidence they had initiated the violence. Jang, he
contended, was just using this as an excuse for his own
failings. He said there were eight Chadian students who were
attending the University of Jos who participated in the
fighting once it started, while the Nigeriens have been
informal workers in the area for decades. Mukhtar told the
Ambassador that he wants to find a way for Jang to be
removed, or to call for another election that would see him
defeated. He implied that the governing Peoples Democratic
Party (PDP) was looking at options to remove him. In
addition, he lamented that the civilian constitution and the
"vagaries of democracy," required the federal government to
wait for the state to call in military troops. Under the
military regime we did not have to listen or wait for
governors," he said fondly.( Note: Muktar was military
Governor of Katsina State from 1987-88),which is
Yar,Adua,s home state.)


4. (S/NF) Comment. Mukhtar is a hawk and we have long known
that his opinions of the U.S. are less than favorable. In
this meeting, he was presented an even more worrisome
personality as he provided more insight into his thinking.
Ambassador would characterize his thinking as not only
racist, anti-Islamic and disparaging of official U.S.
persons, but radicaQnd fundamentalistic. This should give
us grave concern in his position as Yar,Adua,s National
Security Advisor, given his easy access to the President
where the later is hearing his strong opinions on the nature
of our relationship.


5. (S/NF) Comment Continued. Any USG meeting in which
Mukhtar is present should be handled with extreme caution.
He is extremely close to certain Arab and Russian elements,
and we do not know at this time if those contacts are on the
extremist end of the spectrum, but it sounded like it in this
meeting with the Ambassador as she listened to some of his
dialogue regarding his discussions with both certain Arab
nations and Russians on USG policy. He is someone we need to
monitor and be careful with regarding any conversation with
him, and any access to senior USG officials, particularly in
Washington in any meeting he might attend with President
Yar,Adua. His anti-Semitic comments about certain members
of the incoming administration need to be taken seriously and
we need to limit Mukhtar's access to senior USG officials in
Washington for the time being. End Comment.


6. (U) This cable was coordinated with Consulate Lagos.
Cable transmitted from Consulate Lagos as Ambassador Sanders
is in Lagos this week.
SANDERS