NIGERIA: FORMER SECRETARY POWELL COMMENTS ON

UNCLAS ABUJA 001008 SENSITIVE SIPDIS DEPT FOR AF/W, INR/AA BAGHDAD FOR DMCCULLOUGH E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: PREL PGOV KDEM NI SUBJECT: NIGERIA: FORMER SECRETARY POWELL COMMENTS ON NIGERIA'S DEMOCRACY, DELIVERS AMBASSADOR'S POINTS ON CIVIL SOCIETY ¶1. (U) Summary: On June 3, former Secretary of State Colin Powell delivered remarks on the values of democracy, with particular attention to Nigeria's democratic development and the upcoming 2011 elections, at an event organized by Tell Magazine to commemorate 10 years of uninterrupted democracy. The Q&A that followed turned into highly critical testimony by members of the mostly Nigerian audience, who chastised Nigeria's 2007 elections and President Yar'Adua's poor leadership. One member of the audience asked why President Obama chose to travel to Ghana instead of Nigeria, which Powell downplayed and asked the audience not to over-analyze. End Summary. ¶2. (U) Nigeria's Tell Magazine invited former Secretary of State Colin Powell to be a guest speaker at its "celebration of 10 years of democracy in Nigeria" conference on June 3. Others who spoke included Nigeria Vice President Goodluck Jonathan and former military head of state Yakubu Gowon. Powell recognized Nigeria's ten years of civilian rule and democracy, but also asserted that "Nigerian people deserve better" and warned that "flawed elections lead to flawed government." He then made reference to Nigeria's neighbors, which he described as "young democracies who are moving rapidly to cement the foundations of their democracies", and then asked Nigeria to do the same. Powell also stressed that corruption thrives in conditions of despair and disappointment, and damages Nigeria's international reputation. In closing, Powell urged Nigerians to break loose from the past and focus on the future; he also assured the audience that the United States would continue to be Nigeria's friend. ¶3. (U) The question and answer session that followed was used instead by members of the audience to voice frustration over Nigeria's poor democratic performance and ineffective leadership. One audience member declared that Nigeria is not a democracy, but rather a kleptocracy, and criticized Powell for not focusing on the flawed 2007 elections. Powell retorted that democracy does not take place overnight; he explained that it is a long and difficult process and that Nigerians should instead focus on 2011 and beyond. He also urged Nigerians to engage civil society and NGOs as critical stakeholders in this process, (a remark which the Ambassador requested Powell to include in his talk). One audience member asked Powell why he thought President Obama chose to travel to Ghana instead of Nigeria, to which he responded, "President Obama has a lot on his plate. He has been in office only 120 days, so give him time." He also asked the audience not to read too much into his decision not to travel to Nigeria, as travel decisions can be based on a range of logistical and other factors. ¶4. (SBU) COMMENT: Powell hit on all the right points in his presentation. Although he recognized and commended Nigeria's peaceful transformation from military to civilian rule, he did not shy away from pointing out Nigeria's dismal performance on electoral reform, corruption, economic and social development, and governance. As enthusiastic as the audience was to listen and applaud the former secretary of state for his remarks, it was just as eager to share its deep frustration on the GON's poor and ineffective leadership, and failure to improve Nigeria's condition. Powell's remarks were welcome commentary and paralleled the U.S. Mission's engagement on these same themes. END COMMENT. ¶5. (U) This cable was coordinated with Consulate Lagos. SANDERS