SENIOR GON LEADER AFFIRMS SUPPORT FOR BINATIONAL

C O N F I D E N T I A L ABUJA 001796

SIPDIS

LONDON FOR PETER LORD AND AMBASSADOR SANDERS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 09/29/2014
TAGS: PGOV PREL NI
SUBJECT: SENIOR GON LEADER AFFIRMS SUPPORT FOR BINATIONAL
COMMISSION

REF: STATE 100144

Classified By: CDA Dundas McCullough, reason para 1.5 b.


1. (C) On September 28, Ambassador called on Secretary to the
Government of the Federation (SGF) Alhaji Mahmud Yayale Ahmed
to review bilateral issues. DCM accompanied.


2. (C) Ambassador thanked Ahmed for his assistance during the
Secretary's successful visit in August, and underscored the
importance of both sides' identifying promptly thematic
objectives for the Binational Commission agreed to by the
U.S. and Nigeria. Referring to the Nigerian MFA, she
stressed the importance of not letting poor bureaucratic
staff work derail the commission and of moving expeditiously
to launch the commission by the end of the year. Good
governance, electoral reform, corruption, the Niger Delta,
and trade and investment were all obvious areas of bilateral
interest.


3. (C) Ahmed agreed that the GON should be responsive in
advancing its agenda views on the Binational Commission and
that MFA might not be the best GON lead for the initiative.
He stated that President Yar'Adua had endorsed the Binational
Commission proposal, even though he had concerns about the
structural concept based on the poor performance of Nigeria's
bilateral commissions with Sudan and other countries. He
reiterated the supreme importance for Nigeria of the U.S.
relationship, and the value of addressing in partnership the
areas of interest cited by the Ambassador. Nodding in
agreement on the centrality of corruption, he remarked that
embattled former Delta State governor Ibori is "an insult to
every Nigerian."


4. (C) Turning to electoral reform, Ahmed said that Yar'Adua
is committed to replacing INEC's leadership with people of
"impeccable character," but that he would be hard pressed
politically to terminate INEC Chairman Maurice Iwu; instead,
Iwu would likely be allowed to serve until his term expires
in June 2010. (Note: Foreign Minister Madeukwe recently made
the same point to A/S Carson-reftel.) Ahmed suggested that
USG technical advice would be particularly welcome for
structuring the financial independence of INEC and
strengthening its voter registration procedures.


5. (C) Comment: Although it was the Foreign Minister who
originally proposed the Binational Commission, his ministry
lacks the capacity and in some quarters the will to do the
work to make the commission a success. SGF Ahmed would be
the ideal GON lead: he is straightforward, willing, able, and
(unlike the Foreign Minister) has access and influence with
President Yar'Adua. Ahmed noted that he has received
permission to travel for consultations in Washington at the
end of October, which would be an excellent opportunity for
us to lay down key markers for Yar'Adua and to bolster the
prospects for a successful Binational Commission.
MCCULLOUGH