Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
09ABUJA1948
2009-10-23 16:41:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Abuja
Cable title:
FORMER GOVERNOR IBORI SAID TO BACK SARAKI
how-toVZCZCXRO8513 PP RUEHBZ RUEHDU RUEHMR RUEHPA RUEHRN RUEHTRO DE RUEHUJA #1948 2961641 ZNY CCCCC ZZH P 231641Z OCT 09 FM AMEMBASSY ABUJA TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 7306 INFO RUEHZO/AFRICAN UNION COLLECTIVE PRIORITY RUEHZK/ECOWAS COLLECTIVE PRIORITY RUEHOS/AMCONSUL LAGOS PRIORITY 2152 RHMFISS/HQ USAFRICOM STUTTGART GE PRIORITY RHEBAAA/DEPT OF ENERGY WASHDC PRIORITY RHEHNSC/NSC WASHINGTON DC PRIORITY RUEAIIA/CIA WASHINGTON DC PRIORITY RUEKDIA/DIA WASHDC PRIORITY RHMFISS/HQ USEUCOM VAIHINGEN GE PRIORITY RUZEJAA/JAC MOLESWORTH RAF MOLESWORTH UK PRIORITY
C O N F I D E N T I A L ABUJA 001948
SIPDIS
STATE FOR AF/FO, AF/W, AF/RSA, DRL, INR/AA, INL/AAE
E.O. 12958: DECL: 10/14/2019
TAGS: PGOV PREL KCOR KCRM NI
SUBJECT: FORMER GOVERNOR IBORI SAID TO BACK SARAKI
PRESIDENTIAL BID
REF: ABUJA 0716 (NOTAL)
Classified By: Political Counselor James P. McAnulty
for reasons in Sections 1.4. (B) and (D)
------------------------------
IBORI NOW SUPPORTING SARAKI BID
-------------------------------
C O N F I D E N T I A L ABUJA 001948
SIPDIS
STATE FOR AF/FO, AF/W, AF/RSA, DRL, INR/AA, INL/AAE
E.O. 12958: DECL: 10/14/2019
TAGS: PGOV PREL KCOR KCRM NI
SUBJECT: FORMER GOVERNOR IBORI SAID TO BACK SARAKI
PRESIDENTIAL BID
REF: ABUJA 0716 (NOTAL)
Classified By: Political Counselor James P. McAnulty
for reasons in Sections 1.4. (B) and (D)
--------------
IBORI NOW SUPPORTING SARAKI BID
--------------
1. (C) A U.S. businessman with close ties to former Delta
State Governor James Ibori and Kwara State Governor Bukola
Saraki told PolOff October 20 that Ibori has agreed to back
financially a presidential bid by Saraki in 2011, should
President Yar'Adua become unable or unwilling to run for
re-election. Ibori has reportedly broken ranks with
associates Aliko Dangote and Andy Uba, who plan to support
Bauchi Governor and Yar'Adua son-in-law Isa Yuguda.
According to this contact, Ibori anticipates ending up in
jail, should Yuguda win the nomination unopposed. Moreover,
Ibori reportedly suspects that Uba and Dangote, who made
fortunes courtesy of former President Obasanjo, would do
their former patron's bidding and persuade Yuguda to
prosecute Ibori as retribution for his public support and
generous financing of successful opposition to Obasanjo's bid
for a third term.
2. (C) According to this contact, Ibori plans to finance
initially a rival Saraki bid against Yaguda with the
understanding that Saraki would eventually withdraw from the
race and throw his support to Yuguda in return for Saraki
getting a choice Cabinet post, preferably as Finance Minister
"to control the purse strings," and appointing an Attorney
General preferred by Saraki and Ibori to protect their
interests "like this last time with Aondoakaa." Saraki will
then run again after what they presume will be eight years of
a Yuguda presidency. This contact noted that Ibori even
harbored aspirations of serving as Saraki's vice presidential
running mate. (See Reftel for details on Saraki's political
ambitions.) Such a plan would, in their view, provide 16
years of protection from prosecution for Ibori, and prevent
investigation of the Saraki clan's role in the
Societe-General bank scandal.
--------------
REBUFF OF GUINEA REGIME
--------------
3. (U) This contact mentioned that the military junta in
Guinea had contacted his lobbying firm (based in Washington,
D.C.) to represent them in return for oil and gold
concessions. He said he responded, "No way," because of the
stadium massacre in Conakry and his assessment that a new
government would revoke such enticements anyway. "The only
way I'll go there," he declared, "is in a plane to take him
(Camara) out of the country."
--------------
COMMENT
--------------
4. (C) Political machinations have a way of going awry in
Nigeria, but it is not surprising that both the former Delta
State Governor and the Saraki clan (who are known to be very
close associates) would be scheming to insulate themselves
against future GON actions against their ill-gotten gains.
SANDERS
SIPDIS
STATE FOR AF/FO, AF/W, AF/RSA, DRL, INR/AA, INL/AAE
E.O. 12958: DECL: 10/14/2019
TAGS: PGOV PREL KCOR KCRM NI
SUBJECT: FORMER GOVERNOR IBORI SAID TO BACK SARAKI
PRESIDENTIAL BID
REF: ABUJA 0716 (NOTAL)
Classified By: Political Counselor James P. McAnulty
for reasons in Sections 1.4. (B) and (D)
--------------
IBORI NOW SUPPORTING SARAKI BID
--------------
1. (C) A U.S. businessman with close ties to former Delta
State Governor James Ibori and Kwara State Governor Bukola
Saraki told PolOff October 20 that Ibori has agreed to back
financially a presidential bid by Saraki in 2011, should
President Yar'Adua become unable or unwilling to run for
re-election. Ibori has reportedly broken ranks with
associates Aliko Dangote and Andy Uba, who plan to support
Bauchi Governor and Yar'Adua son-in-law Isa Yuguda.
According to this contact, Ibori anticipates ending up in
jail, should Yuguda win the nomination unopposed. Moreover,
Ibori reportedly suspects that Uba and Dangote, who made
fortunes courtesy of former President Obasanjo, would do
their former patron's bidding and persuade Yuguda to
prosecute Ibori as retribution for his public support and
generous financing of successful opposition to Obasanjo's bid
for a third term.
2. (C) According to this contact, Ibori plans to finance
initially a rival Saraki bid against Yaguda with the
understanding that Saraki would eventually withdraw from the
race and throw his support to Yuguda in return for Saraki
getting a choice Cabinet post, preferably as Finance Minister
"to control the purse strings," and appointing an Attorney
General preferred by Saraki and Ibori to protect their
interests "like this last time with Aondoakaa." Saraki will
then run again after what they presume will be eight years of
a Yuguda presidency. This contact noted that Ibori even
harbored aspirations of serving as Saraki's vice presidential
running mate. (See Reftel for details on Saraki's political
ambitions.) Such a plan would, in their view, provide 16
years of protection from prosecution for Ibori, and prevent
investigation of the Saraki clan's role in the
Societe-General bank scandal.
--------------
REBUFF OF GUINEA REGIME
--------------
3. (U) This contact mentioned that the military junta in
Guinea had contacted his lobbying firm (based in Washington,
D.C.) to represent them in return for oil and gold
concessions. He said he responded, "No way," because of the
stadium massacre in Conakry and his assessment that a new
government would revoke such enticements anyway. "The only
way I'll go there," he declared, "is in a plane to take him
(Camara) out of the country."
--------------
COMMENT
--------------
4. (C) Political machinations have a way of going awry in
Nigeria, but it is not surprising that both the former Delta
State Governor and the Saraki clan (who are known to be very
close associates) would be scheming to insulate themselves
against future GON actions against their ill-gotten gains.
SANDERS