Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
09ABUJA2147
2009-11-25 18:11:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Abuja
Cable title:
YAR'ADUA AND MADUEKWE CENTRAL TO GON PRESSURE ON
how-toVZCZCXRO0288 PP RUEHBZ RUEHDU RUEHMR RUEHPA RUEHRN RUEHTRO DE RUEHUJA #2147 3291811 ZNY CCCCC ZZH P 251811Z NOV 09 FM AMEMBASSY ABUJA TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 7596 INFO RUEHZO/AFRICAN UNION COLLECTIVE PRIORITY RUEHZK/ECOWAS COLLECTIVE PRIORITY RUEHLO/AMEMBASSY LONDON PRIORITY 0635 RUEHFR/AMEMBASSY PARIS PRIORITY 0483 RUEHRO/AMEMBASSY ROME PRIORITY 0446 RUEHOS/AMCONSUL LAGOS PRIORITY 2377 RUZEJAA/JAC MOLESWORTH RAF MOLESWORTH UK PRIORITY RHMFISS/HQ USEUCOM VAIHINGEN GE PRIORITY RUEKJCS/DIA WASHINGTON DC PRIORITY RUEAIIA/CIA WASHINGTON DC PRIORITY RHEHNSC/NSC WASHINGTON DC PRIORITY RHEBAAA/DEPT OF ENERGY WASHDC PRIORITY RHMFISS/HQ USAFRICOM STUTTGART GE PRIORITY
C O N F I D E N T I A L ABUJA 002147
SIPDIS
STATE FOR AF/FO, AF/W, AF/RSA, DRL, INR/AA, INL/AAE;
ADDIS ABABA FOR U.S. MISSION TO AU
E.O. 12958: DECL: 10/14/2014
TAGS: PREL PGOV PINR NI
SUBJECT: YAR'ADUA AND MADUEKWE CENTRAL TO GON PRESSURE ON
TANDJA
REF: A. ABUJA 2077
B. ABUJA 2062
Classified By: Political Counselor James P. McAnulty
for reasons in Sections 1.4 (b) and (d).
C O N F I D E N T I A L ABUJA 002147
SIPDIS
STATE FOR AF/FO, AF/W, AF/RSA, DRL, INR/AA, INL/AAE;
ADDIS ABABA FOR U.S. MISSION TO AU
E.O. 12958: DECL: 10/14/2014
TAGS: PREL PGOV PINR NI
SUBJECT: YAR'ADUA AND MADUEKWE CENTRAL TO GON PRESSURE ON
TANDJA
REF: A. ABUJA 2077
¶B. ABUJA 2062
Classified By: Political Counselor James P. McAnulty
for reasons in Sections 1.4 (b) and (d).
¶1. (C) Foreign Minister Ojo Maduekwe told Ambassador November
22 that President Yar'Adua and he were the only persons in
the Nigerian Government (GON) who were strongly opposed to
what Niger President Mamadou Tandja "is trying to do" in his
country. Maduekwe noted "a lot of sympathy" for Niger in
various quarters of the GON because of Niger's "unwavering
support" for Nigeria "in good times and bad times," dating
back to the July 1967 to January 1970 Biafra civil war, and
because Niger has traditionally sided with Nigeria "on
everything" in international fora. Despite this, however,
President Yar'Adua has taken a strong stance against Tandja's
actions. Maduekwe stated that his boss had become "angry" at
what Tandja was doing and would continue to "work against
this extra-constitutional behavior."
¶2. (C) Maduekwe complained to the Ambassador that the French
were "not being helpful" in Niger. He asserted that the
French say one thing in support of the Economic Community of
West African States (ECOWAS) position; yet, he said, their
actions say something entirely different. He said that
ECOWAS Facilitator and former Nigerian Head of State
Abdulsalami Abubakar had grown frustrated by what he called
France's "looking the other way" on Tandja. The French
position, Maduekwe said, was making it tougher for ECOWAS to
accomplish what needed to be done there.
¶3. (C) Maduekwe also remarked that ECOWAS officials had heard
reports that Tandja was recruiting mercenaries from South
Africa.
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COMMENT
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¶4. (C) Given that the Foreign Minister is prone to hyperbole,
we need to put his comments that he and President Yar'Adua
"were the only persons" against Tandja's actions in that
light. That said, under Yar'Adua's leadership, Nigeria and
ECOWAS are keeping the pressure on Tandja.
SANDERS