NIGERIA: AMBASSADOR VISITS KOGI STATE

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 03 ABUJA 000826

SIPDIS

DEPT FOR AF/W, INR/AA
BAGHDAD FOR DMCCULLOUGH

E.O. 12958: DECL: 05/11/2019
TAGS: PGOV PREL NI
SUBJECT: NIGERIA: AMBASSADOR VISITS KOGI STATE

REF: 08 ABUJA 0686

Classified By: Political Counselor Walter N.S. Pflaumer for reasons 1.4
(b) and (d)


1. (C) Summary: On April 30, Ambassador (accompanied by
Poloff as notetaker) traveled to Kogi State where she paid a
courtesy call on Governor Ibrahim Idris (Peoples Democratic
Party - PDP) in Lokoja. Ambassador inquired about press
reports alleging youth had stormed the government house in
Lokoja on April 28; Idris said that while the situation was
handled poorly, it had been resolved peacefully. The
Ambassador then turned the conversation to agriculture,
informing Idris of an upcoming workshop in Lagos that would
benefit agribusiness in Kogi. Idris lamented that large
scale agriculture had not progressed much in the area, but
shared his goal of making his state Nigeria's largest
exporter of palm oil, rice, sugar, and sesame seed, all of
which were widely cultivated there. On politics, Idris
maintained that things were "getting better." He cited the
recent PDP convention's decision to amend the party
constitution, reducing the power of Board of Trustees (BOT)
Chairman Obasanjo, as evidence of the country moving in a
more democratic direction. In the area of health care, Idris
highlighted the completion of a new hospital in the state
capital with medical equipment purchased from the U.S., and
claimed Americans were scheduled to come to the hospital to
provide free health care. Following their private
conversation, the Ambassador and Governor gave brief remarks
to the press. Idris again urged foreign investment in
"mechanized agriculture and commercial farming." The
Ambassador highlighted the fifteen U.S. programs currently in
Kogi State which deal with both agriculture and health.
Ambassador also paid courtesy calls on the Olujumu
(traditional ruler) of Ijumu Kingdom, Oba Dr. Jerome Sumanu,
in Iyara; and the Ologidi (traditional ruler) of Ogidi
Kingdom, Oba Rabu Oladimeji Sule, in Ogidi, and visited the
women weavers' cooperative at the Nike Cultural Center. End
Summary.

KOGI STATE GOVERNOR IDRIS
--------------

2. (C) On April 30, Ambassador, accompanied by Poloff
(notetaker) traveled to Kogi State and paid a courtesy call
on Governor Ibrahim Idris (PDP) at his office in Lokoja.
Idris welcomed Ambassador into his office for a private
discussion before appearing before the local media.
Ambassador queried Idris about press reports that over 100
youths had stormed government house on April 28 and assaulted
a security officer. Idris lamented that the security
officers there had handled the situation poorly, indicating
that they did not touch base with him first, as they should
have, when the youths arrived. Instead, The security simply
refused the youths' request for an audience with the
governor, prompting them to force their way in. Idris
confirmed press reports that the youths were angry because
one of their friends was in a local hospital and not
receiving care. Idris said that once he learned of the
situation, he spoke to the youths and agreed to take care of
the patient, including paying his hospital bills; after that
youth left quietly.


3. (C) The Ambassador then turned to agricultural development
issues, informing the governor about an upcoming program in
Lagos geared toward agriprocessors and exporters. Ambassador
suggested the governor submit approximately ten names of
possible attendees to her office, and she would ensure
official invitations were extended. Idris expressed his
gratitude and promised to send names of qualified people. He
added that although there were not currently a large number
of exporters in the state, his goal was to make Kogi the
largest exporter in Nigeria of palm oil, rice, sugar, and
sesame seed, as those were the major crops in the area.
Idris commented that some day the oil in Nigeria would be
gone, and the people would be forced to turn their focus back
to the land and other natural resources. According to Idris,
the Chinese were currently building training schools in Kogi
that offered training on small machinery; but there had not

ABUJA 00000826 002 OF 003


been much progress on large scale agriculture. Ambassador
presented Idris with a copy of a recent feasibility study
conducted by the U.S. Trade and Development Agency that
highlighted three areas within Nigeria that offered
substantive coal resources and the best chance for success on
the development of coal briquettes, one of which was Kogi
State. Ambassador added that similar studies on other
resources such as ethanol and cassava would be available at
the aforementioned agriculture program in Lagos in June.


4. (C) Moving on to politics, Ambassador asked Idris for his
opinion on the recent PDP convention. Idris suggested that
the vote by the delegates to amend the party constitution
(and limit the power of Board of Trustees Chairman, and
former President, Obasanjo) was a demonstration that things
were "getting better," and that the country was moving in a
more democratic direction. Idris added that Nigeria was
"copying from America," but noted that AMERICA had been
around a long time and Nigeria was still just beginning. He
thought the fact that Nigeria had witnessed two consecutive
civilian Presidents (referring to the democratic transition
from former President Obasanjo to current President Yar'Adua)
was a good start; he hoped things would continued to change.
He stipulated that government leaders needed to "be very
serious" about change, if others were to follow. He said
that "although people may not like (change),it is for the
best." Continuing with the theme of change, Ambassador
inquired about electoral reform and whether it would be
successful. Idris replied that there will always be "people
with selfish interests," but that Nigeria will do its best to
advocate for reform.


5. (C) Idris recalled their previous meeting (when he came to
Embassy Abuja for a visa in December 2008 and paid a courtesy
call on the Ambassador). During that meeting, Idris had
informed the Ambassador that his impending trip to the U.S.
was to acquire medical equipment for a new hospital.
According to Idris, four out of ten containers of equipment
purchased on that trip had since arrived and been installed
at the new "Lokoja Specialists Hospital," the first hospital
in the state capital. Idris also mentioned that there were
"Americans coming to provide free treatment" at the hospital,
but could not provide more specifics as the details were
being handled by the Commissioner for Health. Ambassador
applauded Idris for his efforts to improve health services in
the state, and provided him with a list of the current U.S.
programs in Kogi State that also address health issues.


6. (C) Following their private discussion, the Ambassador and
Governor gave brief remarks to a gathering of the State
Executive Council, various state government officials, and
the press. The Ambassador highlighted the 15 current U.S.
programs in the areas of health care and agriculture in the
state, and said the U.S. looked forward to continued
partnership. Ambassador also noted that she would be paying
courtesy calls on two traditional leaders as well as visiting
the Nike Cultural Center, underscoring the importance of
experiencing the culture of the people of Kogi State.
Governor Idris acknowledged U.S. support and expressed
appreciation for the opportunity to build on the current
relationship. Idris requested additional assistance in the
area of malaria prevention and suggested that the U.S.
partner with Kogi on "mechanized agriculture and commercial
farming." Idris argued that Kogi State offered one of the
best opportunities for U.S. investment for several reasons:
it was "blessed with good climate and vast crops," it offered
government incentives on land, had invested in road
infrastructure, and had just secured accreditation for all 29
programs being offered at Kogi University. He added that 29
of the 37 minerals found in Nigeria could be harvested in
Kogi. Idris thanked Ambassador for visiting Kogi State and
said he looked forward to continued friendship and
partnership.

IJUMU KINGDOM
--------------

7. (U) Later the same day, Ambassador traveled approximately
two hours north of Lokoja to Iyara, the headquarters of the

ABUJA 00000826 003 OF 003


Ijumu Local Government Area (LGA) to pay a courtesy call on
the Olujumu (traditional ruler) of the Ijumu Kingdom, Oba Dr.
Jerome Sumanu. Ambassador was greeted by a gathering of
local Royal Fathers, LGA Councillors, and the Chairman of the
Ijumu LGA Council, Dr. Deacon J.A. Owotogbe. The Olujumu
welcomed the Ambassador, noting that she was the first
international dignitary to visit the newly completed LGA
headquarters building. The Olujumu expressed gratitude for
the visit and urged a strengthening of the relationship
between the U.S. and Nigeria in the form of cultural
exchanges, visits, and art exhibitions, noting the number of
great artisans present in Kogi State. LGA Chairman Owotogbe
also thanked the Ambassador for taking the time to pay a
courtesy call and took the opportunity to highlight that
Ijumu was rich in both culture and agriculture. Drawing
attention to the large quantities of cocoa, coffee, cashew,
palm oil, cassava, and other assets in Ijumu, Owotogbe urged
U.S. investment in large scale farming. He added that there
were a number of untapped mineral resources available such as
marble, feldspar, and talc that would warrant investment in
mineral exploration by foreign companies.

OGIDI KINGDOM AND NIKE ART GALLERY
--------------

8. (U) Following her visit to the Ijumu Kingdom, Ambassador
traveled to the Ogidi LGA where she met with the Ologidi
(traditional ruler) of the Ogidi Kingdom, Oba Rabu Oladimeji
Sule and visited the Nike Cultural Center. In his welcome
remarks, Sule noted that the Ambassador was his first
official visitor, as he had just been crowned Ologidi the
previous week. Ambassador noted that she had met Princess
Nike Okundaye, founder of the Nike Cultural Center, many
years ago while in Nigeria, and had promised one day to visit
her home of Ogidi. Ambassador highlighted her interest in
experiencing the culture of the Ogidi people, and her desire
to foster better understanding and partnership between them
and America. Once the welcome ceremony was complete, the
Ambassador took a tour of the Nike Cultural Center where she
was able to observe women weavers, bead makers, cultural
dances, and the art known as "Adire," or hand painting of
fabrics. Before departing the Ambassador distributed over
100 backpacks and books to a group of primary schools
students who had come to welcome her to Ogidi.

GOOD THINGS IN KOGI
--------------

9. (C) Comment: Although Governor Idris' 2007 election was
annulled and his subsequent March 2008 re-election allegedly
flawed (ref A),he seems interested in making improvements to
his state. His interest in agribusiness is promising and
post will follow up with the governor to ensure the
appropriate people are invited to the agribusiness program
scheduled to take place in Lagos in June. While we did not
visit the new hospital, it is encouraging to hear that such a
project was undertaken and completed. The women weavers of
Ogidi are extremely talented and a would be a great avenue to
explore for future cultural exchanges. End Comment.


10. (U) This cable was coordinated with Consulate Lagos.
SANDERS