Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
09ABUJA888
2009-05-21 17:56:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Abuja
Cable title:
NIGERIA: TWO NORTHERNERS REFLECT THE DISENCHANTED
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C O N F I D E N T I A L ABUJA 000888
SIPDIS
DEPT FOR AF/W, INR/AA
BAGHDAD FOR DMCCULLOUGH
E.O. 12958: DECL: 05/19/2019
TAGS: PGOV PREL NI
SUBJECT: NIGERIA: TWO NORTHERNERS REFLECT THE DISENCHANTED
VIEWS OF MANY
Classified By: Political Counselor Walter N.S. Pflaumer for reasons 1.4
(b) and (d)
C O N F I D E N T I A L ABUJA 000888
SIPDIS
DEPT FOR AF/W, INR/AA
BAGHDAD FOR DMCCULLOUGH
E.O. 12958: DECL: 05/19/2019
TAGS: PGOV PREL NI
SUBJECT: NIGERIA: TWO NORTHERNERS REFLECT THE DISENCHANTED
VIEWS OF MANY
Classified By: Political Counselor Walter N.S. Pflaumer for reasons 1.4
(b) and (d)
1. (C) Visiting State Department Nigeria Desk Officer
traveled with POLOFF and PolSpecialist to Kano, Zaria, and
Kaduna on May 10-13, and met with a broad spectrum of
Northern academics, politicians, and civil society leaders.
Although several of these contacts touted "free and fair
elections" as a beacon for reform and governance efforts, it
became apparent that despite their use of this catch phrase,
many Northerners have taken on a defeatist perspective, and
have lost the will to demand more from their government.
2. (C) Professor Ango Abdullahi, a founding member of the
People's Democratic Party (PDP) and former Special Advisor on
Food Security to former President Olusegun Obasanjo, said
that development of Nigeria is only possible if people are
educated, sensitized, and mobilized. He suggested that
"Nigerians have a fatalistic view; they are so spiritually
inclined that they think prayer is their only option."
Abdullahi lamented Nigeria's current state of political
leadership saying, "we had high hopes, but are disappointed.
Progress, if the word progress must be used, has been
unsatisfactory." He expressed this dismay despite the fact
that he has been personally friends with Obasanjo and
Yar'Adua over the years (though he seemed to doubt that
either friendship remains intact, given his critical stances
on both their governments).
3. (C) Turning to electoral reform, Abdullahi commented that
"another rigging could lead us to anywhere," but held onto
international support as a sliver of hope, saying: "It is not
too late to mobilize" before the 2011 elections and that
"other pressures can really help us." Abdullahi urged the
USG to support civil society groups and to exert pressure on
the GON to commit to electoral reform and the fight against
corruption. He applauded the USG for declining Nigeria's
recent request for a State visit, and maintained that
continued pressure from the USG would strengthen internal
support for democratic reform.
4. (C) In a separate meeting, Mustapha Ismail, Director of
the Centre for Human Rights in Islam, adopted a similar tone,
saying that Nigerians are "disenchanted" with their
government. He said that there will be a clamor for Shari'a
law each time the constitution is amended because Nigerians
have not seen any improvements in their lives as a result of
the government.
5. (C) Comment: Conversations with many interlocutors during
this recent trip had a similar despondent tone. Those within
the PDP lamented the misuse of power by leaders in their
party, and the lack of free and fair elections. Opposition
party spokesmen seem to have determined that their efforts
are futile, and have adopted an apathetic attitude toward the
2011 elections. Members of both the ruling party and the
opposition often said that at least some degree of
international involvement is necessary to improve Nigeria's
democracy. Hence, many Northern Nigerians seem simply to be
waiting for the international community to rescue their
country from its governance plight. End Comment.
4. (U) This cable was coordinated with Consulate Lagos.
SANDERS
SIPDIS
DEPT FOR AF/W, INR/AA
BAGHDAD FOR DMCCULLOUGH
E.O. 12958: DECL: 05/19/2019
TAGS: PGOV PREL NI
SUBJECT: NIGERIA: TWO NORTHERNERS REFLECT THE DISENCHANTED
VIEWS OF MANY
Classified By: Political Counselor Walter N.S. Pflaumer for reasons 1.4
(b) and (d)
1. (C) Visiting State Department Nigeria Desk Officer
traveled with POLOFF and PolSpecialist to Kano, Zaria, and
Kaduna on May 10-13, and met with a broad spectrum of
Northern academics, politicians, and civil society leaders.
Although several of these contacts touted "free and fair
elections" as a beacon for reform and governance efforts, it
became apparent that despite their use of this catch phrase,
many Northerners have taken on a defeatist perspective, and
have lost the will to demand more from their government.
2. (C) Professor Ango Abdullahi, a founding member of the
People's Democratic Party (PDP) and former Special Advisor on
Food Security to former President Olusegun Obasanjo, said
that development of Nigeria is only possible if people are
educated, sensitized, and mobilized. He suggested that
"Nigerians have a fatalistic view; they are so spiritually
inclined that they think prayer is their only option."
Abdullahi lamented Nigeria's current state of political
leadership saying, "we had high hopes, but are disappointed.
Progress, if the word progress must be used, has been
unsatisfactory." He expressed this dismay despite the fact
that he has been personally friends with Obasanjo and
Yar'Adua over the years (though he seemed to doubt that
either friendship remains intact, given his critical stances
on both their governments).
3. (C) Turning to electoral reform, Abdullahi commented that
"another rigging could lead us to anywhere," but held onto
international support as a sliver of hope, saying: "It is not
too late to mobilize" before the 2011 elections and that
"other pressures can really help us." Abdullahi urged the
USG to support civil society groups and to exert pressure on
the GON to commit to electoral reform and the fight against
corruption. He applauded the USG for declining Nigeria's
recent request for a State visit, and maintained that
continued pressure from the USG would strengthen internal
support for democratic reform.
4. (C) In a separate meeting, Mustapha Ismail, Director of
the Centre for Human Rights in Islam, adopted a similar tone,
saying that Nigerians are "disenchanted" with their
government. He said that there will be a clamor for Shari'a
law each time the constitution is amended because Nigerians
have not seen any improvements in their lives as a result of
the government.
5. (C) Comment: Conversations with many interlocutors during
this recent trip had a similar despondent tone. Those within
the PDP lamented the misuse of power by leaders in their
party, and the lack of free and fair elections. Opposition
party spokesmen seem to have determined that their efforts
are futile, and have adopted an apathetic attitude toward the
2011 elections. Members of both the ruling party and the
opposition often said that at least some degree of
international involvement is necessary to improve Nigeria's
democracy. Hence, many Northern Nigerians seem simply to be
waiting for the international community to rescue their
country from its governance plight. End Comment.
4. (U) This cable was coordinated with Consulate Lagos.
SANDERS