SECRETARY TO THE GOVERNMENT OF THE FEDERATION CALLS ON

C O N F I D E N T I A L ABUJA 000191

SIPDIS
AMEMBASSY YAOUNDE PASS TO AMEMBASSY MALABO

E.O. 12958: DECL: 2020/02/18
TAGS: PGOV PREL PINR OVIP NI
SUBJECT: SECRETARY TO THE GOVERNMENT OF THE FEDERATION CALLS ON
AMBASSADOR TO DISCUSS STATE OF NATION

CLASSIFIED BY: Robin R. Sanders, Ambassaador, State, U.S. Embassy
Abuja; REASON: 1.4(B),(D)


1. (C) SUMMARY. The Secretary to the Government of the
Federation Ahmed called on Ambassador Sanders on February 16 to
discuss the state of the nation. Ahmed said the domestic political
situation in Nigeria was "very sensitive." Ahmed raised the
possibility of Jonathan traveling outside the country and the
Ambassador asked constitutionally who would lead the country on
such occasions, since Jonathan as the sole executor was without a
Vice President. The Ambassador said that A/S Johnnie Carson had
had good meetings during his February 6-10 visit to Lagos and
Abuja, with the exception of the meeting with Independent National
Electoral Commission (INEC) Chairman Maurice Iwu. She also warned
that the USG could not continue to provide elections support to
INEC or Nigeria's election process if Iwu were still in office when
his term expires in June 2010. END SUMMARY.




2. (C) Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF)
Yayale Ahmed called on Ambassador Sanders on February 16 to discuss
the current state of the nation as well as the status of
U.S.-Nigeria relations. The Economic Counselor was note taker.
Ahmed referred to Acting President Goodluck Jonathan's designation
as Acting President during the previous week and said the domestic
political situation "was very sensitive right now." The Ambassador
turned to the proposed U.S.-Nigeria Bi-National Commission (BNC)
and said the USG was still looking at the possibility of late March
for a possible BNC signing.




3. (C) Ahmed raised the possibility of Jonathan traveling
outside the country and the Ambassador asked constitutionally who
would lead the country on such occasions, since Jonathan was now
the sole executor of Nigeria and was without a Vice President.
Ahmed acknowledged that this was a problem, noting that it was not
even clear who would lead a Federal Executive Committee (cabinet)
meeting when the Acting President was temporarily called out of the
meeting.




4. (C) The Ambassador noted that A/S Carson had had good
meetings during his February 6-10 visit to Lagos and Abuja.
However, the meeting with Independent National Electoral Commission
(INEC) Chairman Maurice Iwu was unproductive as Iwu showed no signs
of respect for election transparency. A/S Carson told Iwu he had
failed to perform in the February 6 Anambra state elections. The
Ambassador warned that the USG could not continue to provide
elections support to INEC or Nigeria's election process if Iwu is
still in office when his term expires in June 2010. The Ambassador
explained that logistically, if INEC could not handle a small state
election, it is questionable how they could handle a national
election covering 36 states and federal territory. Recognizing
this, the USG would do everything it could between now and June to
help on technical issues, such as, making the voter registry more
transparent and accurate.




5. (C) The SGF said he had about 14 ministers that were
willing to work on the political situation in a constructive
manner, and they were looking at options on how to address the
issue of Jonathan's absence from the country if he had to travel.
Ahmed added that he expected the next two months in Nigeria to be
very politically delicate with a lot of challenges to overcome.




6. (C) COMMENT. The SGF is known to be pragmatic and seems
to have a small collection of like-minded ministers working with
him on the crisis.
SANDERS