JONATHAN TELLS FORMER PRESIDENT HIS PLANS FOR NEW INEC

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 03 ABUJA 000201 SIPDIS STATE FOR AF/FO, AF/W, AF/RSA, AF/PDPA, DRL, INR/AA AMEMBASSY YAOUNDE PASS TO AMEMBASSY MALABO E.O. 12958: DECL: 2020/01/26 TAGS: PREL OVIP PGOV PINR ASEC SOCI KDEM PTER NI SUBJECT: JONATHAN TELLS FORMER PRESIDENT HIS PLANS FOR NEW INEC COMMISSIONERS REF: ABUJA 0189 AND PREVIOUS CLASSIFIED BY: James P. McAnulty, Political Counselor, U.S. Embassy Abuja, Political Section; REASON: 1.4(B),(D) -------------- SUMMARY -------------- ¶1. (C) Former President George W. Bush and former Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice included the Ambassador in their 30-minute courtesy call on Acting President Goodluck Jonathan at his official residence February 21. PolOff (notetaker) and an aide to Dr. Rice accompanied the delegation. Various topics arose during the Bush-Rice courtesy call, including discussion of the need for credible 2011 elections and Nigeria's concern over the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) watch list. Both Bush and Rice noted that they were no longer in office and not in a position to influence U.S. policy. The former President thanked Nigeria for contributions to regional and global peace-keeping efforts, particularly in LIBERIA during his tenure. Acting President Jonathan responded that Bush had done "more for Africa than most other leaders" by expanding African exports under the African Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA) and establishing the President's Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR). Ambassador used the opportunity to leave with Jonathan a non-paper with key points on the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC),as suggested by Assistant Secretary Carson, which included securing a highly regarded replacement for the INEC chairperson by June 2010. A follow-up meeting with Jonathan is scheduled for February 24. END SUMMARY. -------------- ELECTIONS, NIGER, AND INEC -------------- ¶2. (C) Emphasizing that he was in Nigeria as a private citizen, former President Bush said that, given Nigeria's regional role, it was important for it to have "fair, transparent, and open" general elections in 2011, noting that such action would "send a great signal to the world" and allow Nigeria to "serve as a great example" to the rest of Africa. Jonathan pledged his support for credible elections and the rule of law, and lamented the recent coup in neighboring Niger, declaring that "unconstitutional governments are no longer welcome in this region." Jonathan briefly discussed the recent visit by the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) delegation, led by former Nigerian Head of State Abdulsalam Abubakar and including ECOWAS President Dr. Mohamed Ibn Chambas and Senegalese Foreign Minister Madicke Niang. He related that ruling junta members told the ECOWAS visitors of their willingness to hold early elections and noted that Nigeria would press for polls within three months. He expressed hope that the U.S. would offer assistance for elections in Niger. ¶3. (C) Jonathan expressed his resolve to select new Commissioners to serve on the INEC "based on people that Nigerians can believe in" from candidates not based on political affiliation. He acknowledged that INEC had experienced logistical problems in the February 6 gubernatorial election in Anambra State, which he pledged to rectify. -------------- UMAR FAROUK ABDULMUTALLAB -------------- ABUJA 00000201 002 OF 003 ¶4. (C) Acting President Jonathan expressed his sincerest regret for the events of December 25 involving the attempted terrorist attack by Abdulmutallab aboard a U.S. airliner. While acknowledging that Nigeria had "pockets of religious extremism," he opined that the violence usually resulted from rivalries between sects, insisting that foreigners have not become targets. He observed that the U.S. Embassy in Abuja had never seen a protest outside its gates. Furthermore, Jonathan expressed his concern for the well-being of innocent bystanders when violence erupted. ¶5. (C) Jonathan joked that "Nigerians don't want to die" and that suicide bombers like Abdulmutallab possessed "traits alien to the nation," which were usually inculcated from abroad. He observed that most extremists since September 11, 2001, have not come from economically disadvantaged backgrounds and "had stayed in some of the best cities in the world, but received some bad influences while they were there." Former President Bush observed that it was never the leaders who were suicide bombers, but "some poor kid" whom the leaders had brainwashed into committing the attack. The Ambassador took the opportunity to inform Jonathan of the signing by the U.S. and Nigeria of a bilateral memorandum of understanding (MOU) on Air Marshals February 19, which she described as greatly enhancing aviation security between the two countries. The Acting President, who clearly was unaware of the signing, added that the Nigerian Government wanted to incorporate elements of the MOU into the pending counter-terrorism legislation, whose passage he looked forward to "soon." Jonathan went on about the domestic focus of terrorist groups and continued to emphasize that there were no outside links to extremist groups in Nigeria. -------------- TSA WATCH LIST -------------- ¶6. (C) Acting President Jonathan decried the effect Nigeria's inclusion on the TSA watch list would have on foreign investment, economic development, and job creation. "No investor will want to be associated with a country without free movement," he lamented. Jonathan said, although he recognized Bush as a former President, he remarked that he still retained influence as a former leader. The former President declared that "I don't have anything to do with Government any longer" and, turning to the Ambassador, quipped that "It's her job now." He added that "I'm sure that our diplomats will work through these issues." He explained that the best aspect of retirement was that he was not responsible for these difficult and sensitive issues anymore. ¶7. (C) Lastly, the former President expressed his best wishes for a speedy recovery to ailing President Yar'Adua, whom he described as "a gentle soul" with whom he had enjoyed a "very good visit" as President. He concluded that "our prayers are with him and his family." -------------- COMMENT -------------- ¶8. (C) The former President and former Secretary strongly emphasized their positions as private citizens. They declined to offer any criticisms of current U.S. policies even when potential opportunities arose to do so. This brief courtesy call by the former President and former Secretary, arranged at the request of Nigeria's Acting President, usefully advanced U.S. themes on ABUJA 00000201 003 OF 003 democracy, good governance, regional security, and counter-terrorism. Ambassador is scheduled to meet with the Acting President February 24 at 9 p.m. to review with him the non-paper she left with him February 21 on the U.S. position on INEC and the need to ensure that the current Chairperson does not remain at the helm after June 2010. END COMMENT. SANDERS