THE LAST GASP FROM KADUNA: WHO'S WHO

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 05 KADUNA 00365


LONDON FOR MCKINLEY; PARIS FOR PERL0W
LAGOS PASS TO ABUJA

E.O. 12356: DECL:OADR
TAGS: KPRP PINR PGOV ECON NI
SUBJECT: THE LAST GASP FROM KADUNA: WHO'S WHO


1. CONFIDENTIAL -- ENTIRE TEXT


2. THE FOLLOWING CABLE PROVIDES BIOGRAPHIC DATA
REFLECTING THE CONSUL GENERAL'S CONTACTS THROUGHOUT THE
NORTH OVER THE PAST THREE YEARS. THE SKETCHES DO NOT
AIM TO REPRODUCE MATERIAL MOST LIKELY ALREADY AVAILABLE
IN AF AND INR FILES, BUT RATHER TO GIVE IMPRESSIONS AND
ASSESSMENTS OF CHARACTER AND OPINION. IT IS COMPLETED
A HALF HOUR BEFORE CG'S DEPARTURE FOR RETIREMENT AND,
THEREFORE, SUFFERED FROM LACK OF EDITING AND
COMPLETENESS. PLEASE FORGIVE|

HRADITIONALSRULERS
--------------


3. IBRAHIM DASUKI, SULTAN OF SOKOTO. MUCH HAS BEEN
WRITTEN ABOUT THE SULTAN, BUT IT IS PERHAPS WORTH
REITERATING THAT HIS POPULARITY AS NOT RISEN IN THE
FIVE YEARS SINCE HE HAS OCCUPIED THE THRONE. HIS
LAVISH PALACE RENOVATIONS ARE VIEWED BY MANY AS TOTALLY
AT ODDS WITH ISLAMIC INJUNCTION. HE IS A SMART,
SOPHISTICATED MAN, BUT IT IS DIFFICULT TO DISCERN THE
DEGREE OF VENALITY HE HAS CARRIED OVER FROM HIS BCCI
DAYS AND HIS ASSOCIATION WITH GENERAL BABANGIDA, TO
WHOM HE OWES HIS ELECTION TO THE THRONE. SEVERAL OF
THE SULTAN'S SONS HAVE STUDIED IN THE UNITED STATES AND
AT LEAST A COUPLE OF HAVE SECOND HOMES IN NORTHERN
VIRGINIA.


4. ALHAJI SHEHU IDRIS, EMIR OF ZARIA. THE EMIR OF
ZARIA, OR SARKIN ZAZZAU TO GIVE HIM HIS HAUSA TITLE, IS
A FREQUENT INTERLOCUTOR OF EMBASSY AND CONSULATE
PERSONNEL. HE LOOKS FOR EXCHANGES WITH FOREIGN
DIPLOMATS ON BOTH POLITICAL QUESTIONS AND HIS EFFORTS
TO PROMOTE INDUSTRY AND COMMERCE IN KADUNA STATE. HE
IS DEEPLY DISTRUSTED BY THE CHRISTIAN COMMUNITIES IN
SOUTHERN KADUNA STATE, WHO SEE HIM AS A MAJOR
IMPEDIMENT TO THEIR ENJOYING FULL POLITICAL AND
PROPERTY RIGHTS IN THE STATE. NEVERTHELESS, WE HAVE
ALWAYS ENJOYED EASY ACCESS TO THE EMIR WHO IS FRIENDLY
AND AS OPEN AS THESE RULERS CAN BE.


5. ALHAJI ADO BAYERO, EMIR OF KANO. THE EMIR OF KANO
IS SOMEWHAT MORE FORMAL WITH US AND IT CAN BE MORE
DIFFICULT TO GET AN APPOINTMENT WITH HIM, BUT HE, LIKE
HIS FELLOW EMIRS, IS ALWAYS FRIENDLY AND INTERESTING TO
TALK TO. HE TRAVELS FREQUENTLY TO THE UNITED STATES,
BOTH ON PRIVATE TRIPS AND, OCCASIONALLY, TO VISIT
VARIOUS NIGERIAN COMMUNITIES AND CULTURAL EVENTS. HE
WAS A DIPLOMAT PRIOR TO TAKING THE TITLE THIRTY YEARS
AGO AND IS, THEREFORE, EASY WITH OTHER DIPL0MATS. HE
IS REGARDED BY NORTHERN NIGERIANS TO BE MUCH STUFFIER
THAN THE EMIRS OF ZARIA OR KATSINA; ONE INTERLOCUTOR
CLOSE TO THE KATSINA EMIRATE WAS VISIBLY SURPRISED TO
LEARN THAT THE KANO EMIR ROUTINELY SHOOK THE HAND OF
THE (FEMALE) CONSUL GENERAL, SOMETHING THAT,
TRADITIONALLY, HE SHOULD NOT DO. (ALL OTHER EMIRS BUT
THE SULTAN OF SOKOTO HAVE EXTENDED THEIR HAND TO THE
CONSUL GENERAL.)

PRESS
--------------


6. MALAM MOHAMMED HARUNA, MANAGING DIRECTOR, CITIZEN
PUBLICATIONS. HARUNA IS A VERY BRIGHT YOUNG JOURNALIST
WHO IS AT THE HEAD OF ONE OF THE MORE INTERESTING
WEEKLY MAGAZINES IN NIGERIA. THE CITIZEN WAS FOUNDED,
UNDER THE CHAIRMANSHIP OF ALHAJI TURI MUHAMMADU, BY A
GROUP OF REBELS FROM THE NEW NIGERIAN WHO WERE UNHAPPY
AT THAT PAPER'S LOSS OF EDITORIAL INDEPENDENCE.
ALTHOUGH HARUNA (AND HIS MAGAZINE) TAKE STRONG
PRO-ISLAMIC STANDS, THE MAGAZINE IS WELL WRITTEN AND
ARGUED, A HAPPY EXCEPTION IN JOURNALISM IN NIGERIA.
PERSONALLY, HARUNA IS FRIENDLY TO AMERICAN DIPLOMATS,
HAPPY TO SPEAK WITH US AND ANY VISITORS WE MAY HAVE,
AND WILL UNFAILINGLY RESPECT ANY REQUEST THAT
DISCUSSIONS BE OFF THE RECORD. THIS PERMITS US TO HAVE
SIGNIFICANT BACKGROUND DISCUSSIONS WITH HIM AND HIS
EDITOR, BILKISU YUSUF (SEE BELOW).


7. HAJIYA BILKISU YUSUF, EDITOR OF THE CITIZEN
MAGAZINE. YUSUF IS NOT ONLY A LEADING JOURNALIST IN
NORTHERN NIGERIA, BUT SHE IS ALSO A SIGNIFICANT WOMEN'S
ACTIVIST AND MEMBER OF "FOMWON" -- FEDERATION OF MUSLIM
WOMEN OF NIGERIA. SHE IS EXTREMELY WELL EDUCATED IN
ISLAM AND IS OBSERVANT IN WAYS THAT LEAD US TO BELIEVE
SHE MAY BE A MEMBER OF THE DARIKA SECT. SHE FASTS
EVERY MONDAY AND THURSDAY, AND WILL ABSOLUTELY NOT
SHAKE HANDS WITH MEN. SHE HAS STRONG TIES TO ISLAMIC
SCHOLARS IN SUDAN AND TRAVELS THERE FREQUENTLY. WE
HAVE FOUND HER TO BE FRIENDLY AND OPEN IN DISCUSSIONS.
CURRENTLY, SHE IS A MEMBER OF THE NIPSS STUDY CLASS,
AND IS RESIDENT IN JOS FOR TH YIPERIOD.


8. GARDA SHEHU, MANAGING DIRECTOR, TRIUMPH
NEWSPAPERS. GARBA SHEHU PRESIDES OVER A STATE-OWNED
PRESS OPERATION THAT IS PERPETUALLY STARVED OF FUNDS
AND SUBJECT TO THE VAGARIES OF GOVERNMENT CONTROLLED
PRESS. THIS SAID, HE IS A BRIGHT MAN, ALWAYS READY TO
SEE AMERICAN DIPLOMATS, AND, LIKE HARUNA AT THE
CITIZEN, IS PUNCTILIOUS ABOUT HONORING "BACKGROUND"
RULES. WE HAVE HAD LONG AND FULL CONVERSATIONS WITH
GARBA SHEHU AND HIS EDITORIAL BOARD; THEY ASK TOUGH BUT
FAIR QUESTIONS. GARBA SHEHU IS WIDELY RESPECTED BY
MANY OF THE NORTHERN ELDERS, PARTLY BECAUSE HE IS THE
TREASURER FOR THE BAREWA OLD BOYS ASSOCIATION (THE
SECONDARY SCHOOL A LARGE NUMBER OF THE NORTHERM ELITES
HAVE ATTENDED) AND WORKS HARD FOR THE ALMA MATER.


9. ALHAJI TURI MUHAMMADU, NOW RETIRED BUT CHAIRMAN OF
THE CITIZEN AND A FORMER EDITOR OF NEW NIGERIAN
NEWSPAPERS. ALSO A FORMER NORTHERN MANAGER, UTC. TURI
MUHAMMADU, WHO COMES FROM NIGER STATE, IS A THOUGHTFUL
AND VERY INTERESTING INTERLOCUTOR, A RARE NIGERIAN WHO
READS VORACIOUSLY AND INTELLIGENTLY. (IN THE PAST
YEAR, WE HAVE PASSED HIM COPIES OF THE GEORGE SCHULZ
AUTOBIOGRAPHY WHICH HE DEVOURED IN A COUPLE OF DAYS AND
FOLLOWED IT UP WITH THE MCCULLOGH BIOGRAPHY OF
TRUMAN.) HE IS SHY AND GENERALLY DOES NOT COME TO
VONSULATE PARTIES, BUT IS WILLING TO HAVE ONE-ON-ONE
MEETINGS AND IS AN INFORMED AND SERIOUS CONTACT.


10. ALHAJI ISMAILA ISA, MANAGING DIRECTOR, DEMOCRAT
NEWSPAPER, AND CHAIRMAN OF BULET, A CONSTRUCTION FIRM.
ISMAILA ISA WAS RAISED IN THE HOME OF HIS UNCLE,
NORTHERN ELDER ISA KAITA, AND COMES FROM FUNTUA IN
KATSINA STATE. HE IS ALSO THE LANDLORD OF THE
CONSULATE OFFICE BUILDING. IN OUR CONTACTS WITH HIM,
WE HAVE FOUND HIM TO BE A MAN OF SHALLOW OPINION AND
CONSIDERABLE PREJUDICE AGAINST AMERICANS. HE CAN BE
VERY KIND ON THOSE OCCASIONS WHEN WE HAVE BEEN IN A FIX
(SAY, WITH TWO FLAT TIRES ON THE ABUJA ROAD),SO IT
GOES AGAINST THE GRAIN TO CRITICIZE, BUT HIS NEWSPAPER
TAKES OFTEN IRRESPONSIBLE POSITIONS AND HE CLAIMS NO
CONTROL OVER IT. HA|

BUSINESS
--------------


11. ALHAJI AMINU DANTATA. AMINU DANTATA IS THE
PATRIARCH OF THE DANTATA ORGANIZATION, A FAMILY FIRM
INVOLVED IN TRADING AND AGRIBUSINESS ENTERPRISES.
AMINU DANTATA IS A DEVOUT MOSLEM, A PHILANTHROPIST TO
ISLAMIC AND OTHER CHARITIES ON A AWESOME SCALE, AND
PART OF AN ENORMOUS FAMILY. HIMSELF ONE OF SEVERAL
BROTHERS/COUSINS, HE HAS FOUR WIVES AND TWENTY-SEVEN
CHILDREN. IN OUR PRIVATE CONTACTS, HE HAS BEEN OPEN
ABOUT HIS DOUBTS ABOUT THE UTILITY OF DEMOCRACY FOR
NIGERIA, BELIEVING IT IS A NON-INDIGENOUS SYSTEM BEING
IMPOSED BY THE WEST FOR PROBABLY GOOD, BUT MISPLACED,
INTENTIONS. HE IS RELATIVELY UNFORTHCOMING ABOUT HIS
OWN BUSINESS OR GENERAL BUSINESS CONDITIONS IN KANO,
HIS HOME BASE. NEVERTHELESS, HE IS ALWAYS READY TO SEE
CONSULATE AND EMBASSY VISITORS AND IS RELAXED AND
FRIENDLY. HE MAINTAINS A HOME IN SAUDI ARABIA WHERE HE
SPENDS A GOOD DEAL OF TIME EACH YEAR DURING THE HAJJ
AND UMMRA. HIS CHILDREN HAVE MOSTLY GONE TO SCHOOL IN
SAUDI ARABIA AND THEN ON TO UNIVERSITY IN MIAMI
(FLORIDA INTERNATIONAL UNIVERSITY) FOR THE BOYS AND
BAYERO UNIVERSITY KANO (FOR THE GIRLS). AMINU DANTATA
ALSO HAS HOUSES IN FLORIDA AND GENERALLY A TROUP OF THE
FAMILY GOES ON SUMMER HOLIDAY IN THE U.S. (DANTATA DAY
IN THE VISA SECTION IS A BUSY TIME.)


12. ALHAJI TAJUDEEN DANTATA, THE SON OF AMINU DANTATA
WHO IS MANAGING DIRECTOR OF THE ORGANIZATION AND IS
BEING GROOMED TO TAKE OVER THE OPERATION. TAJUDEEN
DANTATA IS YOUNG (PROBABLY AROUND 30),AND LOOKS
YOUNGER, BUT IS THE CHOSEN SUCCESSOR TO TAKE OVER THE
FAMILY FIRM. APPARENTLY HIS OLDER BROTHER WAS MEANT TO
BE THE HEIR BUT WAS KILLED IN A POLO ACCIDENT, SO
TAJUDEEN HAS ONLY RECENTLY ASSUMED THE MANTLE. HE IS
OPEN TO CONTACT WITH AMERICAN DIPLOMATS AND, LIKE MOST
NORTHERN BUSINESSMEN, KEEPS HIS FAMILY IN KANO WHILE HE
LIVES PART-TIME IN LAGOS AND TRAVELS THE WORLD.


13. MUNZALI DANTATA, A COUSIN OF THE TWO ABOVE, IS THE
PROPRIETOR OF ALL STATES TRAVEL, A FIRM WITH THE AGENCY
FOR SAUDIA AIRLINES IN LAGOS. HE IS SOMEWHAT
INDEPENDENT OF THE BUSINESS INTERESTS OF THE MAIN
BRANCH OF THE FAMILY AND PRIDES HIMSELF ON BUILDING UP
HIS TRAVEL AGENCY. HE ADMIRES THE U.S. AND WOULD LIKE
TO DEVELOP A TOURIST LINK WITH AMERICA, BUT MAY BE
SOMEWHAT UNREALISTIC ABOUT HOW MUCH WORK WILL HAVE TO
BE DONE TO PRODUCE AN ATTRACTIVE TOURIST INFRASTRUCTURE
FOR AMERICANS. HE IS THE AUTHOR OF A RECENTLY
PUBLISHED GUIDEBOOK ON ABUJA AND RUNS BUS TOURSZOF THE
NEW CAPITAL AS PART OF HIS ENDEAVORS. HE IS AN
ENTHUSIASTIC AND ENTERPRISING GUY.


14. WAZIRI MOHAMMED, A SON-IN-LAW OF AMINU DANTATA, IS
A DIRECTOR OF PACIFIC MERCHANT BANK IN LAGOS. HE IS
KANURI AND COMES FROM MAIDUGURI WHERE HIS FAMILY
LIVES. LAGOS HAS PREVIOUSLY REPORTED ON WAZIRI
MOHAMMED AND HIS POLITICAL ACTIVITIES IN THE KINGIBE
CAMPAIGN. WE UNDERSTAND FROM A PREVIOUS POLITICAL
COUNSELOR IN LAGOS THAT WAZIRI MOHAMMED HAS CLOSE LINKS
WITH MILITARY INTELLIGENCE. HE IS A FOREIGN SERVICE
BRAT, AND THUS QUITE SOPHISTICATED AND WELL-TRAVELED.
HE HAS BEEN VERY FRIENDLY BOTH WITH CONSULATE KADUNA
AND EMBASSY LAGOS PERSONNEL.


15. ALIKO DANGOTE, RELATED THROUGH HIS MOTHER TO THE
DANTATA CLAM (HER FATHER WAS A BROTHER TO AMINU
DANTATA'S FATHER),IS THE CHAIRMAN (AT AGE 35) OF THE
DANGOTE GROUP OF COMPANIES. THE DANGOTE FATHER DIED
EARLY AND THE FAMILY COMPANY IS NOW CONDUCTED BY A
GROUP OF BROTHERS, THE PRINCIPAL ONES OF WHOM ARE SANI
AND BELLO (SEE BELOW). ALIKO, LIKE AMINU DANTATA, IS A
MAJOR FIGURE AT MANY CHARITABLE FUNDRAISING EVENTS. HE
HAS JUST MARRIED FOR THE THIRD TIME -- LIKE AMERICANS,
HIS MARRIAGES HAVE BEEN SERIAL RATHER THAN POLYGAMOUS.
THE DANGOTES HAVE HOMES IN KANO, LAGOS, LONDON, AND
ATLANTA AND, LIKE THE DANTATAS, TAKE A LARGE GROUP OF
FAMILY MEMBERS FOR AN AMERICAN HOLIDAY EVERY SUMMER.


16. SANI DANGOTE, BROTHER TO ALIKO, IS THE BROTHER WHO
WATCHES OVER THE FAMILY TEXTILE, OILFIELD SERVICES, AND
COMMODITY (COCOA, SUGAR) TRADING OPERATIONS. HE HAS
JUST CONCLUDED A LICENSING AGREEMENT TO PRODUCE
NUTRASWEET IN NIGERIA, TO REDUCE COSTS OF SWEETENERS
THE FIRM PROVIDES TO SOFT DRINK MANUFACTURERS. SANI
DANGOTE IS A PASSIONATE POLO PLAYER. HE IS NOT
PARTICULARLY WELL EDUCATED, HAVING ATTENDED A
COMMERCIAL COLLEGE IN KANO. HE ADMIRES AMERICANS AND
SEEKS TO DO BUSINESS IN AMERICA. HE IS AN OPEN,
FRIENDLY, AND ENTERTAINING INTERLOCUTOR. SANI DANGOTE
IS MARRIED WITH FOUR CHILDREN, ONE OF THEM BORN IN THE
U.S.


17. BELLO DANGOTE IS THE BROTHER CHARGED WITH
RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE FAMILY BANK, LIBERTY MERCHAMT.
HE WAS EDUCATED IN ITALY AS AN ENGINEER. HE IS
MARRIED, TO A SISTER OF SANI DANGOTE'S WIFE, AND HAS
THREE CHILDREN, TWO OF THEM BORN IN THE U.S. LIKE HIS
BROTHERS, HE IS FRIENDLY TO AMERICANS.


18. ALHAJI BASHIR BORODO IS A BUSINESSMAN ON A MORE
MODEST SCALE THAN THE CLANS DESCRIBED ABOVE. HE IS THE
MANAGING DIRECTOR OF ONE OF THE DANTATA COMPANIES (A
FERTILIZER MIXING PLANT IN KANO STATE) AND THE FORMER
CHAIRMAN OF THE FORMERLY STATE-OWNED BANK, TROPICAL
COMMERCIAL BANK, THAT HAS NOW PRIVATIZED. HE ALSO HAS
HIS OWN BUSINESS, BORODO AND CO., THAT PRODUCES ICE
BLOCKS, EXPORTS MOTORBIKES, AND ENGAGES IN OTHER MIXES
OF TRADING. HE WAS TRAINED (IN CAIRO) AS AN ECONOMIST
AND JOINED THE NIGERIAN FOREIGN SERVICE. ONE OF HIS
POSTINGS WAS AT THE EMBASSY IN WASHINGTON (FROM ABOUT
1978 TO 198O) WHERE THE DESK OFFICERS FOUND HIM THE
STRONGEST DIPLOMAT AT THE EMBASSY. HE IS FAR AND AWAY
THE MOST INTELLIGENT CONTACT WE HAVE FOUND ON THE
ECONOMIC SCENE IN THE NORTH.


19. MALAM DAHIRU MUHAMMAD, MANAGING DIRECTOR AND CEO
OF FIRST AFRICA MERCHANT BANK, HEADQUARTERED IN
KADUNA. ACTUALLY WE TAKE THAT BACK ABOUT BORODO BEING
THE "MOST INTELLIGENT," SINCE DAHIRU MUHAMMAD IS IN THE
SAME CLASS. EDUCATED AT VANDERBILT UNIVERSITY, DAHIRU
MUHAMMAD IS AN EXCEPTIONALLY WELL-INFORMED AND
OUTSPOKEN INFORMANT ON THE ECONOMIC SCENE. LONG BEFORE
IT BECAME THE FASHION, HE POINTED TO THE BUDGETARY AND
MONETARY POLICIES OF THE BABANGIDA REGIME THAT
BANKRUPTED THE NATION AND RIDICULED THE CALLS FOR
ARTIFICIAL PEGGING OF THE NAIRA. HE IS VERY OPEN TO
AMERICANS AND WILLING TO MEET WITH US, OFFICIALLY OR
SOCIALLY.


20. ISAIAH BALAT, FORMER PRESIDENT OF THE KADUNA
CHAMBER OF COMMERCE AND CHAIRMAN OF SEVERAL COMPANIES
BASED IN KADUNA (FINANCE, OIL SERVICES, ETC.). BALAT
IS, TO US, MORE INTERESTING AS AN INTERLOCUTOR ON
POLITICAL AND ETHNIC QUESTIONS THAN ON COMMERCIAL
DEVELOPMENTS. HE WAS ACTIVE IN THE SDP AND STRONGLY
FOUGHT FOR ABIOLA AND JUNE 12 OVER THE SUMMER OF 1993,
SEEING THE ISSUE ALMOST COMPLETELY THROUGH HIS SOUTHERN
KADUNA-CHRISTIAN EYES. HE IS VERY WELL CONNECTED IN
KADUNA, FRIENDLY TO AMERICANS, AND HAPPY TO SHARE HIS
THOUGHTS WITH US. WE FOUND CONVERSATIONS WITH HIM
PARTICULARLY USEFUL IN THE AFTERMATH OF THE ZANGON
KATAF RIOTS, SINCE HE COMES FROM THAT AREA, AND, SINCE
THEN, HAS WORKED ON A NUMBER OS COMMITTEES TO TRY TO
GET AT THE CAUSES OF INTERCOMMUNAL TENSION IN THE STATE.


21. ALHAJI AUWALU ILU, PRESIDENT OF THE KANO CHAMBER
OF COMMERCE, AND BUSINESSMAN WITH INTERESTS IN CLOTH
TRADING AND LPG SUPPLY. AUWALU ILU IS AN ENGAGING
INTERLOCUTOR WITH HIS FINGER ON THE PULSE OF THAT PART
OF THE KANO ECONOMY THAT HIS CHAMBER MOST REPRESENTS --
THE ESTABLISHED, MID-RANKING TRADER. HE IS ALWAYS GOOD
FOR AN INTIMATE POLITICAL GOSSIP, BUT, OVER THE YEARS,
WE HAVE FOUND THAT HE SWINGS AROUND A BIT WITH THE
PREVAILING BREEZE. NEVERTHELESS, HE KNOWS EVERYBODY
AND IS ALWAYS WELCOMING TO US WHEN WE DROP IN. HE HAS
BEEN VERY HELPFUL DURING AMBASSADORIAL VISITS TO KANO,
PARTICULARLY AS HE CAN PUT TOGETHER A GROUP FOR DINNER
THAT IS ALWAYS WORTH MEETING AND TALKING TO.


22. ALHAJI BAWA GARBA. WHEN GOD MADE "ABG," HE BROKE
THE MOLD. BAWA GARBA IS THE SATTELITE TELEVISION MOGUL
OF NIGERIA, AND HAS BRANCHED INTO TELEVISION ASSEMBLY,
SECURITY DEVICES AND OTHER MANUFACTURES. HE HAS A
PROMOTIONAL PATTER THAT COULD COME STRAIGHT FROM
HOLLYWOOD, EXCEPT FOR THE STRONG HAUSA ACCENT. HE IS
ACCESSIBLE TO AMERICANS BUT A SOMEWHAT MORE DIFFICULT
CONVERSATION PARTNER THAN MOST NORTHERNERS, SINCE HE
FREQUENTLY TALKS OVER HIS PARTNER.


23. ALHAJI KASSIM MUSA BICHI, NOW IN HIS OWN BUSINESS
IN KANO BUT FORMERLY THE MANAGING DIRECTOR OF NEW
NIGERIA INVESTMENTS LIMITED, THE FINANCE BRANCH OF
NNDP, THE NORTHERN STATES' HOLDING COMPANY. BICHI HAS
AN M.A. IN DEVELOPMENT ECONOMICS FROM WILLIAMS COLLEGE
AND IS FRIENDLY AND ENGAGING, ALTHOUGH SOMEWHAT QUICK
TO ADOPT PREJUDICES (E.G. AGAINST LEBANESE AND INDIANS
IN THE NIGERIAN ECONOMY) FLOATING ABOUT IN THE AIR. HE
IS A DEVOUT MUSLIM, STRICTLY ADHERING TO THE DIETARY
PRACTICES AND PRAYER SCHEDULES LAID DOWN, AND OBSERVING
EXTRA FASTING AND NON-PHYSICAL CONTACT BETWEEN MEN AND
WOMEN.

POLITICS
--------------


24. GEORGE HOOMKWAP, SENATOR (NPP) IN THE SECOND
REPUBLIC AND SDP ACTIVIST IN THE THIRD, HE WAS MOST
RECENTLY A NATIONAL ASSEMBLY LIAISON OFFICER FOR THE
SHONEKAN ING. HOOMKWAP COMES FROM PLATEAU STATE (GOMEI
GROUP NEAR SHENDAM) AND IS A CATHOLIC. HE IS ALSO
CHAIRMAN OF THE JIB BREWERY GROUP IN JOS AND HAS HIS
OWN MULTI-PURPOSE FIRM. HOOMKWAP FULLY INTENDS TO BE
IN THE POLITICAL WHIRLWIND WHENEVER IT STARTS BLOWING
AGAIN, AND, ALONG WITH HIS SENIOR SOLOMON LAR, HE WILL
BE AN IMPORTANT FIGURE IN PLATEAU POLITICS.


25. SENATOR UBA AHMED, SENATOR (NPN, THEN NRC) IN THE
SECOND AND THIRD REPUBLICS, MOST RECENTLY THE SENATE
MINORITY WHIP IN THE DISMISSED NATIONAL ASSEMBLY.
ALTHOUGH HE HAILS FROM BAUCHI STATE, HE IS ATTACHED BY
HIS BUSINESS INTERESTS TO JOS AND LAGOS. HE HOPES SOON
TO RESUSCITATE AN AFRICAN DEVELOPMENT BANK LOAN TO
START A FISHING BUSINESS, USING BOATS PROCURED IN
ALABAMA. HE IS A MOST ENGAGING FRIEND, WITH A GREAT
SENSE OF HUMOR. HE LIKES AMERICANS AND IS EASY TO TALK
WITH, IF YOU CAN EVER TRACK HIM DOWN.


26. ALHAJI LEMA JIBRILU, CHAIRMAN OF A NUMBER OF
KADUNA COMPANIES THATSBEAR VARIOUS TRANSMUTATIONS OF
HIS INITIALS, MOSTLY BASED ON AGRIBUSINESS. JIBRILU
WAS ONE OF THE FIRST CANDIDATES (NRC) IN THE FAILED
PRESIDENTIAL ELECTIONS OF 1991-93 AND ONE OF THE GROUP
OF 23 DISQUALIFIED IN THE 1992 PRIMARIES. IN THOSE
PRIMARIES, JIBRILU ACTUALLY PULLED OUT AHEAD OF THE
REST, ACCUSING HIS FELLOW CANDIDATES OF CORRUPT
PRACTICES AND SAYING HE WOULD NOT CONTEST FURTHER. ALL
THE SAME, HE WAS DISQUALIFIED ALONG WITH THE REST. HE
HAS BEEN WELL-KNOWN TO SUCCESSIVE GENERATIONS OF KADUNA
U.S. DIPLOMATS AND IS A PERSON OF STRONG CHARACTER AND
GREAT CHARM. HE IS A DEVOUT MUSLIM AND HAS A CLOSE
FAMILY -- HIS TWO SONS AND DAUGHTER FROM HIS FIRST
MARRIAGE (TO AN ENGLISHWOMAN) HELP RUN PARTS OF THE
BUSINESS, AS WILL, PRESUMABLY, THE TWO YOUNG SONS OF
HIS SECOND MARRIAGE (TO A BRAZILIAN).

THE ELDERS
--------------


27. NO BIOGRAPHIC WRAP-UP CABLE WOULD BE COMPLETE
WITHOUT A LOOK AT THE ELDERS. THE ELDEST OF THEM ALL,
ALHAJI ISA KAITA, HAS BEEN A FRIEND OF EVERY AMERICAN
CONSUL GENERAL SINCE THE BEGINNING OF TIME. IN OUR
VIEW HE HAS BEEW A LITTLE READY TO ACCEPT WHATEVER THE
AUTHORITY OF THE DAY WISHES OR DECREES, NOT STANDING ON
ANY EASILY VISIBLE PRINCIPLE OTHER THAN AN ACCEPTANCE
OF WHAT GOD SENDS. NEVERTHELESS, ISA KAITA IS AN
INSTITUTION. THIS MAKES HIS CURRENT STATE VERY SAD,
SINCE HE SUFFERED A STROKE LAST FALL WHILE ON THE
LESSER PILGRIMAGE IN SAUDI ARABIA. SINCE THAT TIME HE
HAS BEEN BEDRIDDEN AND UNABLE TO MOVE HIS RIGHT ARM AND
LEG. ON OUR LAST CALL ON HIM, HE APPEARED DEPRESSED BY
HIS CONDITION AND SOMEWHAT MORE FRAIL.


28. THE THREE FRIENDS: YAHAYA GUSAU, AHMED TALIB, AND
LIMAN CIROMA. THESE THREE, LISTED IN ORDER OF
SENIORITY, ARE GENERALLY CONSIDERED TOGETHER SINCE ALL
SERVED IN THE CIVIL SERVICE OF THE NORTHERN REGION
UNDER THE SARDAUNA. APL THREE ARE MEN OF UPSTANDING
CHARACTER AND LONG EXPERIENCE, EXCEPTIOLT CORDIAL
AND UNFAILI GLY COURTEOAS. YAHAYA GUSAU, AS HIS NAME
IMPLIES, COMES FROM GUSAU IN SOKOTO; AHMED TALIB FROM
BORNO, AD LIMAN CIROMA FROM POTISKUM, YOBE STATE.
GUSAU IS CURRENTLY THE CHANCELLOR OF BAYERO UNIVERSITY
KANO, WHILE TALIB AND CIROMA SERVE AS CHAIRMEN OF THE
BOARDS OF VARIOUS INTERNATIONAL COMPANIES. CIROMA, THE
YOUNGEST, HAS BEEN A FREQUENTLY INTERLOCUTOR AND OFTEN
CALLS UP WHEN SOME EVENT (EITHER OUTRAGEOUS OR
WONDERFUL BY HIS LIGHT) HAS BEEN BROADCAST ON CNN.


WEINLAND