VZCZCXYZ0024
PP RUEHWEB

DE RUEHUJA #2228 2921456
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
P 191456Z OCT 07
FM AMEMBASSY ABUJA
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 1233
INFO RUEHOS/AMCONSUL LAGOS 8104
RHEBAAA/DEPT OF ENERGY WASHDC
RHEHNSC/NSC WASHINGTON DC
RUEAIIA/CIA WASHINGTON DC
RUEKDIA/DIA WASHDC
RHMFISS/HQ USEUCOM VAIHINGEN GE
RUFOADA/JAC MOLESWORTH RAF MOLESWORTH UK

UNCLAS ABUJA 002228 
 
SIPDIS 
 
SIPDIS 
SENSITIVE 
 
STATE FOR AF/W, INR/AA 
DOE FOR CAROLYN GAY 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: PGOV PINR PHUM KDEM NI
SUBJECT: NIGERIA: KADUNA GOVERNOR DEFENDS ELECTIONS, 
DISCUSSES TERM AGENDA 
 
REF: A. ABUJA 969 
     ¶B. ABUJA 746 
     ¶C. ABUJA 731 
 
¶1. (SBU) Kaduna State Governor Muhammad Namadi Sambo (of the 
People's Democratic Party (PDP)) discussed with PolCouns on 
September 28 the April polls and provided insight into his 
agenda for his first term in office.  While conceding that 
some local government areas in Kaduna state experienced 
electoral irregularities, Governor Sambo claimed that on the 
whole, and unlike in the South, elections in Kaduna 
represented the most "transparent, free, and fair" polls in 
Nigeria.  Sambo also contended that there was significant 
internal democracy within the PDP.  He praised former 
governor of Kaduna, Ahmed Makarfi (PDP) for improving the 
state's road network and connecting 70 percent of Kaduna 
residents to the national power grid.  While poverty remains 
rife in Kaduna and across the North, Sambo maintained, 
democracy is improving governance and citizens' access to 
healthcare and education. 
 
¶2. (U) Sambo pledged to improve security in Kaduna, 
recognizing it as a prerequisite for socioeconomic 
development in the state.  Sambo lamented that only 200,000 
children attend primary school in Kaduna.  Since lack of 
teachers is connected to the low attendance of children in 
schools, Sambo remarked, he said he has increased teachers, 
salaries by 5 percent, proposed legislation making primary 
school mandatory in the state, provided free books and school 
uniforms for students, and built housing for teachers.  Sambo 
also claimed that he has increased the share of state budget 
for education to 27 percent (330 million naira per annum). 
Characterizing Quranic schools as a "nuisance," Sambo 
declared that he has made Islamic education part of the 
curriculum of secular primary schools in Kaduna to encourage 
attendance by Muslims.  In addition, Sambo criticized Muslims 
in the North for "not caring about education" unlike their 
Christian counterparts in the South. 
 
¶3. (U) With respect to Kaduna's limited electrical power 
supply, which has forced many businesses (including, a large 
textile mill recently) to shut down, Sambo announced plans to 
increase the state's supply from 50 to 250 megawatts over the 
next four years, through private sector investment and 
development.  He argued that investment in hydroelectric 
power rather than gas pipelines was a more appropriate choice 
for generating electricity given the vandalism of oil 
pipelines in Nigeria.  He claimed to have identified several 
locations for the construction of hydroelectric dams, which 
will be linked to irrigation schemes so as also to restore 
agricultural production in Kaduna state.  Increasing access 
to health care is also a priority for Sambo, who plans to 
construct 110 primary health care centers and provide free 
medical care for pregnant women.  In addition, Sambo promised 
to provide housing and car loans to doctors to enable them to 
serve in rural areas, where healthcare is limited. 
 
¶4. (SBU) COMMENT: While Kaduna, an historic center of 
northern politics, where many prominent businessman, 
politicians, and military personnel reside, once boasted a 
strong All Nigeria People's Party (ANPP) presence, eight 
years of PDP rule under former governor Ahmed Makarfi (one of 
the few northern governors to support Obasanjo's third term 
bid), helped transform Kaduna into a PDP stronghold.  At the 
same time, the inability of the ANPP to designate a consensus 
candidate in the lead-up to April worked against them.  While 
Post's election observers in Kaduna witnessed polls open on 
April 14, and the turnout was reportedly better than in most 
states in southern Nigeria, the claim that elections were 
"transparent, free, and fair" in Kaduna is contrary to our 
observation (see refs B and C).  END COMMENT. 
PIASCIK