VZCZCXRO5372
RR RUEHMA RUEHPA
DE RUEHOS #0439/01 3120820
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
R 070820Z NOV 08
FM AMCONSUL LAGOS
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 0278
INFO RUEHZK/ECOWAS COLLECTIVE
RUEHUJA/AMEMBASSY ABUJA 9925

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 LAGOS 000439 
 
SENSITIVE BUT UNCLASSIFIED - HANDLE ACCORDINGLY 
SIPDIS 
 
DOC FOR 3317/ITA/OA/KBURRESS 
DOC FOR 3130/USFC/OIO/ANESA/DHARRIS 
STATE PASS USTR FOR USTR AGAMA 
STATE PASS USAID FOR GWEYNAND AND SLAWAETZ 
STATE PASS OPIC FOR ZHAN AND MSTUCKART 
STATE PASS TDA FOR LFITT, PMARIN 
STATE PASS EXIM FOR JRICHTER 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: PGOV ECON ELTN SENV NI
SUBJECT: NIGERIA: EDO COMMISSIONER FOR LOCAL GOVERNMENT 
AFFAIRS OUTLINES GOVERNOR OSUNBOR'S PRIORITIES 
 
¶1.    (SBU) Summary: The Peoples' Democratic Party (PDP) 
Commissioner for Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs of 
Edo State, Austine Momodu, told PolOffs October 24 that the 
priorities of Governor Oserheimen Osunbor (PDP) included 
building roads, rehabilitating hospitals and building police 
barracks.  Momodu stressed that people fleeing violence in 
the Niger Delta have moved to Edo State where there is no 
militancy; consequently crime in the State is increasing. 
Momodu denied attacks by the military Joint Task Force (JTF) 
against communities in the State. The Osunbor government is 
under intense pressure to produce tangible gains for the 
electorate as it awaits the outcome of its appeal of the 
election tribunal's declaration that the Action Congress 
candidate, Adams Oshiomhole, won the 2007 gubernatorial 
election. End Summary. 
 
¶2. (SBU) The Commissioner for Local Government and 
Chieftaincy Affairs of Edo State, Austine Momodu, told 
PolOffs on October 24 that Governor Oserheimen Osunbor has 
made the construction of passable roads his top priority 
since taking office. Momodu stressed the deplorable condition 
in which the present government found the roads, noting that 
a particular problem had been clogged drainage systems which 
caused the roads to flood extensively during the long rainy 
season. (Note: the previous administration of Governor Lucky 
Igbinedion also belonged to the PDP. End Note) The Osunbor 
government selected key road projects in each of the three 
senatorial districts in the state. 
 
¶3. (SBU) The second priority of the government is hospital 
rehabilitation. The unreliability of electric power is a 
major problem, which is why the Edo State government is 
working to ensure that all hospitals have their own 
generators. Momodu noted that many doctors drawing salaries 
at state hospitals were in fact working in private practice 
and had to be induced to return to their jobs. He also 
mentioned the need to equip hospitals properly, although he 
gave us no specifics as to what, if anything, the Governor 
was doing in this regard. 
 
¶4. (SBU) The construction or rehabilitation of police 
barracks is a third priority in the state. Every single LGA 
was tasked with ensuring, either by building new facilities 
or renovating existing facilities, that police housing in 
their jurisdiction is adequate. (Note: Absence of adquate 
police housing is a nationwide problem having significant 
impact on police morale. End note) 
 
¶5. (SBU) Turning to education, Momodu admitted that many 
primary schools in the State lack even chairs. Primary 
schools are under the jurisdiction of the Local Government 
Areas, but these work closely with the state Ministry of 
Education, Momodu alleged. The state also carries out monthly 
inspections of the schools, he said, and offered to allow 
PolOffs on their next visit to go along on the inspections. 
 
¶6. (SBU) Asked about potable water in Edo State, Momodu noted 
that there had been many water projects in the State over the 
years, but most of these had broken down due to insufficient 
maintenance. However, the State has identified key projects 
which warrant re-habilitation. A Chinese firm has been 
contracted to carry out this work. 
 
¶7. (SBU) PolOffs asked about press reports that ethnic Ijaw 
communities in Edo State had been attacked by the JTF and 
"wiped out." Momodu sharply denied the truth of these 
reports, stressing that he, as Commissioner for Local 
Government Affairs, would certainly have heard about any such 
cases. 
 
¶8. (SBU) Comment: The Osunbor government is under great 
pressure to produce tangible results as it awaits the 
decision by the court on the governor's appeal of the 
declaration by the elections tribunal that Action Congress 
candidate Adams Osiomhole won the 2007 gubernatorial 
elections. Clinging to power as a result of the appeal, 
Osunbor has undoubtedly done some if not all of what his 
commissionor claims. 
 
¶9. (U) This cable was cleared by Abuja. 
 
 
 
LAGOS 00000439  002 OF 002 
 
 
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