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C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 ABUJA 000941 
 
CONFIDENTIAL 
SIPDIS 
 
DEPT FOR AF/W, INR 
 
E.O. 12958: DECL: 05/26/2019 
TAGS: PREL PGOV PINR KDEM NI
SUBJECT: NIGERIA: AMBASSADOR IN JIGAWA STATE, GOVERNOR EXPECTS LITTLE 
CHANGE FOR 2011 ELECTIONS 
 
ABUJA 00000941  001.2 OF 002 
 
 
Classified By: Ambassador Robin Renee Sanders for reasons 1.4(b) and 
(d) 
 
¶1. (C) Summary.  On May 14, 2009, the Ambassador traveled to Jigawa 
State, one of the poorest in Nigeria, to hand over HIV/AIDS equipment 
to the Dutse General Hospital on behalf of the USG through the 
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the President's 
Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR).  While in Jigawa, the 
Ambassador met Governor Alhaji Sule Lamido, a seasoned politician, 
PDP stalwart and former minister of foreign affairs (2000-2003) who 
shared his opinion on the 2011 elections and PDP politics.  The 
governor also highlighted his state's perpetual struggle with poverty 
and requested USG assistance in malaria prevention, waste management, 
reforestation, school renovation, and improved medical care.  The 
Ambassador also paid a courtesy visit to the Emir of Dutse, Nuhu 
Muhammad Sanusi, a modern, western educated (attended Ambassador's 
alma mater) and pro-U.S. traditional ruler in a conservative northern 
state.  End Summary. 
 
¶2. (C) On May 14, in a private meeting with the Ambassador (StaffAide 
notetaker) at Government House in Dutse, Jigawa State, Governor 
Alhaji Sule Lamido, a seasoned politician, spoke freely about the 
2011 elections and PDP politics.  He said the problem in Nigeria is 
that politicians are acting out of personal anger and are not keeping 
the best interests of the country at heart.  Lamido said the 
North-South divide is increasingly problematic since, "Southern 
leaders are only concerned about their own domestic politics."  He 
said that there will be a lot of noise in 2011 and that big 
personalities like Buhari, who was "weak, lacking integrity, and 
without a constituency", and Atiku (Abubakar), who he called "empty 
and without substance" would continue their roles as "irritators". 
He opined that the people fussing about election reform were those 
who personally lost something in the last election.  He referred to 
government as "Nigeria's biggest industry", saying the opportunity to 
make money clouds the meaning of true public service.  He doubted any 
change until Nigerian leaders decide to do the right thing, and 
seemed very proud to be a part of the ruling PDP party since it has 
the size and power to dominate the political landscape despite the 
infighting and internal positioning of late.  He did admit that the 
party, however, was in need of reform and more democratization. 
However, he said opposition parties simply lack capacity and are too 
weak, adding, "If you challenge me I will destroy your party."  He 
also defended what he perceives as a bias against the PDP stressing 
that when the Action Congress (AC) won in Lagos and the All Nigerian 
Peoples Party (ANPP) won in Kano "everyone said 'good job', but when 
the PDP won in Ekiti just look at what happened- no one congratulated 
us." 
 
¶3. (C) Comment.  Lamido is a long-time politician in Nigeria starting 
with a stint in the House of Representatives in the early 1970s and 
serving most recently in the Obasanjo Administration as Foreign 
Minister from 2000-2003.  Claiming his return to Jigawa was to serve 
his people, Lamido is clearly a pragmatic, clever politician and PDP 
loyalist whose real intentions are certainly suspect. End comment. 
 
¶4. (C) In addition to their political discussion, Governor Lamido 
asked the Ambassador for assistance in other priority areas such as 
malaria prevention, waste management, reforestation and 
school/hospital renovation.  The Ambassador promised to check with 
other elements of the Mission on areas of potential support.  She 
brought representatives from the Office of Security Cooperation (OSC) 
with her to Jigawa and was able to connect them with appropriate 
interlocutors from the state government to discuss possible projects 
such as renovating schools, building medical waste incinerators, and 
constructing a new medical ward to provide additional bed capacity in 
the always overcrowded General Hospital where CDC and PEPFAR also 
have programs.  She also agreed to send the Governor a list of NGOs 
in Nigeria working on waste management and reforestation. 
 
¶5. (U) After meeting the governor, the Ambassador attended a handover 
ceremony of HIV/AIDS equipment to the Dutse General Hospital on 
behalf of the USG through CDC and PEPFAR.  Health care is a serious 
concern in Jigawa State.  According to Governor Lamido, Jigawa has 
the highest infant mortality rate in Nigeria due in part to its 
dearth of doctors (20 doctors for 4.4 million residents).  The 
governor requested the Ambassador's assistance in providing medical 
training for doctors.  The Ambassador explained that while we do not 
have specific training programs for doctors within the Mission, she 
would provide the governor with a list of NGOs that may be able to 
provide such training. 
 
 
ABUJA 00000941  002.2 OF 002 
 
 
¶6. (U) While in Jigawa, the Ambassador also paid a courtesy visit to 
the Emir of Dutse, an MBA grad of Ohio University and a modern, 
pro-U.S. traditional ruler in a conservative northern state. 
 
SANDERS