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RUEHOS/AMCONSUL LAGOS PRIORITY 2492
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C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 ABUJA 002258 
 
SIPDIS 
 
STATE FOR AF/FO, AF/W, AF/RSA, DRL, INR/AA; 
 
E.O. 12958: DECL: 12/11/2019 
TAGS: PGOV PREL MCAP PINR PTER NI GV
SUBJECT: NIGERIA'S ARMY CHIEF OF STAFF:  MILITARY WILL 
RESPECT CONSTITUTION 
 
Classified By: Political Counselor James P. McAnulty 
for reasons in sections 1.4 (b) and (d). 
 
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SUMMARY 
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¶1. (C)  Nigeria's Chief of the Army Staff (COAS) Lieutenant 
General Abdulrahman Bello Dambazau told Ambassador December 
11 that "history has shown that the military has not served 
the country well in efforts to put it on the right democratic 
path."  Therefore, according to him, the military should stay 
above the political fray; the "last thing Nigeria needs is a 
(Guinean junta leader) Camara" situation.  Dambazau predicted 
the Nigerian Government (GON) would continue to function 
without President Yar'Adua, despite Yar'Adua's ill health. 
He received a briefing on Guinea from Chief of Defense Staff 
Air Chief Marshal Paul Dike that left him worried that a 
civil war in Guinea was possible.  Dambazau appreciated U.S. 
counter-terrorism (CT) training and agreed to a visit by the 
U.S. Army Africa Commander in January.  The Army also 
requested military vehicles and equipment for its new CT unit 
in Makurdi, Benue State.  END SUMMARY. 
 
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MILITARY TO STAY ABOVE THE POLITICAL FRAY 
----------------------------------------- 
 
¶2. (C) Ambassador asked Nigerian Chief of the Army Staff 
(COAS) Lieutenant General Dambazau during a one-on-one 
courtesy call on December 11 about the current political 
uncertainty in the country and whether he had any worries 
about the military stepping into power.  Dambazau replied 
that he was aware that the political environment was of 
concern to many of Nigeria's friends, but that Nigerians 
tended to be "noisy and shrill" with key "political spoilers" 
trying to fuel instability in the country.  He added that 
Nigeria is a young democracy, and history has shown that the 
military has not served the country well in efforts to put it 
on the right democratic path.  Therefore, it is key that the 
military stay above the political fray, he continued, noting 
that he was not worried at this time about any rumblings 
within the ranks about the political system.  Dambazau 
emphasized that over the last 10 years Nigeria's military has 
"professionalized more," so that its leaders now have an 
appreciation for civilian leadership of the nation. 
 
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LAST THING NIGERIA NEEDS IS A DADIS CAMARA 
------------------------------------------ 
 
¶3. (C) In response to a question as to how he was ensuring 
that none of the ranks was planning anything untoward, the 
COAS emphasized that he has a continual outreach program with 
his troops on the importance of civilian rule and upholding 
the Constitution.  Referring to Guinean junta leader Dadis 
Camara, he said the last thing Nigeria needs is "a budding 
Camara in our barracks."  Thus, Dambazau added, he and the 
military leadership talk to the troops all the time, 
especially given that many of them are not well educated and 
need to understand the importance of their role in a 
democracy.  Right now, "there are no problems in the 
barracks," he emphasized, noting that this was an issue that 
he and his generals closely watched. 
 
--------------------------------------------- - 
GON WILL CONTINUE TO FUNCTION WITHOUT YAR'ADUA 
--------------------------------------------- - 
 
¶4. (C) On the President's health, Dambazau emphasized that 
Q4. (C) On the President's health, Dambazau emphasized that 
certain politicians are taking advantage of  Yar'Adua's ill 
health.  Without naming names, he stressed that these 
"spoilers" were irresponsible and should recognize that the 
government can still function day-to-day without the 
President in the country.  They are just "using the 
situation" to build their political base, which he described 
as "unfortunate." 
 
--------------------------------------------- - 
DAMBAZAU FORESEES POSSIBLE CIVIL WAR IN GUINEA 
--------------------------------------------- - 
 
¶5. (C) On Guinea, Dambazau said he was worried that Guinea 
was going to deteriorate into a "real civil war situation," 
 
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based on the brief he received recently from current Nigerian 
Chief of Defense Staff (CDS) Air Chief Marshall Paul Dike. 
He said that Dike expressed serious concerns about the 
ability of Camara to listen to anyone about anything. 
According to Dike, "Camara believes he knows what is best for 
Guinea;" so, he said, Camara is unlikely to listen to anyone 
else or take suggestions about the transitional process or 
the future of the country. 
--------------------------------------------- - 
NIGERIA SEEKS INCREASED MIL-TO-MIL COOPERATION 
--------------------------------------------- - 
 
¶6. (C) Following a one-on-one private meeting, the Ambassador 
and Army Staff Chief Lieutenant General AB Dambazau convened 
a courtesy call by EmbOffs with Dambazau's senior staff. 
Dambazau thanked the U.S. for its "very long relationship" 
with the Nigerian military.  He noted that his first overseas 
training occurred at Fort McLevin in the U.S. in 1979 while 
he was still just a first lieutenant.  He joked that he had 
even attended Kent State University in Ohio at the same time 
the Ambassador attended Ohio University.  Describing 
terrorism as a borderless global threat, Dambazau expressed 
an interest in enhancing the Army's counter-terrorism 
capability.  He welcomed a stronger relationship with the 
U.S. military, agreed to a visit by the U.S. Army Africa 
Commander in January 2010, and praised the U.S. offer of 
assistance in building a military standby force capability 
within the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS). 
 
--------------------------------------------- 
MILITARY STANDS UP NEW COUNTER-TERRORISM UNIT 
--------------------------------------------- 
 
¶7. (C) Following Dambazau's remarks, Army Training and 
Operations Chief Major General Obi spoke about the specific 
types of training being given to the newly formed Nigerian CT 
unit through the U.S.-sponsored Joint Combined Exercise 
Training (JCET).  He stated that the training thus far has 
been basic, focusing on shooting and small level maneuvers. 
The Army believes that it is now time to move to more 
advanced and specialized training such as airborne hijacking, 
bomb search and disposal, high-level terrorism tactics, 
amphibious operations, and search and rescue.  He emphasized 
water skills training.  He noted that Army Headquarters had 
recently designated a garrison location for the new CT unit 
in Makurdi, Benue State.  He thanked the U.S. for providing 
the third JCET course in Jaji this December and looked 
forward to receiving promised vehicles and equipment for the 
CT unit.  Obi confirmed that Nigeria would participate in the 
Mali-based Flintlock joint military exercise in April and a 
bilateral exercise in conjunction with APS in March 2010. 
According to Obi, insufficient lift capacity and riverine 
vessels remained critical weaknesses within the Nigerian 
armed forces. 
 
¶8. (U) Others attending the meeting with the Ambassador, 
Lieutenant General Dambazau, and Major General Obi included 
the DATT, OSC Chief, PolMilOff, Nigerian Army Administrative 
Chief Major General Jibril, Army Logistics Chief Major 
General Usman, Army Standards and Evaluation Chief Major 
General Azurunwa, Army Finance and Accounts Corps Commander 
Major General Airhiavbere, Director of Military Intelligence 
Major General Umaru, and Defense Intelligence Agency Navy 
QMajor General Umaru, and Defense Intelligence Agency Navy 
Captain Jayeola. 
 
SANDERS