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C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 03 ABUJA 000201 
 
SIPDIS 
STATE FOR AF/FO, AF/W, AF/RSA, AF/PDPA, DRL, INR/AA 
AMEMBASSY YAOUNDE PASS TO AMEMBASSY MALABO 
 
E.O. 12958: DECL: 2020/01/26 
TAGS: PREL OVIP PGOV PINR ASEC SOCI KDEM PTER NI
SUBJECT: JONATHAN TELLS FORMER PRESIDENT HIS PLANS FOR NEW INEC 
COMMISSIONERS 
 
REF: ABUJA 0189 AND PREVIOUS 
 
CLASSIFIED BY: James P. McAnulty, Political Counselor, U.S. Embassy 
Abuja, Political Section; REASON: 1.4(B), (D) 
 
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SUMMARY 
 
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¶1. (C) Former President George W. Bush and former Secretary of 
State Condoleezza Rice included the Ambassador in their 30-minute 
courtesy call on Acting President Goodluck Jonathan at his official 
residence February 21.  PolOff (notetaker) and an aide to Dr. Rice 
accompanied the delegation.  Various topics arose during the 
Bush-Rice courtesy call, including discussion of the need for 
credible 2011 elections and Nigeria's concern over the 
Transportation Security Administration (TSA) watch list.  Both Bush 
and Rice noted that they were no longer in office and not in a 
position to influence U.S. policy.  The former President thanked 
Nigeria for contributions to regional and global peace-keeping 
efforts, particularly in Liberia during his tenure.  Acting 
President Jonathan responded that Bush had done "more for Africa 
than most other leaders" by expanding African exports under the 
African Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA) and establishing the 
President's Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR).  Ambassador 
used the opportunity to leave with Jonathan a non-paper with key 
points on the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), as 
suggested by Assistant Secretary Carson, which included securing a 
highly regarded replacement for the INEC chairperson by June 2010. 
A follow-up meeting with Jonathan is scheduled for February 24. END 
SUMMARY. 
 
 
 
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ELECTIONS, NIGER, AND INEC 
 
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¶2. (C) Emphasizing that he was in Nigeria as a private citizen, 
former President Bush said that, given Nigeria's regional role, it 
was important for it to have "fair, transparent, and open" general 
elections in 2011, noting that such action would "send a great 
signal to the world" and allow Nigeria to "serve as a great 
example" to the rest of Africa.  Jonathan pledged his support for 
credible elections and the rule of law, and lamented the recent 
coup in neighboring Niger, declaring that "unconstitutional 
governments are no longer welcome in this region."  Jonathan 
briefly discussed the recent visit by the Economic Community of 
West African States (ECOWAS) delegation, led by former Nigerian 
Head of State Abdulsalam Abubakar and including ECOWAS President 
Dr. Mohamed Ibn Chambas and Senegalese Foreign Minister Madicke 
Niang.  He related that ruling junta members told the ECOWAS 
visitors of their willingness to hold early elections and noted 
that Nigeria would press for polls within three months.  He 
expressed hope that the U.S. would offer assistance for elections 
in Niger. 
 
 
 
¶3. (C) Jonathan expressed his resolve to select new Commissioners 
to serve on the INEC "based on people that Nigerians can believe 
in" from candidates not based on political affiliation.  He 
acknowledged that INEC had experienced logistical problems in the 
February 6 gubernatorial election in Anambra State, which he 
pledged to rectify. 
 
 
 
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UMAR FAROUK ABDULMUTALLAB 
 
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ABUJA 00000201  002 OF 003 
 
 
¶4. (C) Acting President Jonathan expressed his sincerest regret for 
the events of December 25 involving the attempted terrorist attack 
by Abdulmutallab aboard a U.S. airliner.  While acknowledging that 
Nigeria had "pockets of religious extremism," he opined that the 
violence usually resulted from rivalries between sects, insisting 
that foreigners have not become targets.  He observed that the U.S. 
Embassy in Abuja had never seen a protest outside its gates. 
Furthermore, Jonathan expressed his concern for the well-being of 
innocent bystanders when violence erupted. 
 
 
 
¶5. (C) Jonathan joked that "Nigerians don't want to die" and that 
suicide bombers like Abdulmutallab possessed "traits alien to the 
nation," which were usually inculcated from abroad.  He observed 
that most extremists since September 11, 2001, have not come from 
economically disadvantaged backgrounds and "had stayed in some of 
the best cities in the world, but received some bad influences 
while they were there."  Former President Bush observed that it was 
never the leaders who were suicide bombers, but "some poor kid" 
whom the leaders had brainwashed into committing the attack.  The 
Ambassador took the opportunity to inform Jonathan of the signing 
by the U.S. and Nigeria of a bilateral memorandum of understanding 
(MOU) on Air Marshals February 19, which she described as greatly 
enhancing aviation security between the two countries.  The Acting 
President, who clearly was unaware of the signing, added that the 
Nigerian Government wanted to incorporate elements of the MOU into 
the pending counter-terrorism legislation, whose passage he looked 
forward to "soon."  Jonathan went on about the domestic focus of 
terrorist groups and continued to emphasize that there were no 
outside links to extremist groups in Nigeria. 
 
 
 
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TSA WATCH LIST 
 
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¶6. (C) Acting President Jonathan decried the effect Nigeria's 
inclusion on the TSA watch list would have on foreign investment, 
economic development, and job creation.  "No investor will want to 
be associated with a country without free movement," he lamented. 
Jonathan said, although he recognized Bush as a former President, 
he remarked that he still retained influence as a former leader. 
The former President declared that "I don't have anything to do 
with Government any longer" and, turning to the Ambassador, quipped 
that "It's her job now."  He added that "I'm sure that our 
diplomats will work through these issues."  He explained that the 
best aspect of retirement was that he was not responsible for these 
difficult and sensitive issues anymore. 
 
 
 
¶7. (C) Lastly, the former President expressed his best wishes for a 
speedy recovery to ailing President Yar'Adua, whom he described as 
"a gentle soul" with whom he had enjoyed a "very good visit" as 
President.  He concluded that "our prayers are with him and his 
family." 
 
 
 
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COMMENT 
 
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¶8. (C) The former President and former Secretary strongly 
emphasized their positions as private citizens.  They declined to 
offer any criticisms of current U.S. policies even when potential 
opportunities arose to do so.  This brief courtesy call by the 
former President and former Secretary, arranged at the request of 
Nigeria's Acting President, usefully advanced U.S. themes on 
 
ABUJA 00000201  003 OF 003 
 
 
democracy, good governance, regional security, and 
counter-terrorism.  Ambassador is scheduled to meet with the Acting 
President February 24 at 9 p.m. to review with him the non-paper 
she left with him February 21 on the U.S. position on INEC and the 
need to ensure that the current Chairperson does not remain at the 
helm after June 2010.  END COMMENT. 
SANDERS