US embassy cable - 04ABUJA1141

C O N F I D E N T I A L ABUJA 001141 
 
SIPDIS 
 
SECSTATE FOR AF/W 
 
E.O. 12958: DECL: 06/26/2014 
TAGS: PGOV, PREL, NI, US 
SUBJECT: NIGERIA: U.S. AMBASSADOR MEET WITH PRESIDENT 
OBASANJO 
 
REF: A) ABUJA 1126 B) ABUJA 1132 C) JUNE 23 
 
     ARIETTI/CAMPBELL TELCON 
 
1.  (U) Classified by Ambassador John Campbell.  Reason(s): 1.5 (b), (d 
 
2.  (C) Summary: In a conversation following my June 25 presentation of 
five years, Nigeria in on "the right track."  He said that debt forgive 
expressed satisfaction with the current U.S. stance.  He referred at le 
their drain on scarce resources, asked for more U.S. training of Nigeri 
with the governor of Kano to urge the immediate resumption of polio vac 
delta, and that he was encouraged by the progress of Christian/Muslim r 
president was warm and welcoming.  End summary. 
 
3.  (C) Following the credentials presentation ceremony, which includes 
Mercedes with an outrider, national anthems, review of an honor guard, 
director and RAO to the president, Obasanjo took me into a reception ro 
lasted twenty minutes.  Also present was the foreign minister and the s 
pleasantries, the president spoke for perhaps five minutes.  His messag 
Nigeria is on the right track with building democracy, fighting corrupt 
expressing our confidence in his economic team and hopes for concrete r 
the conversations he has had with U.S. officials about debt.  He said h 
continued, Nigeria badly needs the "lifeline" of debt forgiveness. 
 
4.  (C) I turned to Nigeria's major regional role, including Liberia, S 
Charles Taylor.  He interrupted to add Darfur, the Democratic Republic 
as he finished credentials presentations (the Dutch and Russian ambassa 
Gambian chief of state.  In the next day or two he would be receiving P 
Kagame of Yaounde.   Echoing June 21 comments by National security Advi 
the heavy burden Nigeria's regional responsibilities impose.  He  said 
of the visiting African  heads of state and pay the costs in Nigeria of 
continued, visiting chiefs of state ask him to fly them to another, sub 
Nigeria's efforts were not always sufficiently appreciated by the inter 
doing:  it was an opportunity to foster peace and stability.  In this c 
Nigerian peacekeepers and asked for more. 
 
5.  (C) I turned to the polio epidemic in the north (ref b).  He said t 
Kano state to tell him that he had to move forward on the vaccination c 
premature, but that the vaccination campaign would start "soon".  In hi 
the foreign minister noted the devastating consequences of delay on the 
PEPFAR, and the president referred to the importance and value of Amb. 
interested in the links between malaria and tuberculosis and HIV/AIDS a 
have a favorable impact on those diseases. 
 
6.  (C) I asked about levels of violence in the Delta and in Plateau st 
Delta, and that he is trying to persuade the oil companies to resume fu 
activities as strengthening the local economies, which is crucial to co 
positively to Gen. Alli's effort to reconcile the Christian and Muslim 
Christian victims of a car accident being taken to the same hospital an 
urged displaced persons to return to their homes in Plateau state.  Som 
the suspended governor.  He told them to go home anyway. 
 
7.  (C) Comment:  throughout the conversation, the president was warm, 
levels appear to be a preoccupation:  while satisfied with our stance o 
once he is able (by his lights) to demonstrate economic progress.  Neit 
to my reference to Charles Taylor.  But second only to debt was his the 
drain they impose, and the lack of international recognition for what h 
Mohammed (ref a), he is clearly concerned about Darfur.  I came away fr 
president is thinking about his legacy, which, when he is with the Amer 
governance in Nigeria and the facilitation of peace in the region.  End 
 
CAMPBELL