US embassy cable - 04ABUJA1259

C O N F I D E N T I A L ABUJA 001259 
 
SIPDIS 
 
E.O. 12958: DECL: 07/14/2014 
TAGS: PREL, PGOV, PTER, PHUM, NI, DOMESTICPOLITICS 
SUBJECT: OJUKWU: ANGLING FOR A BIGGER ROLE? 
 
REF: ABUJA 850 
 
Classified By: AMBASSADOR JOHN CAMPBELL.  REASONS 1.5 (B & D). 
 
1. (C) SUMMARY:  In a two-hour meeting with PolOff at his 
Enugu home, Chief Emeke Ojukwu, retired general and former 
Biafra leader, lamented the state of the nation and blamed 
Obasanjo for "breaking up the country."  He pointed to the 
deteriorating security situation and complained that both 
political and civil opposition are ineffective.  Ojukwu said 
that "the time for talk has passed and yet no one wants to 
take action."  On the issue of a constitutional conference, 
Ojukwu asked rhetorically why Nigerians had to wait for "an 
illegitimate government" to authorize it instead of 
establishing a forum on their own.  On his own future, Ojukwu 
commented that at the age of 70, he should be enjoying 
retirement but that, like Ulysses, he might have a chance to 
contribute again.  End Summary. 
 
2.  (C)  In a two-hour meeting with PolOff at his Enugu home, 
Chief Emeke Ojukwu, retired general and former Biafra leader, 
lamented the state of the nation and blamed President 
Olusegun Obasanjo for "breaking up the country."  Ojukwu said 
that Obasanjo, a Yoruba, had chosen divisive tribal politics 
over inclusion and that many of Obasanjo's closest advisors 
were setting the stage for a "Yoruba secession in 2007."  In 
Ojukwu's opinion, the continued deterioration of the 
country's infrastructure and marginalization of its citizens 
was a conscious effort to destroy the remaining unity of the 
nation. 
 
3.  (C)  Pointing to the deteriorating security situation, 
Ojukwu complained that both political and civil opposition 
are ineffective.  "The PDP is not a party, the ANPP has been 
isolated in the north and the AD has been eviscerated," he 
said.  Continuing, Ojukwu belittled civil society and the 
labor movement.  "Most NGOs represent nobody and (Nigerian 
Labour Congress head Adams) Oshiomhole sold out to Obasanjo 
months ago," Ojukwu claimed.  He said that "the time for talk 
has passed, yet no one wants to take action."  He claimed 
that he had recently ejected a group of politicians from his 
house after over an hour of "crying and recriminations." 
"They know what to do but are too cowardly to do it," he 
spat.  He pointed out that civil disobedience and minor 
sabotage could be very effective without an organization. 
"What if children pelted official vehicles with their 
slingshots?" he asked rhetorically. 
 
4.  (C)  When asked about the way forward, Ojukwu endorsed 
the concept of a constitutional conference to include the 
many disaffected groups in Nigeria.  Ojukwu suggested that it 
was unnecessary for Nigerians to wait for "a president and 
national assembly that were not elected" to authorize a 
conference instead of establishing a forum on their own.  He 
suggested that he and other politicians might begin meeting 
with the idea of establishing a national committee for this 
purpose.  "It would be akin to a shadow government, with 
delegates responsible for Health, Education, and other areas" 
in a structure similar to the federal ministries.  He said 
that membership would be "open to all," but the initial 
phases would rely on a handful of like-minded people. "This 
is a Nigerian issue, and Nigerians can convene a conference 
without the illegitimate government," he concluded. 
 
5.  (C)  On his own future, Ojukwu lamented that all of his 
actions were seen through the "Biafra" filter.  He said that 
he remained committed to ensuring that the Nigerian state 
survived, but that he was limited by his past in what he 
could accomplish.  He commented that at the age of 70, he 
should be enjoying retirement but that, "like Ulysses," he 
might have a chance to contribute again. 
 
6.  (C)  COMMENT:  Ojukwu remains engaged in Nigerian 
politics and appears to relish his return to the spotlight. 
Not showing his age, he appears lively and takes a strong 
interest in regional and national politics.  His alliance 
with Buhari, founded out of mutual respect, has had its ups 
and downs, but has remained intact for more than a year while 
the various elections tribunal cases continue through the 
court process.  He appears ready to stay on the center stage 
for the time, at the very least. 
CAMPBELL