US embassy cable - 04ABUJA1320

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 ABUJA 001320 
 
SIPDIS 
 
SENSITIVE 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: PGOV, PREL, PHUM, ECON, NI 
SUBJECT: KADUNA GOVERNOR: ON POLIO, COMMUNAL VIOLENCE, AND 
COMMUNITY POLICING 
 
REF: A. ABUJA 1319 
 
     B. ABUJA 1289 AND PREVIOUS 
 
1.  (SBU) Summary. On July 15, the Ambassador traveled to the 
northern city of Kaduna where he met Governor Ahmed Makarfi 
and others (reftel A).  Kaduna has been a battleground 
between Muslims and Christians over the last few years. 
However, while other Northern trouble spots (notably Plateau 
and Kano) erupted recently, Kaduna remained peaceful, a feat 
attributed to the leadership of Governor Makarfi.  Three 
major themes dominated the discussion: (1) the ongoing 
controversy on polio (reftel B), (2) communal conflict, and 
(3) the newly introduced community policing in the State. 
Makarfi stated that his government had never stopped the 
polio vaccination campaign but Kaduna's proximity to 
neighboring Kano State led to erroneous reports that his 
state participated in the suspension.  Makarfi stated that 
agitation around the selection of new traditional leaders and 
the injustice in distributing Kaduna's resources contributed 
to communal conflicts.  Makarfi praised the USG for providing 
training and logistical support to Kaduna's community 
policing initiative, but expressed his fears that 
bureaucratic bottlenecks might impede its successful 
implementation.  End Summary. 
 
2.  (U) On July 15, the Ambassador traveled to the northern 
city of Kaduna, where he met a range of people, including 
Governor Ahmed Makarfi.  While Kaduna has been a battleground 
between Muslims and Christians over the last few years, the 
spate of recent eruptions of violence left Kaduna unscathed, 
a feat attributed to the leadership of Governor Makarfi. 
 
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Polio 
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3.  (SBU) Makarfi stated that his government had never 
stopped the polio vaccination campaign but Kaduna's proximity 
to neighboring Kano State led to erroneous reports that his 
state participated in the suspension. 
 
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Communal Conflict 
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4.  (SBU) Makarfi told the Ambassador when crises occurred, 
it normally takes some years before life can return to 
normal, and that Kaduna was no exception.  He said that 
despite some dislocations resulting from past ethno-religious 
crises, Kaduna was gradually picking up, and more people were 
coming back to the city.  According to Makarfi, most crises 
witnessed in the city had their roots outside the state. 
 
5.  (SBU) Continuing, Makarfi explained that communal crises 
could also be fueled by local problems such as agitation for 
more autonomy in appointing traditional leaders and the 
unequal distribution of resources and services from the 
government.  According to him, past military regimes 
distributed resources inequitably in some areas of the state. 
 Because of this, Makarfi said, he had granted more chiefdoms 
to the southern parts of Kaduna.  The South, mostly 
Christians and non-Hausas, had for years been agitating to 
get its own traditional institutions separate from the Muslim 
Zazzau Emirate headquartered in Zaria, in the northern part 
of the state. 
 
6.  (SBU) Makarfi assured the Ambassador that he was fair in 
distributing and executing projects, sharing of political 
positions and disbursing resources to all the religious and 
ethnic groups in the State.  The groups in the state "know my 
position on issues," he said, claiming that he refused to be 
"hijacked" by any of these groups.  "They now understand what 
I can do and what I cannot do for them," Makarfi stated. 
"That explains why both Muslims and Christians criticize me. 
As a leader, it is my duty to remain fair," he concluded. 
 
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Community Policing 
------------------ 
 
7.  (SBU) Makarfi commended the USG for supporting the 
successful launch of a community policing initiative destined 
to expand throughout Nigeria.  He said that the initiative 
was valuable and relevant to society, arguing that the policy 
could easily improve the current negative image of the 
Nigerian police.  Makarfi enthusiastically recalled how 
residents of a local community in the state recently sent a 
delegation to the State Government expressing their happiness 
with the work of the US-trained community policing personnel. 
 According to him, the villagers were so impressed with the 
techniques employed by the officers in settling disputes and 
stopping crimes that they thought such officers were not part 
of the regular Nigerian police force.  "The villagers thought 
these officers were from another country, or perhaps they 
came from the moon," Makarfi joked. 
 
8.  (SBU) However, Makarfi expressed concern that 
bureaucratic bottlenecks and unnecessary adherence to the 
chain of command within the Nigerian police could impede the 
progressive implementation of community policing.  He said 
the current structure of the police concentrates too many 
powers at the national headquarters with state Police 
commissioners relying more on the Inspector General of Police 
(IG) in Abuja than the governor of the state.  According to 
Makarfi, the IG micromanages commissioners down to the 
smallest details.  Makarfi mentioned that the Kaduna State 
Police Commissioner recently confided in him that though 
these officers involved in the community policing work under 
his command, he had to rely on Abuja for their welfare, 
posting, and logistical support.  Makarfi cited as example 
the recent USG donation of bicycles, saying that the Kaduna 
police commissioner was forced to await instructions from 
Abuja on how to use them. 
 
9.  (SBU) Makarfi pointed out other problems the community 
police would face, including irregular payment of salaries, 
along with envy that might arise from colleagues outside the 
initiative.  He posited that corruption could not be 
eliminated in the Nigerian police if wages were not paid 
promptly.  He recalled how President Obasanjo, at a recent 
meeting, furiously challenged IG Tafa Balogun upon hearing 
that some police officers in Kaduna were owed salary arrears 
of several months.  Makarfi explained that he personally 
reported the matter to the President Obasanjo because 
non-payment of salary was a security problem.  "You cannot 
expect them to effectively discharge their duties if they are 
not paid," Makarfi told Obasanjo, he said. 
 
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Comment 
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10.  (SBU) Many laudable programs in Nigeria die for lack of 
continuity and sustainability.  This inconsistency and lack 
of commitment by the policy makers is one hurdle Makarfi says 
he is trying to overcome.  If he succeeds, then like every 
other Nigerian politician, he will likely set his sights on 
national office.  His view of Kaduna's economy is more 
sanguine than that of the business people with whom the 
Ambassador had met on the same trip. 
CAMPBELL