US embassy cable - 05LAGOS575

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 03 LAGOS 000575 
 
SIPDIS 
 
C O R R E C T E D COPY - ADDING USEUCOM 
 
E.O. 12958: DECL: 04/13/2008 
TAGS: PGOV, PREL, PHUM, ECON, CASC, NI 
SUBJECT: VIEWS ON THE NIGER DELTA, FROM THE NIGER DELTA; 
AMBASSADOR TRAVELS TO PORT HARCOURT 
 
REF: LAGOS 563 
 
Classified By: Ambassador John Campbell per 1.4 b and d 
 
1.  (SBU) Summary:  During Ambassador Campbell's April 5-7 
visit to Port Harcourt, Nigerian interlocutors identified 
poverty and corruption as their chief concerns.  American 
citizens working in the area cited the absence of law and 
order as their biggest worry. Contacts said working in the 
Delta is akin to operating in a "criminal environment."  Our 
interlocutors maintained that ethnic conflict and militia 
violence could be reined in by the GON if it had sufficient 
political will.  Responses to the Ambassador's questions 
concerning the way forward ranged from the specific -- 
implement the Niger Delta Development Commission's master 
plan, to the sweeping -- transform Nigerian values from the 
bottom-up.  Interlocutors concurred electoral reform was 
integral to bringing accountable governance to the Niger 
Delta region.  End Summary. 
 
2.  (U)  During his visit,  Ambassador met separately with 
Rivers State Governor Peter Odili, SPDC Managing Director 
Basil Oyimi, the Anglican and Catholic archbishops, Niger 
Delta Development Commission (NDDC) staff, and University of 
Port Harcourt personnel.  He also hosted a town hall for 
American Citizens, a civil society roundtable, a dinner for 
representatives of American oil service and maritime 
companies, and a dinner with civil society and governmental 
guests.  This cable summarizes the majority of those 
meetings.  See septels where noted. 
 
Nigerians: Poverty and Corruption Root of the Problem 
--------------------------------------------- -------- 
 
3.  (C) The Anglican and Catholic Archbishops serving the 
Niger Delta told Ambassador that poverty most troubled their 
parishioners. Both religious leaders stated they provide 
food, income-generating activities, and shelter to many in 
their folds, which total well over one million individuals. 
Neither bishop blamed government or the oil companies for the 
impoverishment many of their parishioners face.  The Anglican 
archbishop even praised usually reviled Rivers Governor Peter 
Odili, pronouncing him a "good man." 
 
4.  (C) Shell Petroleum and Development Corporation (SPDC) 
Managing Director (MD) Basil Oyimi told Ambassador 
eradicating corruption is the key to redressing the Niger 
Delta crisis.  Oyimi stated there were few ideological girds 
to the crisis.  It's simple, people want good schools, clean 
water, and jobs.  Unfortunately, the only current way to 
attain those basic services is through political patronage. 
If you redress corruption and distribute resources fairly, 
the Niger Delta problem will resolve itself, he said (reftel). 
 
5.  (C) Human rights activist, Patrick Naagbanton, told 
Ambassador corruption is at the core of Nigeria's problems 
and Niger Delta Governors Odili of Rivers State and 
Alamieyeseigha of Bayelsa State are its master craftsmen.  As 
a result, electoral government has translated into few 
tangible gains for the populace.  Naagbanton and other civil 
society actors affirmed that many are beginning to view life 
under the former military regime nostalgically, with some 
plaintively asserting, "Life was better under Abacha." 
 
 
Americans: Niger Delta Poses Criminal Operating Environment 
--------------------------------------------- -------------- 
 
6.  (C)  American citizens told Ambassador their chief 
concern is law and order.  Though the city had not seen 
significant violence since the major flare-up in Fall 2004, 
American citizens reported tensions remain elevated.  In 
addition to daily concerns about potential violence, oil 
service company representatives told Ambassador they operate 
in a "criminal environment."  Shake-downs are quotidian and 
cut into already narrow profit margins, they maintained 
(septel). 
 
7.  (C)  Rivers State Officials and the NDDC Managing 
Director claimed separately that Port Harcourt "has no 
security problems."  As proof, they asserted residents 
circulate freely, frequenting nightclubs and restaurants at 
all hours.  If there were a security problem the streets 
would be empty at night, they contended. 
 
Ethnic Conflict and Militia Gangs: 
What Politics Created, Politics Can Undo 
----------------------------------------- 
 
8. (C) Interlocutors concurred that, to a large degree, 
politicians had engineered ethnic conflict and militia gangs 
in the Niger Delta.  Michael Karipko, an environmental rights 
activist, said leaders politicize ethnic tensions when it 
suits them.  Corking these tensions was challenging, but not 
impossible, he stated.  Similarly militias had been created 
by politicians to "carry" the 2003 elections.  A democracy 
activist told Ambassador, if militias are disarmed now, there 
will be no violence in the 2007 elections.  He mused, "these 
kids won't spontaneously pick up arms to fight for a 
candidate because they are so enamored with his political 
platform." The consensus among contacts was "what politics 
can do, politics can undo." 
 
9.  (C) Pressed by Ambassador whether the GON is capable of 
arresting the now well-armed militia groups, SPDC MD Oyimi 
replied affirmatively.  Militias, he said, could out-gun the 
Nigerian military only as long as the GON "dealt with them 
with kid gloves."  Oyimi said a high-ranking Air Force 
officer assured him the militias posed no contest if the GON 
decided to "take them out." However, for now, the GON is 
exercising caution to avoid collateral damage.  Oyimi 
emphasized it was not necessary to counter these groups with 
military force.  "All these militias are for hire.  Look at 
(Niger Delta People's Volunteer Force leader) Asari.  He's 
quiet now, because he's been paid." 
 
The Way Forward: Plethora of Ideas 
----------------------------------- 
 
10.  (C)  Civil society roundtable participants offered a 
range of views on what should be done to improve the Niger 
Delta.  Ediri Iruagua, who coordinates an entrepreneurial 
program for youth in Rivers State, told Ambassador the Niger 
Delta Development Commission's (NDDC) 15-year master plan is 
a solid economic development strategy.  If implemented it 
would herald concrete improvements in the region, Iruagua 
stated.  Civil society and international partners should 
focus on ensuring the plan's execution, he added.  Other 
participants argued removing the plutocracy and bringing in a 
new generation of politicians was sine qua non to change. 
Egondo Esinwoke, who works at the grass-roots level on 
conflict resolution, stated the Nigerian people need to be 
"transformed."  Starting from the bottom-up, they need to be 
educated as to their civic rights and duties under a 
democracy. 
 
Electoral Reform Needed Sooner Rather Than Later 
--------------------------------------------- --- 
 
11.  (C)  Contacts concurred electoral reform was critical to 
make the 2007 elections more credible than the 2003 mishap. 
Civil society contacts said confidence in the democratic 
process is lower in the Delta region than most of Nigeria 
given the widespread rigging which took place there not only 
in 2003, but also in subsequent local level elections. Dr. 
Adefemi Isumonah, a research fellow at respected Port 
Harcourt think-tank the Center for Advanced Social Science 
(CASS), told Ambassador civil society needs help pressuring 
political leaders in the run-up to 2007.  Others must join 
the effort, he said.  The National Political Reform 
Conference (NPRC) presented an opportunity to create the 
necessary structures for credible elections in 20007, 
Isumonah asserted. 
 
12.  (C) Rivers State Governor Peter Odili (and possible 
vice-presidential candidate) voiced tempered support for 
electoral reform.  It was important that "lapses"  from 2003 
be corrected, Odili said.  Odili agreed with Ambassador that 
domestic election monitors offered some advantages to foreign 
observers.  The governor stipulated, however, that domestic 
watchers must not harbor "political agendas" (septel). 
Separately, Rivers State Commissioner of Information Magnus 
Abbe told Ambassador he supports the idea being bandied in 
the NPRC of six-year, one-term limits for officeholders. 
Speaking off the record, he said term limits were the only 
throttle to graft and corruption.  Freedom from re-election 
worries would allow politicians to focus more on governance 
and less on building their warchests, he maintained. 
 
 
Comment 
------- 
 
13.  (C)  For most residents in the Delta region, poverty 
compounded and partially caused by corruption, appears to be 
the most gnawing problem.  Making government and government 
resources work for them is what they want.  As one 
interlocutor suggested, the NDDC may have a major role to 
play and we will be taking a hard look at the agency and its 
master plan to see if it can contribute to the region's 
development and stability. 
 
14.  (C)  Comment Cont'd:  Corruption of the electoral 
process is another major vice.  However, many politicians are 
in office because they mastered this game and they do not 
appear to be on the road to penitence.  Civil society 
representatives observe, and we concur, that the window in 
which to enact meaningful electoral reform is rapidly 
closing.  However, they don't seem to be mobilizing in any 
meaningful way to pressure the government to cure the 
electoral system. 
 
15.  (C) Comment Cont'd:  Last, it was beneficial to visit 
Port Harcourt to spend time with the American community there 
and hear their security concerns.  We will maintain close 
contact with our citizens there and continue to provide the 
services and information they need to manage the risks of 
working in the important but tough Niger Delta. 
 
 
 
 
 
BROWNE