US embassy cable - 02ABUJA2933

C O N F I D E N T I A L ABUJA 002933 
 
SIPDIS 
 
 
E.O. 12958: DECL: 10/25/12 
TAGS: PBTS, MOPS, PGOV, PREL, PREF, EPET, NI, CM 
SUBJECT: NIGERIA: MOD DANJUMA DENIES PARIS AGREEMENT ON 
BAKASSI 
 
 
Classified by Ambassador Howard F. Jeter; reasons 1.5 (B) 
and (D) 
 
 
1.  (C) SUMMARY: During an October 25 meeting with 
Ambassador Jeter, Nigerian Minister of Defense Lieutenant 
General (ret.) Theophilus Y. Danjuma discussed the GON's 
position on the ICJ's Bakassi decision.  While Danjuma 
denied the GON had agreed to abide by the ICJ's ruling at 
the September 5 Paris meeting, he said Nigeria had no plans 
to take offensive action and was hopeful that a negotiated 
political settlement could be reached with Cameroon.  END 
SUMMARY. 
 
 
2.  (C) During an October 25 conversation with Nigerian 
Minister of Defense Danjuma, Ambassador Jeter asked about 
the GON's "rejection" of the ICJ's ruling on the Bakassi. 
Ambassador said that we were somewhat taken aback by the 
declaration since the Nigerian and Cameroonian Heads of 
State had agreed at the September 5 bilateral meeting in 
Paris to abide by the ICJ judgement.  Stating emphatically 
that he was present throughout the Presidential meeting, 
Danjuma denied President Obasanjo had promised to honor the 
ICJ's decision during the Paris talks with President Biya. 
Danjuma said the GON had authorized the UNSG to make a 
statement on the talks, but was unaware of the statement's 
content before it was released.  Danjuma went on to explain 
that it would not have made sense for Nigeria to agree to 
abide by a ruling from which there was no appeal without 
having a clear idea of what that ruling would be.  COMMENT: 
The GON line that Obasanjo never promised to abide by the 
ICJ ruling seems to be disingenuous if not duplicitous. 
That the GON did not seek to correct the UN's apparent 
misunderstanding of such an important issue is unexpected, 
to say the least.  END COMMENT. 
 
 
3.  (C) When asked about Nigeria's plans, Danjuma said 
since the GON did not recognize the ICJ's ruling, Nigeria 
would not remove its soldiers, police or administrators 
from the Bakassi.  Danjuma said the GON had no offensive 
designs against Cameroon, but would use force if its troops 
in the Bakassi were attacked.  COMMENT: Although Danjuma 
may be correct in saying the GON is not planning to mount 
an offensive against Cameroon, there are signs of a 
military build-up which could mean that the Nigerians have 
not taken this unfortunate option completely off the table. 
END COMMENT. 
 
 
4.  (C) Explaining U.S. policy on the Bakassi, Ambassador 
urged Danjuma to find a political solution to the problem 
and to avoid, at all costs, any resort to the use of force. 
There were any number of modalities that could be conceived 
so that there are no real losers on Bakassi, including 
joint administration and resource sharing.  Danjuma said 
that Abuja had always advocated a political settlement, but 
Yaounde had been recalcitrant and insisted that the issue 
be taken to the ICJ.  Nevertheless, and in spite of the ICJ 
ruling, Nigeria remained hopeful that a political 
settlement could still be reached. 
JETER