US embassy cable - 02ABUJA3015

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 ABUJA 003015 
 
SIPDIS 
 
 
FOR INR/B 
 
 
E.O. 12958: DECL: 11/05/2012 
TAGS: PINR, NI, NI, KISL 
SUBJECT:  NIGERIA: GOMBE STATE BIOGRAPHIC REPORTING 
 
 
CLASSIFIED BY AMBASSADOR HOWARD F. JETER FOR REASON 1.5 
(B). 
 
 
1. (C) SUMMARY: Governor Alhaji Abubakar Habu 
Hashidu is a key power broker in Northeast Nigeria. 
Deputy Governor Joshua M. Lidani is an intelligent 
technocrat; a Christian who balances Gombe State's 
Muslim-dominated government.  The Emir of Gombe Alhaji 
Shehu Usman Abubakar remains an important and 
influential Northeast Nigerian Islamic leader. END 
SUMMARY 
 
 
2.   (C) Gombe State Governor Alhaji Abubakar Habu 
Hashidu is a popular political figure who has managed 
to maintain good ties with both the Northern power 
elite and the Obasanjo Administration. He is one of a 
number of northern career civil servants who joined 
politics after retirement.  An US-educated 
agricultural specialist, Hashidu won the gubernatorial 
seat in 1999 under the All Peoples' Party (APP) 
ticket, beating his friend and colleague, Peoples 
Democratic Party (PDP) candidate Ambassador Yerima 
Abdullahi.  Because of the influence of former Head of 
State Babangida and others in the Northern political 
elite, the Governor and several other APP governors 
then quietly swung their states' support behind 
President Obasanjo in the 1999 presidential election. 
Hashidu was a member of the Vision 2010 Committee 
during the Sani Abacha regime (1993-1998) and served 
as Chairman of the Presidential Task Force on Grain 
Distribution.  The Governor was Secretary for the 
Movement for the Creation of Gombe State, which was 
carved out of Bauchi State in 1996, and served as Minister of 
Agriculture and Water Resources under the Babangida 
regime (1988-1993).  He earlier served as Permanent 
Secretary and Commissioner in Bauchi State.  The 
 
SIPDIS 
Governor also served as Chief Agricultural Officer, 
Assistant General Manager and later General Manager, 
Upper Benue River Basin from 1977 to 1980.  He worked 
at Kainji Dam and Biu in Borno State as an 
Agricultural Officer in the 1970s. 
 
 
3.  (C) Hashidu attended a three-month advanced 
management course at the University of Pittsburgh in 
1975.  Hashidu received his BS in Agricultural Science 
from Missouri's Lincoln University (1965-69) and 
attended summer courses at Utah State University 
(1967) and the University of New Hampshire (1966). 
The Governor studied at Nigeria's Ahmadu Bello 
University (1964) in Zaria.  Born in 1944 in Dukku, 
the Governor holds the traditional title of Muttawali 
of Dukku.  Hashidu, a Muslim and ethnic Fulani, is 
married to Aishatu Abubakar.  The Governor has three 
sons and three daughters.  He speaks excellent 
English, Hausa, and Fulani.  (COMMENT: The politically 
savvy and sophisticated Hashidu is an earnest and 
engaging interlocutor. The Governor is frank and well 
spoken.  During 3-plus years in office, Hashidu has 
given Gombe's citizens improved drinking water and 
security for rural residents, particularly the farmers 
who were for years subjected to the armed cattle 
raiders and banditry emanating from marauding gangs. 
Hashidu, an excellent political strategist, has 
stunted PDP (Nigeria's ruling party, dominant among 
Gombe's elite) aspirations to unseat him in elections 
slated for 2003, by sticking to populist grassroots 
projects, such as improving infrastructure and rural 
security. The Governor is a good friend and supporter 
of Babaginda.  He is also well disposed to the United 
States.  END COMMENT) 
 
 
4.  (C) Deputy Governor Joshua M. Lidani, an 
intelligent and successful lawyer, likely keeps his 
post because Governor Hashidu needs a Christian to 
politically balance his Muslim-dominated state 
government.  However, a Christian is much less of a 
potential rival to Hashidu. (COMMENT:  During a 75- 
minute meeting with the Ambassador and the Governor in 
early October 2002, Lidani said nothing, but appeared 
to have the Governor's confidence.  Embassy sources 
report that Lidani is not a power broker in the Gombe 
State Government, but is an influential leader in the 
minority Christian community (30% of Gombe State); he 
has also donated money for new church construction and 
Christian schools for the handicapped.  In private 
discussions with Econoff, Lidani was professional and 
friendly.  Born in Kaltungo, Lidani is married and 
speaks excellent English and several African 
languages. END COMMENT) 
 
 
5.  (C) His Highness the Emir of Gombe Alhaji Shehu 
Usman Abubakar is one of the most influential Muslim 
leaders in Northeast Nigeria.  The Emir, who assumed 
the throne in 1986, is Chairman of Gombe State Council 
of Chiefs.  The Emir supported Governor Hashidu's 
(1999-present) chief opponent in 1999, the PDP 
candidate and present Nigerian Ambassador to Malaysia 
Yerima Abdullahi, who is married to one of the Emir's 
daughters.  Before his appointment as Emir, Abubakar 
was a career civil servant in former Bauchi State. 
The Emir speaks English well, Hausa and Fulani.  He 
has four wives and many children.  (COMMENT: Abubakar 
is an open and engaging man. He is not a stickler for 
protocol and welcomes visits by US officials.  During 
a meeting with Ambassador Jeter, the Emir spoke fondly 
of a visit by former President Bush's son Neil to the 
Emir's palace several years ago.  His Highness is a 
horse aficionado, with a stable of over sixty, mainly 
South American, horses.  END COMMENT) 
ANDREWS