US embassy cable - 94KADUNA365

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 05 KADUNA 00365 
 
 
LONDON FOR MCKINLEY; PARIS FOR PERL0W 
LAGOS PASS TO ABUJA 
 
E.O. 12356: DECL:OADR 
TAGS: KPRP, PINR, PGOV, ECON, NI 
SUBJECT: THE LAST GASP FROM KADUNA: WHO'S WHO 
 
1.  CONFIDENTIAL -- ENTIRE TEXT 
 
2.  THE FOLLOWING CABLE PROVIDES BIOGRAPHIC DATA 
REFLECTING THE CONSUL GENERAL'S CONTACTS THROUGHOUT THE 
NORTH OVER THE PAST THREE YEARS.  THE SKETCHES DO NOT 
AIM TO REPRODUCE MATERIAL MOST LIKELY ALREADY AVAILABLE 
IN AF AND INR FILES, BUT RATHER TO GIVE IMPRESSIONS AND 
ASSESSMENTS OF CHARACTER AND OPINION.  IT IS COMPLETED 
A HALF HOUR BEFORE CG'S DEPARTURE FOR RETIREMENT AND, 
THEREFORE, SUFFERED FROM LACK OF EDITING AND 
COMPLETENESS.  PLEASE FORGIVE| 
 
HRADITIONALSRULERS 
------------------ 
 
3.  IBRAHIM DASUKI, SULTAN OF SOKOTO.  MUCH HAS BEEN 
WRITTEN ABOUT THE SULTAN, BUT IT IS PERHAPS WORTH 
REITERATING THAT HIS POPULARITY  AS NOT RISEN IN THE 
FIVE YEARS SINCE HE HAS OCCUPIED THE THRONE.  HIS 
LAVISH PALACE RENOVATIONS ARE VIEWED BY MANY AS TOTALLY 
AT ODDS WITH ISLAMIC INJUNCTION.  HE IS A SMART, 
SOPHISTICATED MAN, BUT IT IS DIFFICULT TO DISCERN THE 
DEGREE OF VENALITY HE HAS CARRIED OVER FROM HIS BCCI 
DAYS AND HIS ASSOCIATION WITH GENERAL BABANGIDA, TO 
WHOM HE OWES HIS ELECTION TO THE THRONE.  SEVERAL OF 
THE SULTAN'S SONS HAVE STUDIED IN THE UNITED STATES AND 
AT LEAST A COUPLE OF HAVE SECOND HOMES IN NORTHERN 
VIRGINIA. 
 
4.  ALHAJI SHEHU IDRIS, EMIR OF ZARIA.  THE EMIR OF 
ZARIA, OR SARKIN ZAZZAU TO GIVE HIM HIS HAUSA TITLE, IS 
A FREQUENT INTERLOCUTOR OF EMBASSY AND CONSULATE 
PERSONNEL.  HE LOOKS FOR EXCHANGES WITH FOREIGN 
DIPLOMATS ON BOTH POLITICAL QUESTIONS AND HIS EFFORTS 
TO PROMOTE INDUSTRY AND COMMERCE IN KADUNA STATE.  HE 
IS DEEPLY DISTRUSTED BY THE CHRISTIAN COMMUNITIES IN 
SOUTHERN KADUNA STATE, WHO SEE HIM AS A MAJOR 
IMPEDIMENT TO THEIR ENJOYING FULL POLITICAL AND 
PROPERTY RIGHTS IN THE STATE.  NEVERTHELESS, WE HAVE 
ALWAYS ENJOYED EASY ACCESS TO THE EMIR WHO IS FRIENDLY 
AND AS OPEN AS THESE RULERS CAN BE. 
 
5.  ALHAJI ADO BAYERO, EMIR OF KANO.  THE EMIR OF KANO 
IS SOMEWHAT MORE FORMAL WITH US AND IT CAN BE MORE 
DIFFICULT TO GET AN APPOINTMENT WITH HIM, BUT HE, LIKE 
HIS FELLOW EMIRS, IS ALWAYS FRIENDLY AND INTERESTING TO 
TALK TO.  HE TRAVELS FREQUENTLY TO THE UNITED STATES, 
BOTH ON PRIVATE TRIPS AND, OCCASIONALLY, TO VISIT 
VARIOUS NIGERIAN COMMUNITIES AND CULTURAL EVENTS.  HE 
WAS A DIPLOMAT PRIOR TO TAKING THE TITLE THIRTY YEARS 
AGO AND IS, THEREFORE, EASY WITH OTHER DIPL0MATS.  HE 
IS REGARDED BY NORTHERN NIGERIANS TO BE MUCH STUFFIER 
THAN THE EMIRS OF ZARIA OR KATSINA; ONE INTERLOCUTOR 
CLOSE TO THE KATSINA EMIRATE WAS VISIBLY SURPRISED TO 
LEARN THAT THE KANO EMIR ROUTINELY SHOOK THE HAND OF 
THE (FEMALE) CONSUL GENERAL, SOMETHING THAT, 
TRADITIONALLY, HE SHOULD NOT DO.  (ALL OTHER EMIRS BUT 
THE SULTAN OF SOKOTO HAVE EXTENDED THEIR HAND TO THE 
CONSUL GENERAL.) 
 
PRESS 
------ 
 
6.  MALAM MOHAMMED HARUNA, MANAGING DIRECTOR, CITIZEN 
PUBLICATIONS.  HARUNA IS A VERY BRIGHT YOUNG JOURNALIST 
WHO IS AT THE HEAD OF ONE OF THE MORE INTERESTING 
WEEKLY MAGAZINES IN NIGERIA.  THE CITIZEN WAS FOUNDED, 
UNDER THE CHAIRMANSHIP OF ALHAJI TURI MUHAMMADU, BY A 
GROUP OF REBELS FROM THE NEW NIGERIAN WHO WERE UNHAPPY 
AT THAT PAPER'S LOSS OF EDITORIAL INDEPENDENCE. 
ALTHOUGH HARUNA (AND HIS MAGAZINE) TAKE STRONG 
PRO-ISLAMIC STANDS, THE MAGAZINE IS WELL WRITTEN AND 
ARGUED, A HAPPY EXCEPTION IN JOURNALISM IN NIGERIA. 
PERSONALLY, HARUNA IS FRIENDLY TO AMERICAN DIPLOMATS, 
HAPPY TO SPEAK WITH US AND ANY VISITORS WE MAY HAVE, 
AND WILL UNFAILINGLY RESPECT ANY REQUEST THAT 
DISCUSSIONS BE OFF THE RECORD.  THIS PERMITS US TO HAVE 
SIGNIFICANT BACKGROUND DISCUSSIONS WITH HIM AND HIS 
EDITOR, BILKISU YUSUF (SEE BELOW). 
 
7.  HAJIYA BILKISU YUSUF, EDITOR OF THE CITIZEN 
MAGAZINE.  YUSUF IS NOT ONLY A LEADING JOURNALIST IN 
NORTHERN NIGERIA, BUT SHE IS ALSO A SIGNIFICANT WOMEN'S 
ACTIVIST AND MEMBER OF "FOMWON" -- FEDERATION OF MUSLIM 
WOMEN OF NIGERIA.  SHE IS EXTREMELY WELL EDUCATED IN 
ISLAM AND IS OBSERVANT IN WAYS THAT LEAD US TO BELIEVE 
SHE MAY BE A MEMBER OF THE DARIKA SECT.  SHE FASTS 
EVERY MONDAY AND THURSDAY, AND WILL ABSOLUTELY NOT 
SHAKE HANDS WITH MEN.  SHE HAS STRONG TIES TO ISLAMIC 
SCHOLARS IN SUDAN AND TRAVELS THERE FREQUENTLY.  WE 
HAVE FOUND HER TO BE FRIENDLY AND OPEN IN DISCUSSIONS. 
CURRENTLY, SHE IS A MEMBER OF THE NIPSS STUDY CLASS, 
AND IS RESIDENT IN JOS FOR TH YIPERIOD. 
 
8.  GARDA SHEHU, MANAGING DIRECTOR, TRIUMPH 
NEWSPAPERS.  GARBA SHEHU PRESIDES OVER A STATE-OWNED 
PRESS OPERATION THAT IS PERPETUALLY STARVED OF FUNDS 
AND SUBJECT TO THE VAGARIES OF GOVERNMENT CONTROLLED 
PRESS.  THIS SAID, HE IS A BRIGHT MAN, ALWAYS READY TO 
SEE AMERICAN DIPLOMATS, AND, LIKE HARUNA AT THE 
CITIZEN, IS PUNCTILIOUS ABOUT HONORING "BACKGROUND" 
RULES.  WE HAVE HAD LONG AND FULL CONVERSATIONS WITH 
GARBA SHEHU AND HIS EDITORIAL BOARD; THEY ASK TOUGH BUT 
FAIR QUESTIONS.  GARBA SHEHU IS WIDELY RESPECTED BY 
MANY OF THE NORTHERN ELDERS, PARTLY BECAUSE HE IS THE 
TREASURER FOR THE BAREWA OLD BOYS ASSOCIATION (THE 
SECONDARY SCHOOL A LARGE NUMBER OF THE NORTHERM ELITES 
HAVE ATTENDED) AND WORKS HARD FOR THE ALMA MATER. 
 
9.  ALHAJI TURI MUHAMMADU, NOW RETIRED BUT CHAIRMAN OF 
THE CITIZEN AND A FORMER EDITOR OF NEW NIGERIAN 
NEWSPAPERS.  ALSO A FORMER NORTHERN MANAGER, UTC.  TURI 
MUHAMMADU, WHO COMES FROM NIGER STATE, IS A THOUGHTFUL 
AND VERY INTERESTING INTERLOCUTOR, A RARE NIGERIAN WHO 
READS VORACIOUSLY AND INTELLIGENTLY.  (IN THE PAST 
YEAR, WE HAVE PASSED HIM COPIES OF THE GEORGE SCHULZ 
AUTOBIOGRAPHY WHICH HE DEVOURED IN A COUPLE OF DAYS AND 
FOLLOWED IT UP WITH THE MCCULLOGH BIOGRAPHY OF 
TRUMAN.)  HE IS SHY AND GENERALLY DOES NOT COME TO 
VONSULATE PARTIES, BUT IS WILLING TO HAVE ONE-ON-ONE 
MEETINGS AND IS AN INFORMED AND SERIOUS CONTACT. 
 
10.  ALHAJI ISMAILA ISA, MANAGING DIRECTOR, DEMOCRAT 
NEWSPAPER, AND CHAIRMAN OF BULET, A CONSTRUCTION FIRM. 
ISMAILA ISA WAS RAISED IN THE HOME OF HIS UNCLE, 
NORTHERN ELDER ISA KAITA, AND COMES FROM FUNTUA IN 
KATSINA STATE.  HE IS ALSO THE LANDLORD OF THE 
CONSULATE OFFICE BUILDING.  IN OUR CONTACTS WITH HIM, 
WE HAVE FOUND HIM TO BE A MAN OF SHALLOW OPINION AND 
CONSIDERABLE PREJUDICE AGAINST AMERICANS.  HE CAN BE 
VERY KIND ON THOSE OCCASIONS WHEN WE HAVE BEEN IN A FIX 
(SAY, WITH TWO FLAT TIRES ON THE ABUJA ROAD), SO IT 
GOES AGAINST THE GRAIN TO CRITICIZE, BUT HIS NEWSPAPER 
TAKES OFTEN IRRESPONSIBLE POSITIONS AND HE CLAIMS NO 
CONTROL OVER IT.  HA| 
 
BUSINESS 
-------- 
 
11.  ALHAJI AMINU DANTATA.  AMINU DANTATA IS THE 
PATRIARCH OF THE DANTATA ORGANIZATION, A FAMILY FIRM 
INVOLVED IN TRADING AND AGRIBUSINESS ENTERPRISES. 
AMINU DANTATA IS A DEVOUT MOSLEM, A PHILANTHROPIST TO 
ISLAMIC AND OTHER CHARITIES ON A AWESOME SCALE, AND 
PART OF AN ENORMOUS FAMILY.  HIMSELF ONE OF SEVERAL 
BROTHERS/COUSINS, HE HAS FOUR WIVES AND TWENTY-SEVEN 
CHILDREN.  IN OUR PRIVATE CONTACTS, HE HAS BEEN OPEN 
ABOUT HIS DOUBTS ABOUT THE UTILITY OF DEMOCRACY FOR 
NIGERIA, BELIEVING IT IS A NON-INDIGENOUS SYSTEM BEING 
IMPOSED BY THE WEST FOR PROBABLY GOOD, BUT MISPLACED, 
INTENTIONS.  HE IS RELATIVELY UNFORTHCOMING ABOUT HIS 
OWN BUSINESS OR GENERAL BUSINESS CONDITIONS IN KANO, 
HIS HOME BASE.  NEVERTHELESS, HE IS ALWAYS READY TO SEE 
CONSULATE AND EMBASSY VISITORS AND IS RELAXED AND 
FRIENDLY.  HE MAINTAINS A HOME IN SAUDI ARABIA WHERE HE 
SPENDS A GOOD DEAL OF TIME EACH YEAR DURING THE HAJJ 
AND UMMRA.  HIS CHILDREN HAVE MOSTLY GONE TO SCHOOL IN 
SAUDI ARABIA AND THEN ON TO UNIVERSITY IN MIAMI 
(FLORIDA INTERNATIONAL UNIVERSITY) FOR THE BOYS AND 
BAYERO UNIVERSITY KANO (FOR THE GIRLS).  AMINU DANTATA 
ALSO HAS HOUSES IN FLORIDA AND GENERALLY A TROUP OF THE 
FAMILY GOES ON SUMMER HOLIDAY IN THE U.S.  (DANTATA DAY 
IN THE VISA SECTION IS A BUSY TIME.) 
 
12.  ALHAJI TAJUDEEN DANTATA, THE SON OF AMINU DANTATA 
WHO IS MANAGING DIRECTOR OF THE ORGANIZATION AND IS 
BEING GROOMED TO TAKE OVER THE OPERATION.  TAJUDEEN 
DANTATA IS YOUNG (PROBABLY AROUND 30), AND LOOKS 
YOUNGER, BUT IS THE CHOSEN SUCCESSOR TO TAKE OVER THE 
FAMILY FIRM.  APPARENTLY HIS OLDER BROTHER WAS MEANT TO 
BE THE HEIR BUT WAS KILLED IN A POLO ACCIDENT, SO 
TAJUDEEN HAS ONLY RECENTLY ASSUMED THE MANTLE.  HE IS 
OPEN TO CONTACT WITH AMERICAN DIPLOMATS AND, LIKE MOST 
NORTHERN BUSINESSMEN, KEEPS HIS FAMILY IN KANO WHILE HE 
LIVES PART-TIME IN LAGOS AND TRAVELS THE WORLD. 
 
13.  MUNZALI DANTATA, A COUSIN OF THE TWO ABOVE, IS THE 
PROPRIETOR OF ALL STATES TRAVEL, A FIRM WITH THE AGENCY 
FOR SAUDIA AIRLINES IN LAGOS.  HE IS SOMEWHAT 
INDEPENDENT OF THE BUSINESS INTERESTS OF THE MAIN 
BRANCH OF THE FAMILY AND PRIDES HIMSELF ON BUILDING UP 
HIS TRAVEL AGENCY.  HE ADMIRES THE U.S. AND WOULD LIKE 
TO DEVELOP A TOURIST LINK WITH AMERICA, BUT MAY BE 
SOMEWHAT UNREALISTIC ABOUT HOW MUCH WORK WILL HAVE TO 
BE DONE TO PRODUCE AN ATTRACTIVE TOURIST INFRASTRUCTURE 
FOR AMERICANS.  HE IS THE AUTHOR OF A RECENTLY 
PUBLISHED GUIDEBOOK ON ABUJA AND RUNS BUS TOURSZOF THE 
NEW CAPITAL AS PART OF HIS ENDEAVORS.  HE IS AN 
ENTHUSIASTIC AND ENTERPRISING GUY. 
 
14.  WAZIRI MOHAMMED, A SON-IN-LAW OF AMINU DANTATA, IS 
A DIRECTOR OF PACIFIC MERCHANT BANK IN LAGOS.  HE IS 
KANURI AND COMES FROM MAIDUGURI WHERE HIS FAMILY 
LIVES.  LAGOS HAS PREVIOUSLY REPORTED ON WAZIRI 
MOHAMMED AND HIS POLITICAL ACTIVITIES IN THE KINGIBE 
CAMPAIGN.  WE UNDERSTAND FROM A PREVIOUS POLITICAL 
COUNSELOR IN LAGOS THAT WAZIRI MOHAMMED HAS CLOSE LINKS 
WITH MILITARY INTELLIGENCE.  HE IS A FOREIGN SERVICE 
BRAT, AND THUS QUITE SOPHISTICATED AND WELL-TRAVELED. 
HE HAS BEEN VERY FRIENDLY BOTH WITH CONSULATE KADUNA 
AND EMBASSY LAGOS PERSONNEL. 
 
15.  ALIKO DANGOTE, RELATED THROUGH HIS MOTHER TO THE 
DANTATA CLAM (HER FATHER WAS A BROTHER TO AMINU 
DANTATA'S FATHER), IS THE CHAIRMAN (AT AGE 35) OF THE 
DANGOTE GROUP OF COMPANIES.  THE DANGOTE FATHER DIED 
EARLY AND THE FAMILY COMPANY IS NOW CONDUCTED BY A 
GROUP OF BROTHERS, THE PRINCIPAL ONES OF WHOM ARE SANI 
AND BELLO (SEE BELOW).  ALIKO, LIKE AMINU DANTATA, IS A 
MAJOR FIGURE AT MANY CHARITABLE FUNDRAISING EVENTS.  HE 
HAS JUST MARRIED FOR THE THIRD TIME -- LIKE AMERICANS, 
HIS MARRIAGES HAVE BEEN SERIAL RATHER THAN POLYGAMOUS. 
THE DANGOTES HAVE HOMES IN KANO, LAGOS, LONDON, AND 
ATLANTA AND, LIKE THE DANTATAS, TAKE A LARGE GROUP OF 
FAMILY MEMBERS FOR AN AMERICAN HOLIDAY EVERY SUMMER. 
 
16.  SANI DANGOTE, BROTHER TO ALIKO, IS THE BROTHER WHO 
WATCHES OVER THE FAMILY TEXTILE, OILFIELD SERVICES, AND 
COMMODITY (COCOA, SUGAR) TRADING OPERATIONS.  HE HAS 
JUST CONCLUDED A LICENSING AGREEMENT TO PRODUCE 
NUTRASWEET IN NIGERIA, TO REDUCE COSTS OF SWEETENERS 
THE FIRM PROVIDES TO SOFT DRINK MANUFACTURERS.  SANI 
DANGOTE IS A PASSIONATE POLO PLAYER.  HE IS NOT 
PARTICULARLY WELL EDUCATED, HAVING ATTENDED A 
COMMERCIAL COLLEGE IN KANO.  HE ADMIRES AMERICANS AND 
SEEKS TO DO BUSINESS IN AMERICA.  HE IS AN OPEN, 
FRIENDLY, AND ENTERTAINING INTERLOCUTOR.  SANI DANGOTE 
IS MARRIED WITH FOUR CHILDREN, ONE OF THEM BORN IN THE 
U.S. 
 
17.  BELLO DANGOTE IS THE BROTHER CHARGED WITH 
RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE FAMILY BANK, LIBERTY MERCHAMT. 
HE WAS EDUCATED IN ITALY AS AN ENGINEER.  HE IS 
MARRIED, TO A SISTER OF SANI DANGOTE'S WIFE, AND HAS 
THREE CHILDREN, TWO OF THEM BORN IN THE U.S.  LIKE HIS 
BROTHERS, HE IS FRIENDLY TO AMERICANS. 
 
18.  ALHAJI BASHIR BORODO IS A BUSINESSMAN ON A MORE 
MODEST SCALE THAN THE CLANS DESCRIBED ABOVE.  HE IS THE 
MANAGING DIRECTOR OF ONE OF THE DANTATA COMPANIES (A 
FERTILIZER MIXING PLANT IN KANO STATE) AND THE FORMER 
CHAIRMAN OF THE FORMERLY STATE-OWNED BANK, TROPICAL 
COMMERCIAL BANK, THAT HAS NOW PRIVATIZED.  HE ALSO HAS 
HIS OWN BUSINESS, BORODO AND CO., THAT PRODUCES ICE 
BLOCKS, EXPORTS MOTORBIKES, AND ENGAGES IN OTHER MIXES 
OF TRADING.  HE WAS TRAINED (IN CAIRO) AS AN ECONOMIST 
AND JOINED THE NIGERIAN FOREIGN SERVICE.  ONE OF HIS 
POSTINGS WAS AT THE EMBASSY IN WASHINGTON (FROM ABOUT 
1978 TO 198O) WHERE THE DESK OFFICERS FOUND HIM THE 
STRONGEST DIPLOMAT AT THE EMBASSY.  HE IS FAR AND AWAY 
THE MOST INTELLIGENT CONTACT WE HAVE FOUND ON THE 
ECONOMIC SCENE IN THE NORTH. 
 
19.  MALAM DAHIRU MUHAMMAD, MANAGING DIRECTOR AND CEO 
OF FIRST AFRICA MERCHANT BANK, HEADQUARTERED IN 
KADUNA.  ACTUALLY WE TAKE THAT BACK ABOUT BORODO BEING 
THE "MOST INTELLIGENT," SINCE DAHIRU MUHAMMAD IS IN THE 
SAME CLASS.  EDUCATED AT VANDERBILT UNIVERSITY, DAHIRU 
MUHAMMAD IS AN EXCEPTIONALLY WELL-INFORMED AND 
OUTSPOKEN INFORMANT ON THE ECONOMIC SCENE.  LONG BEFORE 
IT BECAME THE FASHION, HE POINTED TO THE BUDGETARY AND 
MONETARY POLICIES OF THE BABANGIDA REGIME THAT 
BANKRUPTED THE NATION AND RIDICULED THE CALLS FOR 
ARTIFICIAL PEGGING OF THE NAIRA.  HE IS VERY OPEN TO 
AMERICANS AND WILLING TO MEET WITH US, OFFICIALLY OR 
SOCIALLY. 
 
20.  ISAIAH BALAT, FORMER PRESIDENT OF THE KADUNA 
CHAMBER OF COMMERCE AND CHAIRMAN OF SEVERAL COMPANIES 
BASED IN KADUNA (FINANCE, OIL SERVICES, ETC.).  BALAT 
IS, TO US, MORE INTERESTING AS AN INTERLOCUTOR ON 
POLITICAL AND ETHNIC QUESTIONS THAN ON COMMERCIAL 
DEVELOPMENTS.  HE WAS ACTIVE IN THE SDP AND STRONGLY 
FOUGHT FOR ABIOLA AND JUNE 12 OVER THE SUMMER OF 1993, 
SEEING THE ISSUE ALMOST COMPLETELY THROUGH HIS SOUTHERN 
KADUNA-CHRISTIAN EYES.  HE IS VERY WELL CONNECTED IN 
KADUNA, FRIENDLY TO AMERICANS, AND HAPPY TO SHARE HIS 
THOUGHTS WITH US.  WE FOUND CONVERSATIONS WITH HIM 
PARTICULARLY USEFUL IN THE AFTERMATH OF THE ZANGON 
KATAF RIOTS, SINCE HE COMES FROM THAT AREA, AND, SINCE 
THEN, HAS WORKED ON A NUMBER OS COMMITTEES TO TRY TO 
GET AT THE CAUSES OF INTERCOMMUNAL TENSION IN THE STATE. 
 
21.  ALHAJI AUWALU ILU, PRESIDENT OF THE KANO CHAMBER 
OF COMMERCE, AND BUSINESSMAN WITH INTERESTS IN CLOTH 
TRADING AND LPG SUPPLY.  AUWALU ILU IS AN ENGAGING 
INTERLOCUTOR WITH HIS FINGER ON THE PULSE OF THAT PART 
OF THE KANO ECONOMY THAT HIS CHAMBER MOST REPRESENTS -- 
THE ESTABLISHED, MID-RANKING TRADER.  HE IS ALWAYS GOOD 
FOR AN INTIMATE POLITICAL GOSSIP, BUT, OVER THE YEARS, 
WE HAVE FOUND THAT HE SWINGS AROUND A BIT WITH THE 
PREVAILING BREEZE.  NEVERTHELESS, HE KNOWS EVERYBODY 
AND IS ALWAYS WELCOMING TO US WHEN WE DROP IN.  HE HAS 
BEEN VERY HELPFUL DURING AMBASSADORIAL VISITS TO KANO, 
PARTICULARLY AS HE CAN PUT TOGETHER A GROUP FOR DINNER 
THAT IS ALWAYS WORTH MEETING AND TALKING TO. 
 
22.  ALHAJI BAWA GARBA.  WHEN GOD MADE "ABG," HE BROKE 
THE MOLD.  BAWA GARBA IS THE SATTELITE TELEVISION MOGUL 
OF NIGERIA, AND HAS BRANCHED INTO TELEVISION ASSEMBLY, 
SECURITY DEVICES AND OTHER MANUFACTURES.  HE HAS A 
PROMOTIONAL PATTER THAT COULD COME STRAIGHT FROM 
HOLLYWOOD, EXCEPT FOR THE STRONG HAUSA ACCENT.  HE IS 
ACCESSIBLE TO AMERICANS BUT A SOMEWHAT MORE DIFFICULT 
CONVERSATION PARTNER THAN MOST NORTHERNERS, SINCE HE 
FREQUENTLY TALKS OVER HIS PARTNER. 
 
23.  ALHAJI KASSIM MUSA BICHI, NOW IN HIS OWN BUSINESS 
IN KANO BUT FORMERLY THE MANAGING DIRECTOR OF NEW 
NIGERIA INVESTMENTS LIMITED, THE FINANCE BRANCH OF 
NNDP, THE NORTHERN STATES' HOLDING COMPANY.  BICHI HAS 
AN M.A. IN DEVELOPMENT ECONOMICS FROM WILLIAMS COLLEGE 
AND IS FRIENDLY AND ENGAGING, ALTHOUGH SOMEWHAT QUICK 
TO ADOPT PREJUDICES (E.G. AGAINST LEBANESE AND INDIANS 
IN THE NIGERIAN ECONOMY) FLOATING ABOUT IN THE AIR.  HE 
IS A DEVOUT MUSLIM, STRICTLY ADHERING TO THE DIETARY 
PRACTICES AND PRAYER SCHEDULES LAID DOWN, AND OBSERVING 
EXTRA FASTING AND NON-PHYSICAL CONTACT BETWEEN MEN AND 
WOMEN. 
 
POLITICS 
-------- 
 
24.  GEORGE HOOMKWAP, SENATOR (NPP) IN THE SECOND 
REPUBLIC AND SDP ACTIVIST IN THE THIRD, HE WAS MOST 
RECENTLY A NATIONAL ASSEMBLY LIAISON OFFICER FOR THE 
SHONEKAN ING.  HOOMKWAP COMES FROM PLATEAU STATE (GOMEI 
GROUP NEAR SHENDAM) AND IS A CATHOLIC.  HE IS ALSO 
CHAIRMAN OF THE JIB BREWERY GROUP IN JOS AND HAS HIS 
OWN MULTI-PURPOSE FIRM.  HOOMKWAP FULLY INTENDS TO BE 
IN THE POLITICAL WHIRLWIND WHENEVER IT STARTS BLOWING 
AGAIN, AND, ALONG WITH HIS SENIOR SOLOMON LAR, HE WILL 
BE AN IMPORTANT FIGURE IN PLATEAU POLITICS. 
 
25.  SENATOR UBA AHMED, SENATOR (NPN, THEN NRC) IN THE 
SECOND AND THIRD REPUBLICS, MOST RECENTLY THE SENATE 
MINORITY WHIP IN THE DISMISSED NATIONAL ASSEMBLY. 
ALTHOUGH HE HAILS FROM BAUCHI STATE, HE IS ATTACHED BY 
HIS BUSINESS INTERESTS TO JOS AND LAGOS.  HE HOPES SOON 
TO RESUSCITATE AN AFRICAN DEVELOPMENT BANK LOAN TO 
START A FISHING BUSINESS, USING BOATS PROCURED IN 
ALABAMA.  HE IS A MOST ENGAGING FRIEND, WITH A GREAT 
SENSE OF HUMOR.  HE LIKES AMERICANS AND IS EASY TO TALK 
WITH, IF YOU CAN EVER TRACK HIM DOWN. 
 
26.  ALHAJI LEMA JIBRILU, CHAIRMAN OF A NUMBER OF 
KADUNA COMPANIES THATSBEAR VARIOUS TRANSMUTATIONS OF 
HIS INITIALS, MOSTLY BASED ON AGRIBUSINESS.  JIBRILU 
WAS ONE OF THE FIRST CANDIDATES (NRC) IN THE FAILED 
PRESIDENTIAL ELECTIONS OF 1991-93 AND ONE OF THE GROUP 
OF 23 DISQUALIFIED IN THE 1992 PRIMARIES.  IN THOSE 
PRIMARIES, JIBRILU ACTUALLY PULLED OUT AHEAD OF THE 
REST, ACCUSING HIS FELLOW CANDIDATES OF CORRUPT 
PRACTICES AND SAYING HE WOULD NOT CONTEST FURTHER.  ALL 
THE SAME, HE WAS DISQUALIFIED ALONG WITH THE REST.  HE 
HAS BEEN WELL-KNOWN TO SUCCESSIVE GENERATIONS OF KADUNA 
U.S. DIPLOMATS AND IS A PERSON OF STRONG CHARACTER AND 
GREAT CHARM.  HE IS A DEVOUT MUSLIM AND HAS A CLOSE 
FAMILY -- HIS TWO SONS AND DAUGHTER FROM HIS FIRST 
MARRIAGE (TO AN ENGLISHWOMAN) HELP RUN PARTS OF THE 
BUSINESS, AS WILL, PRESUMABLY, THE TWO YOUNG SONS OF 
HIS SECOND MARRIAGE (TO A BRAZILIAN). 
 
THE ELDERS 
---------- 
 
27.  NO BIOGRAPHIC WRAP-UP CABLE WOULD BE COMPLETE 
WITHOUT A LOOK AT THE ELDERS.  THE ELDEST OF THEM ALL, 
ALHAJI ISA KAITA, HAS BEEN A FRIEND OF EVERY AMERICAN 
CONSUL GENERAL SINCE THE BEGINNING OF TIME.  IN OUR 
VIEW HE HAS BEEW A LITTLE READY TO ACCEPT WHATEVER THE 
AUTHORITY OF THE DAY WISHES OR DECREES, NOT STANDING ON 
ANY EASILY VISIBLE PRINCIPLE OTHER THAN AN ACCEPTANCE 
OF WHAT GOD SENDS.  NEVERTHELESS, ISA KAITA IS AN 
INSTITUTION.  THIS MAKES HIS CURRENT STATE VERY SAD, 
SINCE HE SUFFERED A STROKE LAST FALL WHILE ON THE 
LESSER PILGRIMAGE IN SAUDI ARABIA.  SINCE THAT TIME HE 
HAS BEEN BEDRIDDEN AND UNABLE TO MOVE HIS RIGHT ARM AND 
LEG.  ON OUR LAST CALL ON HIM, HE APPEARED DEPRESSED BY 
HIS CONDITION AND SOMEWHAT MORE FRAIL. 
 
28.  THE THREE FRIENDS: YAHAYA GUSAU, AHMED TALIB, AND 
LIMAN CIROMA.  THESE THREE, LISTED IN ORDER OF 
SENIORITY, ARE GENERALLY CONSIDERED TOGETHER SINCE ALL 
SERVED IN THE CIVIL SERVICE OF THE NORTHERN REGION 
UNDER THE SARDAUNA.  APL THREE ARE MEN OF UPSTANDING 
CHARACTER AND LONG EXPERIENCE, EXCEPTIOLT CORDIAL 
AND UNFAILI GLY COURTEOAS.  YAHAYA GUSAU, AS HIS NAME 
IMPLIES, COMES FROM GUSAU IN SOKOTO; AHMED TALIB FROM 
BORNO, AD LIMAN CIROMA FROM POTISKUM, YOBE STATE. 
GUSAU IS CURRENTLY THE CHANCELLOR OF BAYERO UNIVERSITY 
KANO, WHILE TALIB AND CIROMA SERVE AS CHAIRMEN OF THE 
BOARDS OF VARIOUS INTERNATIONAL COMPANIES.  CIROMA, THE 
YOUNGEST, HAS BEEN A FREQUENTLY INTERLOCUTOR AND OFTEN 
CALLS UP WHEN SOME EVENT (EITHER OUTRAGEOUS OR 
WONDERFUL BY HIS LIGHT) HAS BEEN BROADCAST ON CNN. 
 
 
WEINLAND