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### Viewing cable 08ABUJA1016, S/NF) NIGERIA: xxxxxxxxxxxx

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Reference ID | Created | Released | Classification | Origin
--- | --- | --- | --- | ---
08ABUJA1016 | 2008-06-02 15:03 | 2011-01-22 21:09 | SECRET//NOFORN | Embassy Abuja
Appears in these articles: www.spiegel.de

`

    VZCZCXRO8985
    PP RUEHPA
    DE RUEHUJA #1016/01 1541511
    ZNY SSSSS ZZH
    P 021511Z JUN 08
    FM AMEMBASSY ABUJA
    TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 2993
    INFO RUEHZK/ECOWAS COLLECTIVE
    RUEHOS/AMCONSUL LAGOS 9340
    RHEBAAA/DEPT OF ENERGY WASHDC
    RHEHNSC/NSC WASHINGTON DC
    RUEAIIA/CIA WASHINGTON DC
    RUEKDIA/DIA WASHDC
    RHMFISS/HQ USEUCOM VAIHINGEN GE
    RUZEJAA/JAC MOLESWORTH RAF MOLESWORTH UK
    RHMFISS/HQ USAFRICOM STUTTGART GE

` `

    S E C R E T SECTION 01 OF 03 ABUJA 001016

    SIPDIS
    NOFORN

    DEPT FOR AF/W, INR/AA, INR/B
    DOE FOR GPERSON

    E.O. 12958: DECL: 06/01/2033
    TAGS: PGOV PINR KDEM KISL SOCI NI
    SUBJECT: (S/NF) NIGERIA: xxxxxxxxxxxx
    Ref: a. ABUJA 320
    b. ABUJA 799
    c. ABUJA 972

    Classified By: A/Pol/C Heather Merritt, reasons 1.4 (b, c & d).

    ¶1. (S//NF) SUMMARY: xxxxxxxxxxxx contended that Yar'Adua began
    experiencing symptoms of acute renal failure in late 1999,
    and traveled at that time to Mainz, Germany, to consult with
    kidney specialists. xxxxxxxxxxxx claimed, that in 1999, German
    doctors told Yar'Adua to undergo dialysis treatment, and that
    a dialysis unit was subsequently installed in his private
    Katsina residence in 2000. According to xxxxxxxxxxxx when
    Yar'Adua's condition worsened in 2002, he traveled to Saudi
    Arabia to receive a kidney transplant. To ensure his body
    would accept the transplant, Yar'Adua took steroids and other
    medications which in due course reportedly caused the
    discoloration that we see today on the President's face.
    Moreover, xxxxxxxxxxxx averred that Yar'Adua's poor health reduced
    his capacity to govern and, correspondingly, his political
    influence in the North. xxxxxxxxxxxx also alleged that during
    Yar'Adua's tenure as Katsina governor his wife, Hajiya Turai
    Yar'Adua, persuaded Yar'Adua to divert millions of dollars of
    public funds from the Katsina state treasury into private
    accounts. (Note: We have heard of similar illicit enrichment
    attempts by Mrs. Yar'Adua now that she is in the Villa as
    well as scarce allegations that President Yar'Adua had
    engaged in corruption while Katsina governor. End Note.) On
    the political front, amidst current rumors of President
    Yar'Adua's failing health, the northern political elite
    appears increasingly concerned that in the event of
    Yar'Adua's untimely demise, the presidency may return to the
    South. END SUMMARY.

    ¶2. (S//NF) xxxxxxxxxxxx spoke with
    PolOff May 26. xxxxxxxxxxxx said that Yar'Adua began experiencing
    symptoms of acute renal failure in late 1999, after traveling
    to Jeddah, Saudi Arabia for the lesser pilgrimage in Mecca.
    Upon returning from Saudi Arabia, xxxxxxxxxxxx claimed, Yar'Adua
    traveled to Mainz, Germany to consult with kidney experts.
    According to xxxxxxxxxxxx the German specialists instructed
    Yar'Adua to promptly go on dialysis treatment. xxxxxxxxxxxx stated
    that the German-based Julius Berger construction company,
    which had significant financial ties to the Yar'Adua family
    (through the President's elder brother Shehu Yar'Adua), was
    contracted to set up a dialysis unit in Yar'Adua's home in
    Katsina. Doctors from Germany were brought to Katsina to
    train local physicians in dialysis operations, though, xxxxxxxxxxxx
    asserted, Yar'Adua also retained the services of German
    kidney specialists in Wiesbaden, making frequent trips there
    between 2000 and 2002.

    ¶3. (S//NF) Following a 2001 visit to Saudi Arabia, xxxxxxxxxxxx
    said, Yar'Adua's condition worsened, and he was diagnosed
    with chronic renal failure. Upon returning from Saudi
    Arabia, Yar'Adua's dialysis treatments become more rigorous,
    xxxxxxxxxxxx confided, and his dialysis machine was moved into his
    private bedroom. xxxxxxxxxxxx maintained that Yar'Adua likely
    received a kidney transplant in Saudi Arabia in either late
    2001 or early 2002. xxxxxxxxxxxx also claimed that Yar'Adua's
    dialysis machine was removed from his Katsina residence in
    2002 and that discoloration was evident on his face at that
    time, which he assessed was the result of Yar'Adua taking
    steroids and other medications to enable his body to accept a
    transplant. xxxxxxxxxxxx rejected notions Yar'Adua suffered from
    Churgg-Strauss syndrome. Additionally, xxxxxxxxxxxx explained that
    the raised patch of skin often noted by observers on
    President Yar'Adua's right hand is not connected to his
    kidney ailments, but instead the result of a serious car
    accident Yar'Adua sustained in 1999. According to xxxxxxxxxxxx
    after Yar'Adua's car accident, his physicians removed some
    tissue from his buttock area to graft to his injured, and
    badly disfigured hand.

    Abuja 00001016 002 of 003

    ¶4. (S//NF) xxxxxxxxxxxx contended that Yar'Adua "always" craved
    power, dating back to the days when Yar'Adua first contested
    and lost the governorship of Katsina state in 1991. Indeed,
    xxxxxxxxxxxx remarked, Yar'Adua's politically prominent family
    "bred" him to assume office in the future. However, xxxxxxxxxxxx
    asserted that throughout Yar'Adua's administration in
    Katsina, his performance suffered due to his poor health,
    which contributed to his constant fatigue, and to "an
    inability to govern." Whereas Katsina state commissioners
    and permanent secretaries routinely worked twelve-hour days,
    xxxxxxxxxxxx said that governor Yar'Adua himself entered the office
    at 10:00am and returned home around 3:00pm each day.
    According to xxxxxxxxxxxx Yar'Adua seemed disinterested in
    engaging in the requisite politicking that is the hallmark of
    political relations between elected leaders and power brokers
    in the North, and Nigeria generally. Yar'Adua's
    disinclination to travel while governor, even to neighboring
    states to meet with the northern political elite, also
    perpetuated his political isolation.

    ¶5. (S//NF) During his tenure as governor of Katsina, xxxxxxxxxxxx
    maintained, Yar'Adua appeared deliberative and ruthless in
    managing the affairs of his state. While intelligent,
    Yar'Adua, according to xxxxxxxxxxxx neither tolerated disagreement
    nor insubordination. xxxxxxxxxxxx noted that Yar'Adua ultimately
    relied on a handful of confidants, whom xxxxxxxxxxxx considered
    sycophants more than dispassionate consultants. xxxxxxxxxxxx said
    that Yar'Adua, paradoxically, routinely ignored the counsel
    of even his purportedly trusted advisers, preferring instead,
    to make his own decisions. In so doing, xxxxxxxxxxxx said,
    Yar'Adua had been assessed by some other northern elders as
    both an unimpressive leader, and an irresponsible one.

    ¶6. (S//NF) xxxxxxxxxxxx suggested that while Yar'Adua served as
    governor of Katsina, Yar'Adua's wife Hajiya Turai Yar'Adua,
    manipulated him into diverting millions of dollars of funds
    from the state treasury into private Yar'Adua family
    accounts. xxxxxxxxxxxx alleged that Yar'Adua used these stolen
    funds to construct a lavish private residence in Katsina and
    to finance family vacations to the Middle East and the UK
    (Ref A). Though xxxxxxxxxxxx acknowledged that Yar'Adua as former
    governor had built primary and secondary schools in Katsina,
    xxxxxxxxxxxx criticized Yar'Adua for failing to properly fund the
    training of teachers for those schools. As a result, xxxxxxxxxxxxx
    said, unlike in the past, under Yar'Adua's two terms as
    governor, Katsina students consistently failed to meet
    national standards in math and reading assessments. xxxxxxxxxxxx
    said that for Yar'Adua, "it was all about the spectacle of
    governing." Even the roadways in Katsina, xxxxxxxxxxxx said, may
    have been impressive, particularly when compared to the
    deplorable road network in other parts of the North, however,
    xxxxxxxxxxxx alleged that while the roads had been built, the
    contract costs were egregiously inflated and the excess funds
    were siphoned. xxxxxxxxxxxx said some Katsina road contracts had
    been given to non-existent, "ghost" companies, which were
    secretly "owned" by Turai Yar'Adua.

    ¶7. (S//NF) COMMENT:xxxxxxxxxxxx allegations of Turai Yar'Adua's contract-related
    corruption in Katsina also seem credible in light of similar
    claims previously reported by the Mission since she became
    the First Lady (see Ref A, for example).xxxxxxxxxxxx perspective may help shed light on
    President Yar'Adua. As reported (Ref C), we believe the
    President has two sides: one, for international consumption;
    and the other, which turns a blind eye to certain rule of law
    issues, particularly as it pertains to his wife.
    Then-governor Yar'Adua's unwillingness to engage in the
    necessary politicking to build a broad base of support in
    Katsina may have been relatively insignificant against the
    backdrop of insular Katsina state, or even northern regional,
    politics. However, as president of a diverse nation, with
    competing regional interests and powerful patronage networks,
    Yar'Adua's continued political isolation (even within the

    Abuja 00001016 003 of 003

    North) may illustrate, to an extent, why even today Yar'Adua
    has not fully succeeded in truly stamping his authority on
    the PDP or the Presidency.

    ¶8. (S//NF) COMMENT CONT'D: Certainly, Yar'Adua's health
    remains a cause of concern for northern power brokers,
    especially in light of the possibility that Vice President
    Goodluck Jonathan would constitutionally be next in line for
    the presidency in the event of Yar'Adua's demise, although we
    doubt the northern elite would allow this to transpire.
    Opposition presidential aspirant Muhammadu Buhari (All
    Nigeria People's Party) told PolOff May 13 at his Kaduna home
    that given the North's trepidation of power returning to the
    South (if, for instance, Yar'Adua cannot complete his term),
    Buhari feels vindicated in his insistence on challenging the
    President's election. Buhari intimated that members of the
    northern political elite have begun visiting him to affirm
    their allegiance to him, and to support him as he continues
    to contest Yar'Adua's election at the Supreme Court (see Ref
    B). Buhari noted that, in light of news of Yar'Adua's
    troubling health, some northern power brokers now believe
    fresh polls (wherein Buhari emerges the victor) might be the
    best way of ensuring that the North retains the presidency.
    End comment.

    ¶9. (S//NF) xxxxxxxxxxxx END NOTE.
    Sanders

`