Cable Viewer

Currently released so far... 5939 / 251,287

### Articles

Brazil Sri Lanka United Kingdom Sweden Editorial United States Latin America Egypt Yemen Jordan

### Browse latest releases

2010/11 2010/12 2011/01 2011/02 2011/03
2010/11/28 2010/11/29 2010/11/30
2010/12/01 2010/12/02 2010/12/03 2010/12/04 2010/12/05 2010/12/06 2010/12/07 2010/12/08 2010/12/09 2010/12/10 2010/12/11 2010/12/12 2010/12/13 2010/12/14 2010/12/15 2010/12/16 2010/12/17 2010/12/18 2010/12/19 2010/12/20 2010/12/21 2010/12/22 2010/12/23 2010/12/24 2010/12/25 2010/12/26 2010/12/27 2010/12/28 2010/12/29 2010/12/30
2011/01/01 2011/01/02 2011/01/04 2011/01/05 2011/01/07 2011/01/09 2011/01/10 2011/01/11 2011/01/12 2011/01/13 2011/01/14 2011/01/15 2011/01/16 2011/01/17 2011/01/18 2011/01/19 2011/01/20 2011/01/21 2011/01/22 2011/01/23 2011/01/24 2011/01/25 2011/01/26 2011/01/27 2011/01/28 2011/01/29 2011/01/30 2011/01/31
2011/02/01 2011/02/02 2011/02/03 2011/02/04 2011/02/05 2011/02/06 2011/02/07 2011/02/08 2011/02/09 2011/02/10 2011/02/11 2011/02/12 2011/02/13 2011/02/14 2011/02/15 2011/02/16 2011/02/17 2011/02/18 2011/02/19 2011/02/20 2011/02/21 2011/02/22 2011/02/23 2011/02/24 2011/02/25 2011/02/26 2011/02/27 2011/02/28
2011/03/01 2011/03/02 2011/03/03 2011/03/04 2011/03/05 2011/03/06 2011/03/07 2011/03/08 2011/03/09 2011/03/10 2011/03/11 2011/03/13 2011/03/14 2011/03/15 2011/03/16 2011/03/17 2011/03/18 2011/03/19

### Browse by creation date

66 72 73 75 79 86 88 89 90 00 01 02 03 04 05 06 07 08 09 10
1966/12
1972/02 1972/08
1973/04
1975/03
1979/08
1986/05
1988/01
1989/12
1990/01 1990/07 1990/08 1990/10
2000/06 2000/09 2000/11
2001/02 2001/03 2001/07 2001/10
2002/02 2002/03 2002/11
2003/02 2003/03 2003/04 2003/05 2003/06 2003/07 2003/08 2003/09 2003/10 2003/11 2003/12
2004/01 2004/02 2004/03 2004/04 2004/05 2004/06 2004/07 2004/08 2004/09 2004/10 2004/11 2004/12
2005/01 2005/02 2005/03 2005/04 2005/05 2005/06 2005/07 2005/08 2005/09 2005/10 2005/11 2005/12
2006/01 2006/02 2006/03 2006/04 2006/05 2006/06 2006/07 2006/08 2006/09 2006/10 2006/11 2006/12
2007/01 2007/02 2007/03 2007/04 2007/05 2007/06 2007/07 2007/08 2007/09 2007/10 2007/11 2007/12
2008/01 2008/02 2008/03 2008/04 2008/05 2008/06 2008/07 2008/08 2008/09 2008/10 2008/11 2008/12
2009/01 2009/02 2009/03 2009/04 2009/05 2009/06 2009/07 2009/08 2009/09 2009/10 2009/11 2009/12
2010/01 2010/02

### Browse by origin

A B C D F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W Y Z
Embassy Athens Embassy Asuncion Embassy Astana Embassy Asmara Embassy Ashgabat Embassy Ankara Embassy Amman Embassy Algiers Embassy Addis Ababa Embassy Accra Embassy Abuja Embassy Abu Dhabi Embassy Abidjan Consulate Amsterdam American Institute Taiwan, Taipei
Embassy Bujumbura Embassy Buenos Aires Embassy Budapest Embassy Bucharest Embassy Brussels Embassy Bridgetown Embassy Bratislava Embassy Brasilia Embassy Bogota Embassy Bishkek Embassy Bern Embassy Berlin Embassy Belgrade Embassy Beirut Embassy Beijing Embassy Banjul Embassy Bangkok Embassy Bandar Seri Begawan Embassy Bamako Embassy Baku Embassy Baghdad Consulate Barcelona
Embassy Copenhagen Embassy Conakry Embassy Colombo Embassy Chisinau Embassy Caracas Embassy Canberra Embassy Cairo Consulate Curacao Consulate Ciudad Juarez Consulate Chennai Consulate Casablanca Consulate Cape Town
Embassy Dushanbe Embassy Dublin Embassy Doha Embassy Djibouti Embassy Dhaka Embassy Dar Es Salaam Embassy Damascus Embassy Dakar Consulate Dubai
Embassy Freetown
Embassy Guatemala Embassy Gaborone Consulate Guadalajara
Embassy Helsinki Embassy Harare Embassy Hanoi Consulate Hermosillo Consulate Hamburg
Iran RPO Dubai Embassy Islamabad Consulate Istanbul
Embassy Jakarta Consulate Jerusalem Consulate Jeddah
Embassy Kyiv Embassy Kuwait Embassy Kuala Lumpur Embassy Kinshasa Embassy Kigali Embassy Khartoum Embassy Kathmandu Embassy Kampala Embassy Kabul
Embassy Luxembourg Embassy Luanda Embassy London Embassy Ljubljana Embassy Lisbon Embassy Lima Embassy Lilongwe Embassy La Paz Consulate Lagos
Mission USNATO Embassy Muscat Embassy Moscow Embassy Montevideo Embassy Monrovia Embassy Minsk Embassy Mexico Embassy Mbabane Embassy Maputo Embassy Manama Embassy Managua Embassy Malabo Embassy Madrid Consulate Munich Consulate Montreal Consulate Monterrey Consulate Milan
Embassy New Delhi Embassy Nassau Embassy Nairobi Consulate Naples
Embassy Ouagadougou Embassy Ottawa Embassy Oslo
Embassy Pristina Embassy Pretoria Embassy Prague Embassy Port Au Prince Embassy Phnom Penh Embassy Paris Embassy Paramaribo Embassy Panama Consulate Peshawar
Embassy Quito
REO Basrah Embassy Rome Embassy Riyadh Embassy Riga Embassy Reykjavik Embassy Rangoon Embassy Rabat Consulate Rio De Janeiro Consulate Recife
Secretary of State Embassy Stockholm Embassy Sofia Embassy Skopje Embassy Singapore Embassy Seoul Embassy Sarajevo Embassy Santo Domingo Embassy Santiago Embassy Sanaa Embassy San Salvador Embassy San Jose Consulate Strasbourg Consulate Shenyang Consulate Shanghai Consulate Sao Paulo
Embassy Tunis Embassy Tripoli Embassy Tokyo Embassy The Hague Embassy Tel Aviv Embassy Tehran Embassy Tegucigalpa Embassy Tbilisi Embassy Tashkent Embassy Tallinn Consulate Tijuana
USUN New York USEU Brussels US Mission Geneva US Interests Section Havana US Delegation, Secretary UNVIE Embassy Ulaanbaatar
Embassy Vilnius Embassy Vienna Embassy Vatican Consulate Vladivostok
Embassy Windhoek Embassy Wellington Embassy Warsaw
Embassy Yerevan Embassy Yaounde
Embassy Zagreb

### Browse by tag

A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z
AR AJ ASEC AE AEMR AF AMGT APER AG AM AS AU AORC AGMT AFIN ABUD ATRN AL APECO ACOA AO AX AMED ADCO AODE AFFAIRS AC ASIG ABLD AA AFU ASUP AROC ATFN AVERY APCS AER ASECKFRDCVISKIRFPHUMSMIGEG AEC ASEAN AID
BU BM BEXP BR BA BRUSSELS BL BK BO BILAT BTIO BH BE BX BIDEN BY BG BF BB BC BBSR BMGT BTIU
CH CU CJAN CMGT CVIS CO CA CE COUNTER CASC CBW CG CLINTON CI CS CDG CIA CACM CDB CD CV CF CN CAN CIS CM CONDOLEEZZA COE CR CY CTM COUNTRY CLEARANCE CPAS CWC CT CKGR CB CACS COM CJUS CARSON CL CODEL COUNTERTERRORISM
DJ DA DEAX DR DHS DOE DEA DK DISENGAGEMENT DS DTRA DOD
EINV ECON ENRG EPET ETRD EAGR ELAB EUN EFIN EU EAID EIND ETTC EG ECPS EWWT ES EXTERNAL EMIN ECIP EINDETRD EN EAIR EZ ER ET EUC EI ELTN EREL ECIN EFIS EINT EC ETC ECONEFIN ENVR ETRDEINVECINPGOVCS ECA ELN EFTA ENIV EINVETC EINN ENGR EUR ESA ENERG EK ENGY ETRO ETRDEINVTINTCS ESENV ENVI ETRDECONWTOCS ECONCS ENNP ELECTIONS ECUN EINVEFIN
FR FJ FINR FAO FTAA FREEDOM FI FARC FBI FMLN
GM GZ GG GTMO GOI GV GH GA GE GT GR GTIP GCC GAZA GANGS GY
HO HURI HILLARY HA HU HR HUMAN HYMPSK HK HSTC
IR IS IZ IN IT INRB IAEA ID IO IV ICTY IQ ICAO INTERPOL IPR IRAJ INRA INRO IC IIP ILC ITPHUM IWC ISRAELI IRAQI ICRC IMO IF IEFIN INTELSAT IL IA IBRD IMF INR IRC ITRA IACI ICJ ITALY ITALIAN
JAMES JA JO JOSEPH JP JOHNNIE JM JUS
KCRM KCOR KDEM KPAO KG KTIP KICC KNNP KV KBCT KPAL KTFN KU KSPR KJUS KHLS KTIA KWBG KMDR KGHG KN KUNR KS KIRF KISL KFRD KIPR KAWC KPWR KCIP KSUM KWAC KMIG KOLY KZ KAWK KSEC KIFR KDRG KDEMAF KFIN KGIC KOMC KGCC KPIN KBIO KHIV KSCA KE KPKO KNUC KPLS KIRC KACT KRAD KCOM KMCA KHDP KVPR KDEV KWMN KMPI KFRDCVISCMGTCASCKOCIASECPHUMSMIGEG KTLA KCFC KPRP KCFE KOCI KTDB KMRS KLIG KGIT KSTC KPAK KNEI KSEP KPOA KFLU KNUP KNNPMNUC KO KTER KHUM KRFD KBTR KDDG KWWMN KFLO KSAF KBTS KPRV KNPP KNAR KWMM KERG KFRDKIRFCVISCMGTKOCIASECPHUMSMIGEG KTBT KCRS KRVC KSTH KREL KNSD KTEX KPAI KHSA KOMS KVIR KR
LY LG LE LH LU LI LO LOG LT LAB
MCAP MO MNUC MARR MASS MPOS MOPS MAR MD MX MZ MY MEPP MA MR ML MIL MTCRE MOPPS MTCR MAPP MU MG MASC MCC MK MTRE MP MDC MEPI MRCRE MI MT MQADHAFI MAPS MUCN MASSMNUC MERCOSUR MC MV
NATO NI NZ NG NU NO NL NIPP NPT NRR NE NS NAR NPG NK NSG NA NT NASA NGO NP NSF NATIONAL
OVIP OTRA OPRC OSCI OTR OVP OREP ODIP OPDC OIIP OFFICIALS OSAC OAS OEXC OFDP OECD OSCE OPIC OPCW OIE OIC
PINR PGOV PBTS PREL PTER PE PO PROP PHUM PBIO PARM PECON PINS PM PHSA PK PREF PL PAK PINT POGOV PINL POL PSOE PKFK PGOF PA PUNE PARMS PORG PMIL PTERE PF PALESTINIAN PY PGGV PNR POV PAO PFOR PHALANAGE PARTY PRGOV PNAT PROV PEL PINF PGOVE POLINT PRL PRAM PMAR PGOVLO PHUMBA PLN PHUS PHUMPREL PG PGOC POLITICS PEPR PSI PU POLITICAL PARTIES
QA
RS RU RO RW REGION RP RIGHTS RICE ROBERT RF RFE
SP SOCI STEINBERG SN SA SY SNAR SMIG SO SENV SCUL SR SF SG SW SU SL SZ SHUM SYR ST SANC SC SAN SIPRS SK SH SI SNARCS
TI TX TS TU TW TC TERRORISM TPHY TRGY TIP TBIO TSPA TH TR TT TO TFIN TD TSPL TZ TK TNGD TINT TRSY TP
UK UZ UNMIK UN US UG UNSC UP USEU UV UY UNGA UNO USUN UNESCO UNHRC UE UAE UNEP USTR UNHCR UNDP USAID UNCHS UNAUS UNCHC UNDC UNDESCO
VE VZ VT VTPREL VN VM
WI WTRO WTO WA WZ WMO WTRQ WHO WWARD WB WBG WEU WHA
XF XA XG XT XM XR XS XL XK XH XY XC XZ XW XD XE
YI YM YE YMCS
ZP ZR ZI ZU ZB ZF ZK ZANU ZOELLICK ZA ZO ZJ

### Browse by classification

CONFIDENTIAL CONFIDENTIAL//NOFORN SECRET SECRET//NOFORN UNCLASSIFIED UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY

### Community resources

Follow us on Twitter Check our Reddit Twitter this Digg this page Contact us on IRC

courage is contagious

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

If you are new to these pages, please read an introduction on the structure of a cable as well as how to discuss them with others. See also the FAQs
Understanding cables
Every cable message consists of three parts:

- The top box shows each cables unique reference number, when and by whom it originally was sent, and what its initial classification was.
- The middle box contains the header information that is associated with the cable. It includes information about the receiver(s) as well as a general subject.
- The bottom box presents the body of the cable. The opening can contain a more specific subject, references to other cables (browse by origin to find them) or additional comment. This is followed by the main contents of the cable: a summary, a collection of specific topics and a comment section.

To understand the justification used for the classification of each cable, please use this WikiSource article as reference.
Discussing cables
If you find meaningful or important information in a cable, please link directly to its unique reference number. Linking to a specific paragraph in the body of a cable is also possible by copying the appropriate link (to be found at theparagraph symbol). Please mark messages for social networking services like Twitter with the hash tags #cablegate and a hash containing the reference ID e.g. #08ABUJA1016.

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

`