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### Viewing cable 09ABUJA202, NIGERIA: SARAKI ON PRESIDENT'S HEALTH, NEED FOR

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Reference ID | Created | Released | Classification | Origin
--- | --- | --- | --- | ---
09ABUJA202 | 2009-02-04 14:55 | 2011-01-22 21:00 | CONFIDENTIAL | Embassy Abuja
Appears in these articles: www.spiegel.de

`

    VZCZCXRO2813
    PP RUEHPA
    DE RUEHUJA #0202/01 0351455
    ZNY CCCCC ZZH
    P 041455Z FEB 09
    FM AMEMBASSY ABUJA
    TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 5175
    INFO RUEHZK/ECOWAS COLLECTIVE PRIORITY
    RUEHSA/AMEMBASSY PRETORIA PRIORITY 1638
    RUEHYD/AMEMBASSY YAOUNDE PRIORITY 0612
    RUEHOS/AMCONSUL LAGOS PRIORITY 0748
    RHMFISS/HQ USAFRICOM STUTTGART GE PRIORITY
    RHEBAAA/DEPT OF ENERGY WASHDC PRIORITY
    RHEHNSC/NSC WASHINGTON DC PRIORITY
    RUEAIIA/CIA WASHINGTON DC PRIORITY
    RUEKDIA/DIA WASHDC PRIORITY
    RHMFISS/HQ USEUCOM VAIHINGEN GE PRIORITY
    RUZEJAA/JAC MOLESWORTH RAF MOLESWORTH UK PRIORITY

` `

    C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 ABUJA 000202

    SIPDIS

    DEPT FOR AF/W, INR/AA
    DOE FOR GEORGE PERSON

    E.O. 12958: DECL: 01/28/2019
    TAGS: PGOV PREL EFIN KCOR TBIO NI
    SUBJECT: NIGERIA: SARAKI ON PRESIDENT'S HEALTH, NEED FOR
    ACTION ON PRIORITIES IN 2009, APPOINTMENT OF FORMER NFIU CHIEF TO GOVERNOR'S FORUM

    Classified By: Political Counselor Walter Pflaumer for reasons 1.4. (b
    & d).

    ¶1. (C) SUMMARY. Ambassador met with Kwara State Governor and
    President of the Governor's Forum (GF) Bukola Saraki on
    January 28. Saraki was his usual self, discussing President
    Yar'Adua's health situation and his own attempt to resolve
    some of the EFCC's issues by appointing the former NFIU Chief
    as Director General of the GF. He also noted that he had
    followed through on the framework for stemming polio
    outbreaks tha tthe Ambassador had given to him in December
    2008 to share with the 36 governors. (NOTE: The Ambassador
    had provided the interagency points on what states needed to
    do better to address polio in Nigeria.) Saraki continues to
    maintain that Yar'Adua does not have lung cancer and noted
    that he is less fatigued and breathing better than in
    September 2008. Saraki told me Yar'Adua recognizes the need
    to take visible action on his seven point agenda in 2009, as
    January 2010 will see the beginning of political maneuvering
    for the 2011 elections. Saraki put the recent reconciliation
    between former President Obasanjo and former VP Atiku in the
    context of preparations for the 2011 elections. He again
    thanked Ambassador for a presentation on polio sent by the
    Mission and noted that the governors agreed to work to
    eradicate polio in their respective states under the umbrella
    of the "Make Your State Polio Free" campaign. END SUMMARY.

    Saraki comments on yar'adua's health
    - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
    ¶2. (C) On the President, Saraki began by saying Yar'Adua will
    remain in Abuja the week of January 26 and plans to travel to
    Katsina and other areas of Nigeria the next week. He holds
    to his view (as a medical doctor) that Yar'Adua is
    chronically ill, suffering from kidney disease, but maintains
    that he knows of no plans to go to Germany for treatment and
    does not believe he has lung cancer or is in need of a kidney
    transplant at this time. Saraki said Yar'Adua wanted to go
    out of Nigeria with his family for vacation, but was
    concerned that international travel would be perceived as
    another medical trip, so decided to stay in Nigeria to allay
    any fears. Regarding Yar'Adua's health in general, Saraki
    said that Yar'Adua suffers from less fatigue and shortness of
    breath than he had in September 2008, and has not had a major
    episode since returning to Nigeria from his September trip to
    Saudi Arabia, implying that his medical regime has given him
    some relief.

    ¶3. (C) NOTE: In a January 27 meeting, Shell Petroleum Vice
    President for Africa Anne Pickard noted to Ambassador that xxxxxxxxxxxx
    the German construction and transport company
    Julius Berger xxxxxxxxxxxx provide transportation to and
    from Germany for doctors looking after Yar'Adua, as well as
    helps ship medical equipment to Abuja.

    Yar'adua realizes need to act in 2009
    - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - --
    ¶4. (C) Saraki asked the Ambassador (given her recent trip
    back) how Nigeria is being viewed in the U.S. these days.
    Ambassador noted that there was still concern that there was
    not more movement on Yar'Adua's 7-point agenda, nor concrete
    steps to improve the Niger Delta situation and the lack of
    movement on the anti-corruption fight remains at the top of
    the list. Saraki said he discussed this with Yar'Adua and
    that Yar'Adua realized he needs to move faster and no longer
    has the liberty to be as deliberative as his nature might
    dictate. Saraki said that he and Yar'Adua are of like minds
    in seeing 2009 as a "make or break" year. In January 2010,
    political camps within the PDP will already be formulating
    their positions on candidates for the 2011 election and it
    would be harder for Ministers and others to take any bold
    actions as they seek their godfathers for 2011. Ambassador
    asked Saraki if he thought the PDP would support Yar'Adua for
    another term, if he so desired. Saraki said he did not know,
    noting there are already others interested (i.e., Atiku) who
    will also be working the party members. Saraki said he did
    not know and has not received any signal from Yar'Adua
    regarding his plans for 2011.

    Abuja 00000202 002 of 002

    Saraki on obasanjo-atiku meeting
    - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
    ¶5. (C) Saraki maintained that former President Obasanjo and
    former VP Atiku were having a "lovefest" in order to prepare
    for the 2011 elections. Asked about internal machinations
    within the PDP lately, which clearly have the governors on
    one side and politicos like Obasanjo and Atiku on the other,
    Saraki said this was the case and he expected things to
    continue in this vein as people begin to decide who they are
    going to back for the 2011 election. Saraki said Atiku would
    officially be coming back into the PDP in March 2009.

    Gov's forum to put efcc back on track
    - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
    ¶6. (C) Saraki said he is trying to work behind the scenes
    getting the issues surrounding the Economic and Financial
    Crimes Commission "back on track." He maintained this was
    the motivation behind hiring former Nigerian Financial
    Intelligence Unit (NFIU) Director Ashishano Bayo Okauru as
    Director General of the Governor's Forum (announced publicly
    on January 27). Saraki said Okauru is not/not being pursued
    on corruption nor national security grounds and neither is
    there an arrest pending on him. According to Saraki, Okauru
    has worked out his "resignation issues." (COMMENT: Given
    previous EFCC focus on the Saraki family, we are skeptical of
    the Governor's comments as he has a vested in terest in the
    EFCC taking its spotlight off his family. END COMMENT.)

    State-level polio eradication campaigns
    - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
    ¶7. (C) Saraki said the governors were appreciative of the
    polio presentation the Ambassador sent to the Governors'
    Forum in December, noting the attendance of Ministry of
    Health officials at the forum. The governors agreed to a
    campaign to make their states polio-free and report on polio
    issues at each GF meeting. Further developments will be
    reported septel.

    ¶8. (C) COMMENT: Although Saraki is very plugged in with
    President Yar'Adua and holds a lot of political sway with
    many governors, particuarly in the north, we always need to
    weigh his motives with the information he provides in
    one-on-one meetings. He certainly sees himself as a
    potential political candidate at sometime and sees Yar'Adua
    as one of his best vehicles to get there. On the other hand,
    he clearly has fears about the Obasanjo-Atiku reunion as they
    would be a more difficult faction of the PDP to control.

    ¶9. (U) This cable was coordinated with Consulate Lagos.
    SANDERS

`