A US Ambassador called current President Goodluck Jonathan a "corrupt and ineffective state governor". He also said the baggage that Jonathan will carry with him into State House includes "past reports of corruption,
political thuggery, and payments to "militant
factions".

A Wikileaks Reports stated that as President Yar'adua remains in serious condition in Saudi Arabia, "dark rumors about Yar'Adua's health have given way to broad fears that Yar'Adua is likely entering his final days.

Even if he defies the odds and returns to
resume his duties, at least nominally, his
authority has taken such a battering that he
would be hard pressed to keep rivals in check,
much less enforce his writ in government and
the party.

We will report on December 2 Vice President Jonathan's chequered past as a corrupt and ineffective state governor and his options in the current situation. Whether Jonathan thinks he can ride the constitution to the presidency, or if he is simply playing his cards close to his vest, is unclear. Senator Mark's apparent support for Jonathan is ironic since the ambitious Mark is next in line for the presidency, if both the president and the vice president leave the scene".

Though Wikileaks did not contain the
December 2 Report, in another report the US
Ambassador said: "We are preparing a report
(septel) on the baggage that Jonathan will
carry with him into State House as there have
been past reports of corruption, political thuggery, and payments to "militant
factions" from his days as Governor of
Bayelsa State as well as questions about
his competency in general.

"As Nigerians come to grips with the
probability of Yar'Adua's demise, there
appears to be growing public support -- even
in the North -- for Vice President Jonathan to
assume the presidential mantle. Despite
widespread doubts about Jonathan's integrity
and competence, there is encouraging deference, at least in public, to the principle that the constitutionally- prescribed line of succession should be respected."

See the first Full report below:

SUBJECT: HOPES DIM ON PRESIDENT
YAR'ADUA'S HEALTH
REF: A. QUINN-MCCULLOUGH E-MAIL 12/01
¶B. ABUJA 2152
¶C. ABUJA 2132
Classified By: Political Counselor James P.
McAnulty for reasons in Sections 1.4 (b) and (d).
-------
SUMMARY
-------
¶1. (S) Nigerian President Yar'Adua remains
gravely ill, according to multiple sources. One confidant at Yar'Adua's bedside insisted to Ambassador on December 1 that Yar'Adua is
still unwell but does not yet appear to be at
death's door; however, a doctor treating Yar'Adua told CG Jeddah at about
the same time that the Nigerian president is
in his final days. We suspect the latter report is more credible; so, we are looking at contingencies for the Mission.

USG next steps should include a call to Vice President Goodluck Jonathan to underscore the importance of constitutional due process. A
contingency statement and press guidance
are also being prepared. The prospect that the widely- disparaged Jonathan may be on the cusp of the presidency is a matter of growing
concern for some Nigerians.

END
SUMMARY.
----------------------------------
YAR'ADUA'S CONDITION REMAINS GRAVE
----------------------------------
¶2. (S) Multiple sources agree that President
Yar'Adua remains gravely ill. Late November 30, Kwara State Governor Saraki, one of the Yar'Adua confidants who have gathered in Jeddah, told Ambassador that Yar'Adua was
responding positively to treatment, had returned to his room, and had eaten. On
December 1, however, Saraki acknowledged
that Yar'Adua's condition was serious, even if he didn't appear to be at death's door.

Information Minister Dora Akuniyi, known to be
a straight shooter, separately confirmed to
Ambassador on December 1 that Yar'Adua is in very bad shape, and promised an update later that day.

Also on December 1, a doctor involved in Yar'Adua's treatment at King Faisal Hospital told
CG Jeddah that the Nigerian president's
condition is "malignant and irreversible," and that the end could occur in a matter of days or less (ref e-mail).

¶3. (SBU) Senate President David Mark publicly dismissed calls for Yar'Adua to step down for health reasons, and instead urged Nigerians to pray during the next nine days for Yar'Adua's recovery.

Separately, the ruling People's Democratic Party (PDP) insisted that the National Assembly
had no power to remove Yar'Adua unilaterally
from office, and a PDP spokesperson reaffirmed support for Vice President Goodluck Jonathan.

-----------------------------
FOCUS GROWS ON VICE PRESIDENT
-----------------------------
¶4. (C) As doubts intensify that Yar'Adua will
leave the hospital alive, the role of Vice President Goodluck Jonathan is generating new speculation and concern as Yar'Adua's
constitutionally anointed successor.

¶5. (C) Jonathan Mark, Special Assistant to his
father Senate President David Mark, told PolOff December 1 that Vice President Jonathan visited his father, a close friend and fellow Catholic, on November 29 to seek his advice.

Contrary to his public denial, Jonathan reportedly told Mark that certain quarters had in fact pressured him to resign. The Qcertain quarters had in fact pressured him to resign.

The younger Mark said his father advised the Vice President against resignation, assuring him that he enjoyed the full support of the Senate and the country's constitution.

The younger Mark added that there is considerable discomfort among Senate leaders over the religious and "North-South"
undertones of the debate over Jonathan's
future.
----------
ABUJA 00002163 002 OF 002
NEXT STEPS
----------
¶6. (C) In addition to an immediate telephone
call from Assistant Secretary Carson to Jonathan in the event of Yar'Adua's death, to underscore our support for constitutional due process and not him as a person, it would be appropriate and productive for the White House to issue a
condolence statement from one head of state
to another.

We are also drafting contingency statements and guidance, and are reassessing Mission resources in the event of fast changes on the ground.

The Defense Attache and Regional Affairs Offices are closely monitoring sentiments and
activities in the military.
-----
KUDOS
-----
¶7. (SBU) We would like to thank our colleagues at Embassy Riyadh and especially CG Jeddah for their outstanding support in tracking Yar'Adua's condition.
-------
COMMENT
-------
¶8. (C) Dark rumors about Yar'Adua's health
have given way to broad fears that Yar'Adua is likely entering his final days. Even if he defies the odds and returns to resume his duties, at least nominally, his authority has taken
such a battering that he would be hard pressed to keep rivals in check, much less enforce his writ in government and the party.

We will report on December 2 Vice President
Jonathan's chequered past as a corrupt and ineffective state governor and his options
in the current situation. Whether Jonathan
thinks he can ride the constitution to the presidency, or if he is simply playing his cards close to his vest, is unclear.

Senator Mark's apparent support for Jonathan is
ironic since the ambitious Mark is next in line for the presidency, if both the president and the vice president leave the scene.

SANDERS


www.wikileaks.org/plusd/cables/09ABUJA2163_a.html

www.elombah.com/index.php/special-reports/8056-wikileaks-vice-president-jonathan-a-corrupt-and-ineffective-state-governor-v15-8056

superneutral:
in case of FP

okiezman:


And after all the falsehood gej still wins....what will be your fate after then?

omenka:
"Falsehood"? From whom?

okiezman:


And after all the falsehood gej still wins....what will be your fate after then?

Sylvarresta:
Make I book space first
No be today, Nigerian self don know say na cat we pick to help us guide our meat
Operation vote out the clueless one

Caseless:
grow up!

Caseless:
my broda, infact, na Tiger we pick to be bodyguard to our goats.

oduastates:
Yet they fell for " I had no shoes"

vedaxcool:
They forget to add lying scum of the earth who claimed he had no shoes while in fact he had a fine shirt and owned a toy donkey he rode at his leisure time!

Jonathan is a huge disgrace, Nigerians despite suspecting his incompetence insisted he was next in line as stated in the constitution to succeed Yar Adua during days of yar adua ill health, yet GEJ has continued to violate the constitution with impunity at every juncture, like his recent campaign fund raiser.

Front page, since it is quote wikileaks season,

Cc: Seun, obinoscopy, ishilove, ngwakwe,

okiezman:

omenka:
www.nairaland.com/2060765/wikileaks-buharis-ethnocentrism-jeopardize-nigerias

What is good for the goose is good for the gander.

I'm wishing, Ishilove, Seun, Obinoscopy, OAM4J, Mukina2, Ikenna351, Maclatunji, Afam4eva merry Christmas. Enjoy your day.

Descartes:
Following events with keen interest...

Cogito ergo sum
Wisdom is a function of Humility and indeed the Principle thing

SeverusSnape:
This MAY not make front page.

omenka:
And this is all you loudmouth has to say about this. Smh.

Caseless:
yeah...