Part of the batch of diplomatic cables released by Wikileaks today includes this secret cable from the US embassy in Abuja made during the political turmoil in the country early this year when Yar'Adua was smuggled back into Nigeria

http://www.wikileaks.ch/cable/2010/02/10ABUJA215.html


VZCZCXYZ0000
OO RUEHWEB

DE RUEHUJA #0215/01 0571637
ZNY SSSSS ZZH
O R 261637Z FEB 10
FM AMEMBASSY ABUJA
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 0436
INFO RHEHNSC/WHITE HOUSE NATIONAL SECURITY COUNCIL WASHINGTON DC
RHMFISS/DEPT OF ENERGY WASHINGTON DC
RHMFISS/DEPT OF HOMELAND SECURITY WASHINGTON DC
RHMFISS/DEPT OF JUSTICE WASHINGTON DC
RHMFISS/HQ USAFRICOM STUTTGART GE
RUCNDT/USMISSION USUN NEW YORK 0014
RUEAIIA/CIA WASHINGTON DC
RUEHC/USAID WASHDC 0004
RUEHDS/AMEMBASSY ADDIS ABABA 0006
RUEHFR/AMEMBASSY PARIS 0028
RUEHJI/AMCONSUL JEDDAH 0027
RUEHLO/AMEMBASSY LONDON 0025
RUEHNM/AMEMBASSY NIAMEY
RUEHOS/AMCONSUL LAGOS
RUEHRH/AMEMBASSY RIYADH 0027
RUEHRO/AMEMBASSY ROME 0027
RUEHUJA/AMEMBASSY ABUJA
RUEKJCS/OSD WASHINGTON DC
RUEKJCS/SECDEF WASHINGTON DC
RUZEJAA/JAC MOLESWORTH RAF MOLESWORTH UK
Friday, 26 February 2010, 16:37
S E C R E T ABUJA 000215
SENSITIVE
SIPDIS
STATE FOR AF/FO, AF/W, AF/RSA, INR/AA
NSC FOR GAVIN
OSD FOR DASD HUDDLESTON
LONDON FOR POL (PLORD)
PARIS FOR POL (BAIN AND KANEDA)
ROME FOR AF WATCHER
ADDIS ABABA ALSO FOR USAU
EO 12958 DECL: 2020/02/26
TAGS PREL, PGOV, PINS, PINR, PTER, MARR, NI
SUBJECT: GOODLUCK JONATHAN REMAINS ACTING PRESIDENT OF NIGERIA
REF: ABUJA 207; FEB 24 A/S CARSON-AMB SANDERS TELCON
CLASSIFIED BY: Robin R. Sanders, Ambassador, STATE, EXEC; REASON: 1.4(A), (B), (D)
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SUMMARY
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¶1. (C) Ambassador met February 26 with Acting President (AgP) Dr. Goodluck Jonathan at the Vice President’s official residence, Aguda House, in Abuja to review the current political situation following the return earlier this week of ailing President Yar’Adua. Moves are afoot, between Jonathan and key northerners in the lead such as former Head of State Gen. Abdulsalami Abubakar, to encourage the Yar’Adua family to let go and let the President resign with dignity. This will allow Jonathan to serve as interim President until elections and also allow him to designate a vice president. Given the dysfunctional level of the current Cabinet, Jonathan said that once this happens, he will dissolve the cabinet, after consulting with the Council of State. Both moves, he believes, will appease Northern politicians, as he suspects that more northerners will support the resignation idea. Jonathan claims he wants to do a good job over the next 12 months, and leave a legacy of credible elections, electoral reform, including replacing the Independent National Electoral Commission’s (INEC) chairman and all of the commissioners. He promised the Ambassador that he would look at her suggestion of using terminal leave for the INEC chairman, which could have him out earlier than June. The Acting President also agreed to allow U.S.-UK technical assistance to help improve the voter registry and provide for a parallel vote tabulation. He expects things to calm down in the next 10-14 days, will not leave the country until things are resolved, and has opened channels with the military. Chief of Army Staff (COAS) was leaving Jonathan’s private office when Ambassador was entering. End Summary.
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WHO’S IN CHARGE?
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¶2. (C) Jonathan told the Ambassador “everyone’s confused” about who is in charge of Nigeria. There has been an increase in the level of uncertainty in the internal political situation following ailing President Yar’Adua’s return, which was shrouded in secrecy, during the early hours February 24. The AgP said he was “unhappy” that the first statement issued following Yar’Adua’s return referred to Jonathan as “Vice President.” The GON issued a second statement February 25 that reversed course and refers to Jonathan as the Acting President. Jonathan said that the Villa received a lot of pressure to correct this error so that the lines of leadership and executive direction were clear.
¶3. (C) The AgP lamented, “This terrible situation in the country today has been created by four people: Turai Yar’Adua [the ailing President’s wife], his Chief Security Officer (CSO) [Yusuf Mohammed Tilde], his Aide-de-Camp (ADC)[Col. Mustapha Onoedieva] and Professor Tanimu Yakubu [Yar’Adua’s Chief Economic Advisor].” The AgP said he does not know their motives, but expected it was likely for nefarious purposes. He added Minister of Agriculture Abba Ruma and Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Minister Adamu Aliero had provided a second-tier of layering to the bubble surrounding Yar’Adua. The AgP noted that “people are angry,” and did not want to allow those surrounding Yar’Adua to replicate the control and access similar to what they had done in Jeddah for the past three months.
¶4. (C) Jonathan said the CSO and ADC saw him separately to let him know that they did not intend to mistreat the AgP and expressed their willingness to work with him (which the AgP doubts). The AgP said he told them both “then the best thing is to stop the charade.” The AgP told the Ambassador he believes Yar’Adua is in a semi-comatose state without an understanding of what is going on around him.
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ENCOURAGE PRESIDENT TO RESIGN
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¶5. (C) The AgP said that Former Head of State Gen. Abdulsalami Abubakar, who according to Jonathan has become one of his closest advisors, worked out a strategy where he would reach out to other former Nigerian Heads of State, including former Head of State Gen. Yakubu Gowon, to approach those closest to Yar’Adua, especially his wife Turai, to try to convince them that the best, and most dignified step to take for the country and for Yar’Adua as a human being would be for the President to resign. This action would constitutionally make Jonathan Nigeria’s President. Doing such would also be easier than convincing two-thirds of the 42-member Federal Executive Committee (FEC) to declare the ailing President “physically incapacitated and medically unfit” to continue in the office of the Presidency. Jonathan said he and his wife, Patience, visited Turai as a humanistic gesture to express their best wishes for the recovery of Yar’Adua and out of respect for his ailing boss. The AgP said under no circumstances did he want Turai to come to his official residence.
¶6. (C) Once Yar’Adua resigns and Jonathan becomes interim President, he said he would choose a Vice President that could appease the Northerners by working with them to identify a
candidate. AgP Jonathan also shared that until Yar’Adua resigns, and things come down he would not leave the country. (N.B. This is in reference to the POTUS invitation to attend the April 12-13 Nuclear Security Summit). The issue of identifying a northerner as a vice presidential candidate, Jonathan underscored this appears to be the thing most on the minds of the northerners as they feel cheated out of the Presidency with Yar’Adua’s illness.
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FEARS ABOUT MILITARY
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¶7. (C) Jonathan said “everyone, including the Army Chief of Staff (COAS) [LTG Abdulrahman Bello Dambazau] and Chief of the President Guards Brigade [BG Abdul Mustapha]” are concerned about the confusion over who is the executive of the nation. The AgP said the military chiefs are making sure no politicians are reaching out to the rank-and-file, and encouraging the military to stay in the barracks so that the uncertain political situation does not generate coup-like behavior emanating from the mid-ranks because of the confusion. As the Ambassador began her meeting with the Acting President, he had just concluded a meeting with COAS LTG Dambazau (see reftel A for Ambassador’s conversation with the COAS February 24).
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USG ADVICE: BECOME A NATIONAL FIGURE
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¶8. (C) Based on points developed telephonically with Assistant Secretary Carson (ref B), Ambassador encouraged Jonathan to change the perception that he is a regional figure, and be seen, rather, as a national figure who has the best interest of the nation at heart. Ambassador expressed that given that the U.S. and Nigeria are very best friends, we feel the need to share our concerns, as any good friend would do, and that we are counting on him to steer Nigeria through this troubled and uncertain period. At the moment, Jonathan’s detractors believe he is a surrogate for former President Obasanjo. Ambassador advised the AgP that he needs to publicly demonstrate that he is the sole executor of national issues, not being directed or serving a political purpose for Obasanjo or others, so that his leadership would not be in question and the polity would accept that he had the best interest of nation at hand. The AgP said he appreciated our advice, including publicly holding Obasanjo at arms length. He said he would consider taking steps, including possibly convoking the entire diplomatic corps to brief them on the current political climate, using this and other events to demonstrate that he is his own man,
and diminish the appearance he is a regional leader.
¶9. (C) [b]Jonathan noted that the Northern politicians would always be uncomfortable with him as president, and he understood the ruling People’s Democratic Party (PDP) picked him as Yar’Adua’s running mate in 2007 because he represented the Niger Delta. Jonathan said he was handling Niger Delta issues until the Ministry for Niger Delta Affairs was created in September 2008, allowing him to distance himself from being viewed as someone who could only work on that issue. “I was not chosen to be Vice President because I had good political experience,” he said. “I did not. There were a lot more qualified people around to be Vice President, but that does not mean I am not my own man.” [/b]However, he said, with the changed circumstances, the AgP said that his sole focus is to leave a legacy of both electoral reform and credible elections, including changing the entire Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC). The AgP said he was appreciative of the Ambassador’s remarks made during the National Day reception February 25 and Assistant Secretary Carson’s February 24 statement because both provided him with the courage to press forward.
¶10. (C) Jonathan shared initially, he had the intention to dissolve the Cabinet early the week of February 22, and had planned to make that announcement at the February 24 FEC meeting, but found out that Yar’Adua was returning, and thus dissuaded him from acting. He said the last Cabinet meeting was disastrous and included yelling and screaming, and it is totally dysfunctional. He said he is “not a politician” and had very limited experience as an administrator, but concluded, “I will not tolerate a brawl.” Jonathan said he will dissolve the Cabinet once he knows people are more comfortable with him being the Acting President or if the current strategy to convince Yar’Adua surrogates and family members to allow the ailing president to resign.
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ELECTORAL REFORM AND INEC
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¶11. (C) Jonathan agreed to the USG offer of technical assistance to review and update Nigeria’s national voter registry and funding for a Parallel Voter Tabulation (PVT). The AgP asked us for a letter formally offering this assistance (NB: we are providing to him today). The Ambassador noted the technical assistance could begin as early as the end of March with his approval (which he gave) with software installed that can assist with cleaning up the voter registry.
¶12. (C) On the INEC Chairman, Ambassador told the AgP that the USG
would not continue any election assistance if Iwu remains on seat after June 2010. She described the meeting between A/S Carson and Iwu, noting the latter showed no signs of respect for good governance. The AgP said he understood the USG would not be able to continue providing technical assistance if the current INEC chairman remains beyond his five-year mandate that ends in June 2010. Ambassador raised the issue of using Iwu’s terminal leave to get him out sooner. The AgP said he would ask the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF) to inquire if the current chair could take terminal leave, which could have him out as soon as next month. Jonathan again said that once he solidifies his position as Acting President or President, and that once the political environment is less uncertain, he would begin taking steps to replace all thirteen of INEC’s commissioners, and work toward replacing Iwu earlier than June provided he can confirm the amount of terminal leave Iwu has. However, the AgP noted this would not be easy, but he is committed to seeing this through.
¶13. (C) Jonathan said he does not anticipate standing for elections in 2011 and that he is not working towards being a presidential candidacy. He wants to put into place an electoral structure that will be ready for national elections. He did, however, note that, “if they want me to run, that will be something to consider at that time.” However, he stressed that his focus now and for the next 12 months will be on “doing a good job and witnessing respectable and credible elections in 2011.”
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FIRM UP THE PARTNERSHIP AGAINST TERRORISM
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¶14. (S) Ambassador raised with the AgP the case of Mohamed Ibrahim Ahmed (aka “Talha”). Talha was indicted earlier this week in New York on terrorism charges. Nigeria’s State Security Service (SSS) was about to release Talha onto an international flight before Nigerian police intervened and took him into custody. Ambassador underscored that the SSS’ close call in violating an Interpol Red Notice would not be helpful in making the case for Nigeria’s removal from the U.S. Transportation Safety Administration List of “Countries of Concern.” Ambassador also asked that SSS appear as witnesses when requested to demonstrate Nigeria remains a partner to the U.S. in the international fight against terrorism. She added that at least at the Director level, SSS not only knew about the Interpol notice, but simply said they did not want to hold him any longer. Ambassador added that the GON police forces did the right thing and stepped in to block the suspect from boarding the plane. He is now in police custody. Ambassador officially requested that he be turned over to the FBI agents here to escort him to the U.S. to stand trial.
¶15. (S) The AgP said he would call in SSS Director General Gadzama to clarify the security agency’s role in Talha’s near-release and that if the three SSS officers implicated had taken such action without authorization, they would face serious implications, including termination. Ambassador also took the opportunity to request Jonathan stop repeating that the December 25 attempting bombing case involving Nigerian Abdulmutallab was an “one-off aberration” and that Nigeria indeed does have foreign terrorist links and elements operating in country, as exemplified by Talha.
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COMMENT
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¶16. (C) After two days of uncertainty, that included signals of competing heads of state emanating from the dueling titular references within a Villa press release, it appears that Jonathan has plans to firmly take the reigns of the presidency, with the support from key northerners and the senior leadership of the military. As the Ambassador stepped out of her meeting, at least two Ministers and a Governor were waiting to consult with the Acting President. The Acting President’s bottom line is that he would do his best in the job in the next twelve months. He also wanted to ensure we understood he would “not be manipulated by anyone.” We believe the USG is firmly placed to advance our bilateral agenda, including the creation of an environment conducive to free, fair, and credible elections with the approval and assistance of Nigeria’s de facto head of state. Even if he decides to contest for the presidency, Jonathan seems sincere in wanting to leave a lasting legacy of electoral reform for Africa’s most populous nation. It is always hard to judge how some will behave (or surprise you) when leadership is unexpectedly thrown in their lap. The verdict is out on Jonathan and his previously underwhelming personality and performance needs to keep us in the cautious lane, but so far, so good. Things are quiet. The COAS is doing the right things. Jonathan is reaching out to key respected northerners, like Abdulsalami, which we see as a good thing. Our next steps should be to continue to encourage the AgP on the right path; help on the push back on Obasanjo through former and current USG officials; and, if the drum beat calling for the ailing President to resign picks up speed, we should ensure that we indicate our support for this given that it probably the best thing for the country. End Comment. SANDERS

http://www.wikileaks.ch/cable/2010/02/10ABUJA215.html

Interesting

Not bad at all!

wtf!

Mr. Assange, u go wound oh.
So jonathan has no balls, he was all along waitg 4 support while identifying 4 ppl running/milking the country.

Ambassador also took the opportunity to request Jonathan stop repeating that the December 25 attempting bombing case involving Nigerian Abdulmutallab was an “one-off aberration” and that Nigeria indeed does have foreign terrorist links and elements operating in country, as exemplified by Talha.

Damn! It sounds different when foreigners tell us what we already know!!

@topic
One things stands out though. The ambassador was spying and reporting every visit and meeting that shouldn't have been US business, thank God their interest was friendly.

ode remo:

Mr. Assange, u go wound oh.
So jonathan has no balls, he was all along waitg 4 support while identifying 4 ppl running/milking the country.

Would you have been able to handle the Yar Adua situation? GEJ did extremely well.
Would you have been able to lay the wreath for the unknown soldier after being warned to do so only at the risk of being shot by snipers?

Its easy for armchair commentators to declare strange stuff from far of sha.

So we agree that GEJ is stooge for OBj?

Jonathan was nobody's stooge and infact not even among the influential politicians but indeed he handled the situation very well. It is good to know what is going on behind the scene. We always know that US have influence in Nigeria, whether good or bad

@ beaf,If by xtremely well u r talking of a docile agp watching turaya and comp.loot the state coffer, then i have my doubt on gej.
We r not yet in a true democrasy anyway.
We still have a long way to go in this country @ shaping our constitution, instutions, structures aswell.
God knows how much was stolen during those  brief moment of madness.

Beaf:

Damn! It sounds different when foreigners tell us what we already know!!

@topic
One things stands out though. The ambassador was spying and reporting every visit and meeting that shouldn't have been US business, thank God their interest was friendly.

I think ambassadors are expected to report whatever they do in their host countries.

It's quite interesting to note that the U.S actually desires a free and fair election in Nigeria even more than many Nigerians.

@blacksta, is he also a stooge for Abdulsalam and Gowon? Obj has a dirty reputatn and Gej was simply advised 2 stay away so as not to lend credence 2 Northern suspicion that he (Obj) had planned the whole scenario from the outset and thereby jeopardize his chance of gathering the entire nations support. Put on your sense na.

Incredible story; does Nigeria have its own embassy cables on other countries? Only God knows what the British embassy cables on Nigeria would look. Jonanthan? I doubt. Aint no balls!

ASSANGE! I dey hail oh!

Very interesting!. .alot of things goes on behind the screen. .we public are only moved or react to what we read in the media.

wonder what is going on in aso rock now. . .looks like those guys play a game of cards!

Julian is topping the list to win Time Magazine Man of the yr award.

_wikileaks:

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¶16. (C) After two days of uncertainty, that included signals of competing heads of state emanating from the dueling titular references within a Villa press release, it appears that Jonathan has plans to firmly take the reigns of the presidency, with the support from key northerners and the senior leadership of the military. As the Ambassador stepped out of her meeting, at least two Ministers and a Governor were waiting to consult with the Acting President. The Acting President’s bottom line is that he would do his best in the job in the next twelve months. He also wanted to ensure we understood he would “not be manipulated by anyone.” We believe the USG is firmly placed to advance our bilateral agenda, including the creation of an environment conducive to free, fair, and credible elections with the approval and assistance of Nigeria’s de facto head of state. Even if he decides to contest for the presidency, Jonathan seems sincere in wanting to leave a lasting legacy of electoral reform for Africa’s most populous nation. It is always hard to judge how some will behave (or surprise you) when leadership is unexpectedly thrown in their lap. The verdict is out on Jonathan and his previously underwhelming personality and performance needs to keep us in the cautious lane, but so far, so good. Things are quiet. The COAS is doing the right things. Jonathan is reaching out to key respected northerners, like Abdulsalami, which we see as a good thing. Our next steps should be to continue to encourage the AgP on the right path; help on the push back on Obasanjo through former and current USG officials; and, if the drum beat calling for the ailing President to resign picks up speed, we should ensure that we indicate our support for this given that it probably the best thing for the country. End Comment. SANDERS

http://www.wikileaks.ch/cable/2010/02/10ABUJA215.html

Bold noted

Hmmmm. . .interesting revelations

Very interesting stuff. Also, Abdulsalami is a good guy.

Hehehehhh! Na we be this ? Ambassador Robin Sanders alias James Bond.

thehomer:

I think ambassadors are expected to report whatever they do in their host countries.

It's quite interesting to note that the U.S actually desires a free and fair election in Nigeria even more than many Nigerians.

not nigerian ambassadors they are expected to report on current Real Estate trends and advance payment methods  

Indeed it is wonderful to realize that Abdulsalami Abubakar and indeed, the ex-COAS Dambazau were two of the good guys of the whole Yar'Adua episode. Jonathan was also shown to either be spineless or overtly cautious. But i think the more explosive cables would be the ones around the periods when there were coups.

Remove the s in shell and that is exactly what they are.

Its time we rise up and posses our possession.

DapoBear:

Very interesting stuff. Also, Abdulsalami is a good guy.

Abdulsalami has been a blessing to this country. .its unfortunate that he is hardly recognised for ALL he has done

No be na wa. . .na real wa!

Abdulsalami is regarded very highly at the UN.

Moves are afoot, between Jonathan and k[b]ey northerners in the lead such as former Head of State Gen. Abdulsalami Abubakar, to encourage the Yar’Adua family to let go and let the President resign with dignity. [/b]This will allow Jonathan to serve as interim President until elections and also allow him to designate a vice president. Given the dysfunctional level of the current Cabinet, Jonathan said that once this happens, he will dissolve the cabinet, after consulting with the Council of State.


The AgP said that Former Head of State Gen. Abdulsalami Abubakar, who according to Jonathan has become one of his closest advisors, worked out a strategy where he would reach out to other former Nigerian Heads of State, including former Head of State Gen. Yakubu Gowon, to approach those closest to Yar’Adua, especially his wife Turai, to try to convince them that the best, and most dignified step to take for the country and for Yar’Adua as a human being would be for the President to resign. This action would constitutionally make Jonathan Nigeria’s President. Doing such would also be easier than convincing two-thirds of the 42-member Federal Executive Committee (FEC) to declare the ailing President “physically incapacitated and medically unfit” to continue in the office of the Presidency. Jonathan said he and his wife, Patience, visited Turai as a humanistic gesture to express their best wishes for the recovery of Yar’Adua and out of respect for his ailing boss. The AgP said under no circumstances did he want Turai to come to his official residence.

This was what could have saved Nigeria and helped moved the country closer to real change -- instead Nigerians got carried away by aunty Dora and her cooings. If, I remember correctly, this man was dismissed as being part of the IMAGINARY cabal.

msaalli:

Indeed it is wonderful to realize that Abdulsalami Abubakar and indeed, the ex-COAS Dambazau were two of the good guys of the whole Yar'Adua episode. Jonathan was also shown to either be spineless or overtly cautious. But i think the more explosive cables would be the ones around the periods when there were coups.

It was a very dicey situation, man. I would have been very cautious too. If he had been bolder, he would have invited assassination or a coup. Think about how poorly a guy like Ironsi managed the situation in his time, and how it led to disaster for Nigeria.

There is nothing wrong with caution.

Kobojunkie:

This was what could have saved Nigeria and helped moved the country closer to real change -- instead Nigerians got carried away by aunty Dora and her cooings. If, I remember correctly, this man was dismissed as being part of the IMAGINARY cabal.

@KoboJ, i doubt it was Abdulsalami. .he was the one that handed over to civilian rule. .he is far from those worthless cabal

some of you look like , anyone can make claim that he said so and send it to wikileak.

What is our issue. The issue is about a satellite picture,  Some people are been paid more than others by telling lies and But Jonathan refuse to correct that, because his people benefit from this claim.

Oyo state is nearly 20 times the population of bayelsa. But Bayelsa state get more money.  Now, instead of Jonathan address the really issue, he is posting US embassy cable.  Who give the hell of Cable.

Is Jonathan going to create 20 states in Oyo state to equal bayelsa state. ? This is where the problem is.
If the size of the state where close. then you would be talking, but the size of the state are not equal.   

Another problem he has, His people from the niger delta are not the only militia in Nigeria. While he is paying the militia from his area monthly state, the so call other militia group cause some of the problem. are be sent to jail. Group like OPC, MOSSP, Boro Haram. But his people are been paid good money and send to school. while the others are send to jail.
Now it is not fair to other nigerian, that they have Niger delta ministry. That ministry should be cancelled. It is not fair to other nigern that you still have NDDC after you have started given 13% to the oil communities.

Now in the budget. If you add up the amount of money NDDC is collecting, Ministry of the Niger delta, and how much he is paying militias, that is another 13% making 26 %.
this is why they want to remove him.
The truth is the militia if Jonathan has to pay them , has to come from the 13% from thier state. the real truth is the reason why they have militia is that nobody see where the 13% is going. that why this young boys pick up arms against the country.

Billion has gone into this so call 13%, but no road is built. Nothing is done to help the people. What they having been doning is they have been sharing the 13% among themself , I mean the governors. So when this boys did not see anything, they pick up arm against the country.


Now if Oyo state is 20 times the population of bayelsa state and you collect 80 billion each month from the Yorubas, but you dont collect from others. Then stop collecting from us. So that everybody is equal.
Our people have become so poor because of this evil.



The truth is Just like you push the ijaw to take up arms against the state of Nigeria. You are pushing the Yoruba to that point, if you dear conduct an election without change to the structure of the federal republic of Nigeria.

And the International community and the United nation should have itsself to blame for not standing Up and speaking out against Injustice.  Obama and others should not complain .

What it means is that you leave the Yoruba people NO OTHER CHOICE THAN PICK UP ARM AGAINST the federal republic of Nigeria.

May God help us from that point.  Gani fawehinmi use to warn nigeria before the whole niger delta issue happen, noone of you listen then. see where it got you.


see the Yorubas military unit and ask if I am telling the truth, that if they do not correct this, nigeria would end up in a civil war.

Just Imagine, if the ijaws had this number, what civil war, we would have been in.
100,000 of the nigeria police who can shoot are Yorubas and they carry guns are Yorubas.
25,000 of the Nigeria army are yorubas
23,000 Paramilitary are Yorubas.
21 military barracks.
3000 airforce are Yorubas
4 airforce base
3000 Navy officers are Yorubas.
5 seaport
9 airports
member of the Custom service ( they carry guns)
other paramilitary that carry weapon have a large portion of yorubas.
If the Ijaw had this, we are talking of a serious war.
We are talking of over 180,000 strong modified army on the first day of combat. we have access to the sea. I think, wise people use thier brain, silly people continue in stupidity.
More power than the name of Ghana,togot, Burkina faco and benin republic put together. That should tell you, I am tell you the truth, we have a problem. and we need to fix that problem.



the bible says wisdom is good for the wise. Nobody hate Jonathan as a person, is just the danger of human life involve we are talking about. it is too much a risk.

DapoBear:

It was a very dicey situation, man. I would have been very cautious too. If he had been bolder, he would have invited assassination or a coup. Think about how poorly a guy like Ironsi managed the situation in his time, and how it led to disaster for Nigeria.

There is nothing wrong with caution.

You are right. I remember Jonathan got a clear warning from the cabal not to lay the wreath for the unknown soldier, because he would be shot by snipers; but he still did, even though he was jittery. That is not lack of liver.
Jonathan cautioned on the side of wisdom, and I won't lie, it affected the way I handle certain things. I learnt a lot during that period, wisdom is a pearl.

ladi02:

@KoboJ, i doubt it was Abdulsalami. .he was the one that handed over to civilian rule. .he is far from those worthless cabal

Which worthless Cabal? Ojuju-calabar Cabal? Or which one? The very ones we still have no names for but each pretend to know of and have deep info on? We did eventually do exactly what the "CABAL" was supposedly  trying to get us to do, right? ROFLMAO!