CLASSIFIED BY AMBASSADOR HOWARD F. JETER;

REASONS 1.5 (B)
AND (D).


1. (C) SUMMARY: During a December 11 meeting with International Narcotics and Law Enforcement Deputy Assistant Secretary Steven Schrage and Ambassador Jeter, Kaduna State Governor Ahmed Makarfi discussed the late November violence in Kaduna. Makarfi blamed the riots on pro-sharia Islamic groups and agitators from outside Kaduna. He acknowledged that religious tensions acted as kindling; however, he said the motivations of those who actually lit the fire were "purely political". Later, in a private conversation with Ambassador Jeter, Makarfi laid much of the blame at the feet of Vice President Atiku and National Security Advisor Aliyu Mohammed. Makarfi said that in their attempts to embarrass President Obasanjo and undermine his popularity the two political heavyweights had unleashed forces they could not control. Finally, while the governor praised the military for its handling of the incident, he had no kind words for the Nigerian National Police (NNP) and other civilian security agencies. Were it not for their inept handling of the situation, said
Makarfi, the violence might well have been averted.

END SUMMARY.


2. (C) During a December 11 meeting with INL DAS Schrage and Ambassador Jeter, Kaduna State governor Makarfi discussed the late November violence in Kaduna. Ambassador emphasized that Kaduna, with its ethnically and religiously diverse population, had the potential to be an example for the rest of Nigeria if incidences of civil unrest could be minimized. Makarfi acknowledged that rising tension between Kaduna's Christian and Muslim populations was of grave concern, but he thought the root of the problem was politics, not religion.


3. (C) Makarfi said the unrest had nothing to do with the many peaceful Muslim processions taking place in Kaduna. The violence began when members of radical Islamic groups, collectively known as Izala, incited the crowds to act. Emphasizing that the riots were planned, Makarfi noted that there many of those arrested claimed they were paid to
attack the "This Day" newspaper office or to burn the governor's shopping plaza. He also claimed that the evening before the riots began, he had heard reports of people dropping tires in strategic locations around Kaduna so they would be available to be burned the next day. Makarfi was astounded that neither the Nigerian police nor the intelligence service was able to pick up these signs of impending trouble.


4. (C) Makarfi specifically noted the pernicious influence of the "Supreme Council for Sharia Law". The governor accused this group of helping to incite the riots in order to hasten the introduction of sharia law into Kaduna State. Makarfi said this group would be the likely source of future problems for him and Kaduna because of the governor's disdain for sharia law. Noting that the Muslim
community is sharply divided between radicals and moderates, Makarfi said he would work to remove the influence of this group from Kaduna and vowed to support those that would join him in the fight. He said this would be a showdown and he welcomed it.


5. (C) Later, in a private conversation with the Ambassador, Makarfi further emphasized the political nature of the violence by placing much of the blame on Vice President Atiku Abubakar and National Security Advisor Aliyu Mohammed. Makarfi accused the VP and NSA of fomenting violence in Katsina, Nasarawa, and Benue in addition to Kaduna. The governor allowed that the VP and NSA may have only wanted to cause minor unrest in order to embarrass and weaken President Obasanjo. Unfortunately, said Makarfi, the duo let loose forces that they could not control. When asked what the USG might be able to do help the situation, Makarfi suggested that the USG speak with the VP and NSA and demand that they desist.


6. (C) While Makarfi gave the military good marks for its handling of the crisis, his review of the NNP's performance was scathing. Makarfi characterized them as being uncoordinated, untrained and undisciplined. He said the police had failed miserably during the riots and that the Police Commissioner admitted as much to him personally. The governor noted that despite rumors that something was in the offing and his personal order to increase local security measures, the police did nothing to prepare themselves for the violence that would take place in Kaduna. Makarfi said that when the situation finally deteriorated to the point at which the military requested permission to deploy, he had to overrule the Nigerian National Police which had said military intervention was unnecessary.


7. (C) Clearly exacerbated by the NNP's performance, Makarfi suggested scrapping the organization all together. He felt that most police functions could be better carried out by local police forces. He advocated the creation of a "National Guard" made up of retired military personnel that would be available to act in cases of large-scale unrest.


8. (C) When the Ambassador and Makarfi's conversation turned toward the upcoming national elections, Makarfi said the international community should pressure Obasanjo not to run for a second term for the good of the country. Makarfi thought the North could accept another southerner as long as he is not Obasanjo or another Yorba. When the Ambassador told Makarfi that he had heard VP Atiku had decided to stay with the President, Makarfi changed his tack slightly, saying Obasanjo had a chance to win the North if he reconciled with Atiku.


9. (C) Makarfi thought Ibrahim Babangida's support of the candidacy of former Vice President Alex Ekwueme was a ploy to win the presidency for IBB in 2007. Makarfi reasoned that if Ekwueme were to win the South-zoned presidency, he would not run for a second term. That would leave the door open for IBB to run when the office is zoned to the North in 2007.


10. (C) COMMENT: While Makarfi's allegations about the VP's and NSA's roles in fomenting sectarian violence are disturbing, it is important to keep in mind the source of the information. Makarfi and Atiku have long been competitors. Indeed, many saw Makarfi as Atiku's likely replacement if Obasanjo dropped the VP. It is possible that political animosity may have influenced Makarfi's search for the cause of unrest in his state.


END COMMENT.
JETER


https://wikileaks.org/plusd/cables/02ABUJA3344_a.html

Modarun:

Do you realize there’s a difference between a civilian making a statement misconstrued to forge violence and a Vice President using the state resources(NSA) to perpetrate violence that killed the people he sworn to protect.

Thanks

Whaaattt

Useless write up

Una get time to Dey dig nonsense, an average Nigerian care less about all this thrash to sent the image of any politician. God knows I have no time to market any politician or demarket anyone. I see no difference. Criminals in power ruling from ages past and still planning not to leave.

All in a bid to discredit Atiku. Atiku is a thief or Atiku should go to America is no longer working again

chinjo:
All in a bid to discredit Atiku. Atiku is a thief or Atiku should go to America is no longer working again

Has he gone to America despite his PDP handlers boasting Atiku will visit the USA before the end of November? Remind me the date today? PDP and 419. Even the doomed choice of Atiku shows a Party desperate to return to the centre for another round of Looting.

https://www.google.co.uk/amp/www.informationng.com/2018/11/atiku-to-visit-america-before-november-ends-okupe.html/amp

Thief atiku has be desperate to be president since 1992, he can do anything just to achieve that.

Atiku has killed his thousands and buhari his ten thousand, we will still vote for Atiku. The task to send the impostor home is a national assignment.

buhariguy:
Thief atiku has be desperate to be president since 1992, he can do anything just to achieve that.

Yes. Just the way bujubril shed innocent blood in 2011 to become president in 2015 only to die in London shortly after and replaced by an impostor.
Just the way his utterances and open support emboldened Boko Haram and today, he's paying them billions to futher empower them.

chinjo:
All in a bid to discredit Atiku. Atiku is a thief or Atiku should go to America is no longer working again

nothing has change, he is still a thief, or has he told you how he makes his money?

Has he travel to USA yet?

chinjo:
All in a bid to discredit Atiku. Atiku is a thief or Atiku should go to America is no longer working again

I can bet you won’t spew this crap if Wikileaks had accused Buhari of being responsible for the miss world violence of 2002. Atiku is a well documented rogue without doubt. What this new report brings to the tabke, however, is the fact that Atiku is also an irredeemable Islamist who goes about sponsoring violence. If well investigated, I am sure Atiku will be found to be the sponsor of the killer herdsmen that ravaged the north central earlier this year. This report has clearly established a pattern of sponsoring violence that we cannot ignore.

Something is sinisterly wrong with Atiku!

Propaganda.. Why now.

Mtcheeew

https://www.thebreakingtimes.com/how-buharis-2011-hate-speech-led-to-death-of-corpers-as-narrated-by-a-facebook-user/


HOW BUHARI’S 2011 ‘HATE SPEECH’ LED TO DEATH OF CORPERS, AS NARRATED BY A FACEBOOK USER


HATE SPEECH SERIES: SEUN DID NOT JUST DIE. SOMEONE’S HATE SPEECH KILLED HIM!


“Pray for me Uncle. They are coming for us at the police station and the policemen are running away. They are about setting the station on fire. Please pray for me.”



These were the last words of Adewunmi Seun Paul, a graduate of political science and native of Imojo-Ekiti, Ekiti State. He was one the youth corps members killed in Bauchi on April 19, 2011. He was actually calling the then Venerable (Now Bishop) Samuel Ojo who was then Provost of African Church Cathedral, College Road, Ifako, Ogba, Lagos. That is where I worship.
Seun did not just die. He was killed. Gruesomely killed. Ironically, no one was put on trial for his death and those of others. They were: Teidi Tosin (Kogi), Adowei Elliot (Bayelsa), Okpokiri Obinna (Abia), Gbenjo Ayotunde (Osun), Ukeoma Chibuzor (Imo), Nwazema Chukwuonyerem (Imo), Adeniji Jehleel (Osun) and Akonyi Sule (Kogi).
Some of those who killed these lights of their families probably walk free on the streets of Bauchi today shouting “Sai Baba”; the same thing eye witnesses said they were shouting as they macheted Seun and his colleagues to a most painful death!
If today hate speech (or anything close to it) has become an offence, Seun and his colleagues were killed because someone lost an election he was never destined to win in the first place and resorted to hate speech!
Candidate Mohammadu Buhari of the now defunct CPC had worked his supporters to believe that he could only lose the election if it was rigged, they went on rampage and targeted NYSC members. It was in same Bauchi that he told his frenzied supporters:
“Let us get the Kafri out of Ask Rock.”
Till tomorrow, Buhari never condemned the violence. In fact, he more or less goaded them on. Baboons were really soaked in blood as he said in his “love” (not hate) speech. Yet, hear same Buhari in 2017:
“Opposition does not mean hostility, enmity or antagonism. Democracy needs opposition, one which is vibrant but responsible.”
As we continue this debate on hate speech, we need to know where we are coming from. Let those people, especially Yorubas, who could die for Buhari go and visit Seun’s still agonising mother and pray:
“MAY YOUR FATE BEFALL US MA”
Then I will know they really love their man!
Note: Photos show a distraught Seun’s mother (left) after the news of son’s death was broken to her. Second picture is Seun in his NYSC kit.

"it is important to keep in mind the source of the information. Makarfi and Atiku have long been competitors. Indeed, many saw Makarfi as Atiku's likely replacement if Obasanjo dropped the VP."

The above said it all

Gandollar:
Atiku has killed his thousands and buhari his ten thousand, we will still vote for Atiku. The task to send the impostor home is a national assignment.

So,allow us too to vote for the imposter that is Jibril from Sudan ok

Nonsense we all know sectarian riots started the moment Buhari started losing elections in this country!!!!!!!!! Go figure

FarahAideed:
Nonsense we all know sectarian riots started the moment Buhari started losing elections in this country!!!!!!!!! Go figure

What about this one that happened in 2002 before he contested in 2003.what about the others that have been occuring before then? Are you sure your not a robot designed to hate buhari? Even when you see that buhari isn't as bad as painted and that atiku and pdp are the culprits,you still blame buhari.your a menace

PHILipu1:

So,allow us too to vote for the imposter that is Jibril from Sudan ok

You are free to follow the corpse to the grave.

FarahAideed:
Nonsense we all know sectarian riots started the moment Buhari started losing elections in this country!!!!!!!!! Go figure

You mean sectarian violence started in Nigeria the moment Bihari started losing elections? Did Buhari contest election in 2002 when Atiku sponsored the miss world violence? Are you sure something is not wrong with your brain?

It shall neva be well with Atiku