Prof Dorothy Nkem Akunyili, the former Federal Minister for Information and Communication for Nigeria under the presidency of the then President Umaru Yar’Adua [May His Soul Rest in Peace] who recently contested for a senatorial seat for the central district of Anambra State under the political party of the All Progressive Grand Alliance [APGA] and failed – is reported in a recent release by Wikileaks to have espoused the private views of the then President towards his Vice President, Goodluck Jonathan – in a private midnight telephone chat with the American Ambassador to Nigeria, Robin Renee Sanders.
Prof Akunyili had sought the audience of the American Ambassador to vent concerning the “real mess” Nigeria finds herself as a result of the uncertainty over the ill health of the then President Umaru Yar’Adua who was at the time admitted to a hospital in Saudi Arabia. Prof Akunyili related to the American Ambassador that the then President never had a good relationship with Goodluck Jonathan -that Yar’Adua mistrusted Jonathan – that he believed Jonathan was waiting for him to die – so he could take over.
Prof Dora Akunyili who told the American Ambassador that she made sure she was not using her “government phone” expressed that Goodluck Jonathan was confused on what do. She stated that Goodluck Jonathan did not want to send the wrong signal to the north.
For more details read the WIRE REPORT below filed by the American Ambassador – under CLASSIFIED information.
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SUBJECT: NIGERIAN INFORMATION MINISTER: YAR’ADUA COMATOSE;
VICE PRESIDENT JONATHAN CONCERNED
Classified By: Ambassador Robin Renee Sanders
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SUMMARY
¶1. (S) As a follow-up to an earlier conversation (ref b)
Information Minister Dora Akunyili called Ambassador at 11:45
p.m. at her residence December 1 to discuss the state of
President Yar’Adua’s health, and as another Southerner, the
worries of Vice President Goodluck Jonathan if the President
dies. Akunyili said she called the Ambassador on a
non-government registered phone and waited until she arrived
home to conduct her conversation; hence, the late call.
Akunyili began by stating that “the country is in a real mess
as Yar’Adua has been in and out of a comatose state since his
arrival in Saudi, only coming out briefly afternoon of
November 30, and since then he has been in a coma.” She
added that the Vice President is symbolically in charge, but
is afraid to show any leadership in this environment given
that it might be “misunderstood.” Earlier December 1, (see
other channels) several associates met with Mission Officer
to inform him that the VP was sending emissaries to obtain an
assessment of the current environment and to find out how the
international community would feel about him acceding to the
Presidency if Yar’Adua died. Mission Officer stated our
policy of the primacy of following the rule of law and the
Constitution. News on the ground has not changed much in the
last 24 hours; succession noises are still being made, and we
continue to have feelers out all over town (particularly in
the military, see ref C on Chief of the Army’s comment on
military posture), in Saudi and through our very helpful
sister Embassy and Consulate General in Saudi Arabia. END
SUMMARY.
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DRUM BEAT ON YAR’ADUA’S FINAL DAYS CONTINUES
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¶2. (S) In a late night conversation on December 1 with
Information Minister Dora Akunyili, who is known as a
straight shooter from her days as Director of the National
Food and Drug Agency, told the Ambassador that “Nigeria was
in a real mess” at the moment with President Yar’Adua being
“in and out of a coma since his arrival in Saudi, but mostly
in the last 2 days.” She said she doubted that the President
could survive this current crisis as he had in the past,
noting that he was only conscious enough to talk to a few
people on the afternoon of November 30. (NOTE: This account
bears out, given that Kwara Governor Saraki told us that he
had a very brief chat with the President afternoon of
November 30 — ref A. END NOTE.). Akunyili added that there
is no clear leadership right now, because Vice President
Goodluck Jonathan is worried, unsure of what to do, and
concerned about sending signals that “could be misunderstood
at this sensitive stage among northerners.” (Please see
reporting in other channels for additional Information.) In
addition, no one from the Villa (State House) is keeping the
VP informed, she said.
Q3. (S) Ambassador asked who was really running the day-to-day
tasks of the country as in the past it had unofficially been
National Security Advisor Muktar and the Secretary to the
Government of the Federation (SGF). The Information Minister
admitted that this remained the case, but noted that Jonathan
wanted to step into the light more, but was afraid to do so.
Akunyili added that Yar’Adua and Jonathan never had a good
relationship, that the President mistrusted him, and that
there was always a sense from Yar’Adua that the VP was “just
waiting for him to die.” She confirmed that Jonathan was
sending feelers out to key Northerners on how they were
feeling and hoping to get a signal that it was all right to
do more leadership at this time. Ambassador asked whether
there was anything she thought friends of Nigeria could do at
this time. Akunyili suggested that the Ambassador send a
text message to wish the President well through to his Aide
de Camp. (Please see report in other channels.)
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JONATHAN OUTREACH EFFORTS
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¶4. (S) Earlier on the evening of December 1, a request came
to Mission Officer outlining a scenario of having the
Ambassador deliver a letter expressing well wishes for the
President, but privately signaling the need to follow the
Constitution, de facto making the Vice President comfortable
that the USG or other international partners would not oppose
his ascendancy if it came to this. We have told our
interlocutors that it was not possible to act in this manner
at this time, given that the President was still alive and
still the Head of State of Nigeria. (NOTE: Ref A notes that
Jonathan went to see Senate President Mark seeking the same
assurances about succession and seeking support that the
constitutional process would be followed. Mark said that it
would be. END NOTE).
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COMMENT
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¶5. (S) Clearly, reports of the President in a coma and on a
respirator do not bode well for any recovery. In addition,
Jonathan’s dispatching emissaries around town to take a
temperature check on the atmosphere surrounding what may be
his, sooner rather than later, ascendancy to the Presidency
further leads to the news that the President of Nigeria is in
his final days. 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. Regarding those who might be viewed
as the strong Northerners who would become Vice President,
there seems to be a changing “short list” that could include
the Governors of Bauchi (Yuguda, also a son-in-law of
Yar’Adua), Kwara (Saraki), and Sokoto (Wamako) States at the
top. Other strong Northern and ruling People’s Democratic
Party (PDP) personalities who will have a voice in what
happens in Nigeria range from former National Security
Advisor Aliyu, whom we also understand still desires the
Presidency, as well as Senate President David Mark. Former
President Ibrahim Babangida, also a strong northern voice, is
out of the picture for the moment as he is in California with
his wife, whom we understand may be dying of cancer. In
addition, we can never discount the influence and voice of
former President Obasanjo within the PDP on what to do next
as a result of Yar’Adua’s passing. We will continue to
provide spot reporting from all sources as this situation
continues, particularly on the military.
SANDERS
