LAGOS: Nigeria’s leadership was in total confusion over who was in charge early this year with then-president Umaru Yar’Adua thought to be in a "semi-comatose state," a leaked diplomatic cable showed Thursday.
The cable, obtained by WikiLeaks and dated February 26, 2010, reported on a meeting between then-US ambassador Robin Renee Sanders and Goodluck Jonathan, Nigeria’s acting president at the time.
Jonathan became president in May after Yar’Adua’s death.
If accurate, the memo paints an extraordinary picture of Jonathan’s thinking, including his fears over what Yar’Adua’s wife and allies may be plotting and an admission that he was not the most qualified person for his job.
It also portrays US officials seeking to assist Jonathan in various ways, such as suggesting how he should present himself to the Nigerian public.
The ambassador stressed they were "counting on him to steer Nigeria through this troubled and uncertain period." She also said the United States and Nigeria "are very best friends."
Some 12 percent of US crude imports come from Nigeria — second behind Canada, according to September figures — though the cable includes no discussion of the industry.
"Jonathan told the ambassador ‘everyone’s confused’ about who is in charge of Nigeria," according to the cable, published by Britain’s Guardian newspaper and part of the huge trove of documents obtained by WikiLeaks.
"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."
Yar’Adua had previously spent months in Saudi Arabia for medical treatment.
"(Jonathan) told the ambassador he believes Yar’Adua is in a semi-comatose state without an understanding of what is going on around him," the cable said.
The cable describes a tense period in Africa’s most populous nation, with military chiefs seeking to keep politicians away from rank-and-file soldiers.
According to the cable, Jonathan said "the military chiefs are making sure no politicians are reaching out to the rank-and-file".
It added that they were "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."
He says Yar’Adua’s wife, his aide-de-camp, his chief security officer and his chief economic adviser had created "this terrible situation in the country today."
The cable says Jonathan "does not know their motives, but expected it was likely for nefarious purposes."
He shared his plans to dissolve cabinet and form a new one, but said he had to first ensure people were comfortable with him as acting president, according to the leaked memo.
"He said the last cabinet meeting was disastrous and included yelling and screaming, and it is totally dysfunctional," the cable said.
"He said he is ‘not a politician’ and had very limited experience as an administrator, but concluded, ‘I will not tolerate a brawl.’"
Jonathan described moves that were underway to convince Yar’Adua’s family that he should resign.
He said he did not anticipate running for president in 2011 and was focused on organizing a credible ballot, which would be a major feat in a country with a long history of electoral fraud.
"He did, however, note that, ‘if they want me to run, that will be something to consider at that time,’" the cable said.
Jonathan, who was a state governor in the oil-producing Niger Delta region before becoming Yar’Adua’s vice president, is running in the election set for April 9.
In one section of the cable, Jonathan acknowledged that he was chosen to be vice president in order to represent the Niger Delta, the restive and impoverished region that is the heart of one of the world’s largest oil industries.
"I was not chosen to be vice president because I had good political experience," the cable quoted Jonathan as saying.
"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."
