Good Soldier It is fitting Olusegun Obasanjo should serve as the standard bearer of democracy in Nigeria after 15 years of military rule. A former military dictator who voluntarily handed power to an elected civilian regime in 1979, his commitment to democracy, the rule of law and honesty in general is a byword in Africa?s most populous country. He has come to power with a strong political hand. Despite allegations of vote rigging in localized pockets, Obasanjo?s securing 63 per cent of the vote represents an unquestionable popular mandate. Perhaps more important is that he was able to sweep two of Nigeria?s three main regions ? while being ethnically from the third region. Having a ruler who has the support of the Muslim north, dominated by the Hausa and Fula, and the Christian east, largely Ibo, will inject some stability into Nigeria?s often violent political culture. The bane of Obasanjo?s rule will be the economy. Once one of the wealthiest countries in the continent and still Africa?s biggest oil exporter, Nigeria frittered away its wealth over the decades. It is now the 13th poorest country in the world in per capita terms, often ranked the most corrupt in the world, its politics marked by long spells of military dictatorship and brief periods of volatile civilian rule. Obasanjo will inherit an economy in severe crisis. The country?s sole export is petroleum. But the worldwide slump in oil prices has reduced export revenues from $ 12 billion in 1997 to an estimated $ 5.3 billion this year. The outgoing military ruler, Abdulsalam Abubakar, has helped Obasanjo by initiating some difficult reforms like abolishing a dual exchange rate that enriched many military officers and launching a privatization programme. But the new president will still have to carry out incredibly difficult and painful economic reforms. Some Nigerian generals believe his task is impossible. They predict they will be back in the saddle in a few years? time. Obasanjo has a democratic mandate but he must be warned that such support will melt away under the fierce glare of economic failure.