New government, old problems

摘要

Expect a different style of leadership but little change in the government's way of working. That, in effect, was the message of Nigeria's outgoing president, Olusegun Obasanjo, to party stalwarts this month before the inauguration of his chosen successor, Umaru Yar'Adua, due on May 29th. As the gruff, short-tempered and evangelical Mr Obasanjo leaves office and the mild-mannered, reclusive and devoutly Muslim Mr Yar'Adua moves in, the big question is how much authority the new man will bring to bear on Africa's most populous nation (of 140m or so), one of the most ungovernable on the planet.