Obasanjo's Legacy

Abstract

When General Olusegun Obasanjo became Nigeria’s President in 1999, he was clearly the popular choice of Nigerians. There was no impression that he had been imposed on the people or that the electoral process was manipulated to favour him. Although there were die-hard conscientious objectors to his style and the promise of his Presidency in his own native Yoruba community, and the aggrieved candidate of the All Peoples Party (APP) had gone to court to challenge Obasanjo’s victory. When the Court of Appeal affirmed Obasanjo’s election in April 1999, the people were convinced that the courts had further endorsed the will of the majority of the Nigerian people.