The beginning was somehow smooth, especially when all the actors were new in the system and were basking in the new found euphoria. It didnt take long when the Obasanjo, perhaps for fear of a military coup occuring, retired all soldiers who have participated in the Military regimes from the army. Among those retired were some the finest personnel trained and positioned for greater responsibility, but prematuredly laid off.

Again another thorny issue that took centre stage then was the appointment of Ministers and Ambassadors by the new administration. It was a political jamboree with dye in the wool conservatives, political demagogues and office seekers had a field day. Many made it to the top without having the prerequisite and capability to hold such responsibilities. But because in politics only those who "suffered" during campaigns are rewarded. In this regard, the El Rufais, Fanikayodes etc, made it to the top. Meanwhile, the nation waits for democratic gains.

Soon Obasanjo began to run the government in a way and manner that suggests Military fiat tendencies. He abrogated to himself the power of knowledge and grand master of affairs, hardly listening to advices. He was reported to flare up in uncontrolled anger in otherwise simple and straight forward issues, there by quarrelling daily with his associates. What followed all these was Nigerians loosing interest in governmental and national affairs, with only the press left doing the barking. Eminent Nigerians of repute, that ordinarily should have a say in national affairs were brushed aside by Obasanjo and so all and sundry adopted the "siddon look" tactics. Having asserted himself, Obasanjo now started engaging other organs of governments in running battles.

The National Assembly was the first to be mirrowed by the Executive. Salisu Buhari from Kano emerged as the first speaker of the House of Representatives. But since the powers that be have no interest in him, it was hurriedly investigated and Salisu was found to have "forged" his certificates allegedly obtained from University of Toronto Canada. He was easily removed from the seat and tried in a court. About the same time ex governor of Lagos State, Bola Tinubu was also found to have forged certificates allegedly obtained from the University of Chicago. Ironically, and to the chagrin of many discerning citizens, his case was hurriedly buried under the carpet and was even cleared of any blames by the Lagos State House of Assembly. The impression given, wrongly or rightly, was that if Salisu Buhari were of the same stock with Obasanjo like Tinubu, he would have been "cleared" too.

In the Senate, Evans Enwerem was elected as President by the distinguished Senators. However, as was reported, the Preisdency (obasanjo) was not comfortable with Enwerem as Senate President, "Ghana must go" were quickly dispartched and before you could bat an eye, Enwerem was eased out of office. Chuba Okadigbo was next, he too was axed, then Pius Anyim, who was equally booted out. Next was Adolphus Wabara whose case was even worst as he was accused and his name battered by government agents for taking bribes. Ken Nnamani the last of them survived barely with the untold batterings, left right and center, by Obasanjo.

Another sordid calamity that characterized Obasanjo's government was the unprecedented political assassinations and human rights violations that have taken place repeatedly, unhindered nor checked. High profile murders that still have not been unravelled, gave the impression to citizens that any one can be brutally killed with government either unmindful or appearing to be doing something, while actually not doing anything. A civil administration any where is known to be based on civil liberty and freedom, with equal rights to fair trial and the freedom of citizens to express their views. However, during the Obasanjo regime some citizens, especially AL Mustapha of blessed memory, for example, is still languishing in prison custody, neither released nor jailed for any of the offences he is being tried. Where are the civil liberty organizations that always harp on such issues? Obasanjo always assumes that he is somewhat of an accomplished academician. But in doing that he did not know that he was making a fool of himself. Even in international circles, our ex Pesident has earned the term, Clown of Africa. A Zimbabwe newspaper once described him as such for making unguarded utterances against President Mugabe of that country. What comfounded his pedigree in this regards, was his according the likes El Rufai, Remi Ojo and Fani Kayode as his kitchen cabinet. The loud mouthed Kayode has never seen anything wrong or worth correcting in whatever Obasanjo said or did. without thinking they convey the President's stand to newspaper reporters. Imagine the demolition of Ahmadu Ali's reisdence in the twi light of the Obasanjo's regime. El Rufai happily carried out the task, just to please his master, Obasanjo.

President Yar'adua is just about three months old as President, but Obasanjo's stooges have already started countering some of the popular decisions the new administration has taken. Recently the President in his wisdom, and to the delight of millions of Nigerians ordered the reversal of the sale of the Apo Legislative quarters to Members done without thinking by Obasanjo. The new Speaker of the House daringly said the decision that the houses remained sold as Obasanjo wished. People are still wondering how she got the audacity to challenge the President on that. The selling of the houses was absolutely an unpopular move by the last administration, especially if one considers the amount government will pay to new legislators for accommodation. Let the sale be cancelled as the President has directed or we the masses assume that he is a puppet in the hands of Obasanjo.

In the twilight of his administration, Obasanjo kept reminding people that, "no government should tamper my reforms." To date, no government agent can give a complete and indepth analysis of the reforms achieved by that government. The people only remember that government by the crass negligence and disregard it exhibited for their well being. When citizens are screaming under weight of poverty, that givernment was busy spending trillions of tax payers money organizing Commonwealth games, privatizing government agencies to its cronies, changing the out look of our currencies, giving national honors to very undeserving citizens, holding back salaries of civil servants for too long, sending some unviable sattellite balloons to space, harsh import policies that crippled over eighty percent of industries, engaging in excessive politicking, like impeachments, lacking in transparent civil diplomacy to tackle the Niger Delta issue, but used mere rhetorics. Where are the reforms, for goodness sake? >From Gaius Obaseki to Funsho Kupolokun, Obasanjo presided over the >Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) and did as he pleases using them as he wished. Now the Federal Government has realized that there were so many anomalies in appointments of the highest office in the NNPC and has fished out one Engr. Abubakar Yaradua who has been in Corporation since thirty years ago and has replaced Kupolokun as Group Managing Director in acting capacity. The BPE is also one of the parastatals used by the last administration to cripple some otherwise viable Companies through thoughtless privatisation exercise. Companies expected to be privatised are the ones that are epileptic that need infusion of grants to resusscitate, But the BPE then went on to even privatize bouyant Companies. These are aspect of the BPE job Nigerians expect the new government to look into and solve.

Mohammed Bala, Bajoga, Funakaye LGA, Gombe State.