When Britain, the colonial boss, left Nigeria in the `60s, the country descended into civil chaos - the Biafran War. Since then, violence and ethnic tension have always been close by. Nigeria has had a succession of military leaders, some of them cruel despots. But, as history records, President Olusegun Obasanjo set himself apart from the rest.

DR GEOFFREY HAWKER, MACQUARIE UNIVERSITY: I think he joined the army at 15, made the way up the ranks. During the terrible years of course, of the late `60s, the Biafran War, I guess the story starts really in `76, when there is the military takeover, the big coup. He`s second-in-command, Army Chief Of Staff at that stage, and it`s the military dictator Mohammed, who is assassinated fairly soon after he takes over and suddenly, he`s precipitated into the head of state role.

Although his military rule was absolute, Obasanjo was the first Nigerian strongman to attempt the transition to democracy. In 1979, after just three years in power, he handed over to a civilian government. Civilian rule was short-lived and the military again took control. But, by then, Obasanjo had retired to his pig farm, just north of the capital, Lagos. But Obasanjo`s rural bliss was interrupted in 1995. He was thrown into jail on reportedly trumped-up charges of plotting a coup by the then-military strongman, General Abacha. He remained locked up until Abacha`s death three years later. That cleared the way for Obasanjo`s return to power as an elected civilian president in 1999. Despite a view by some observers that the election was tampered with, Obasanjo was a popular choice. Criticism of Obasanjo`s presidential style has grown louder. When a military munitions depot exploded in Lagos early last month, killing thousands, crowds vented their anger. On his first visit to the scene, Obasanjo reportedly told weeping relatives of the dead to "shut up". And there are other troubles. In the north of Nigeria, some states have introduced the Islamic legal code, Sharia law, provoking religious unrest. Obasanjo is also seen as having failed to rein in the army, which has retained its taste for terror and violence. While, in Nigeria, it`s an almost impossible task, critics say the President hasn`t done enough to counter corruption. They say profits from Nigeria`s rich oil reserves are still being skimmed off and stolen by crooked officials.

REPORTER: Where`s all the money going?

OLUSEGUN OBASANJO, NIGERIAN PRESIDENT: Well, that`s another question. Where does all the money go?

As leader of Africa`s most populous nation, Obasanjo relishes his role as a senior African statesman. He, along with PM John Howard and South Africa`s Thabo Mbeki, have been charged with adjudicating Zimbabwe`s election this weekend.

DR GEOFFREY HAWKER: To some extent, he is making up for the criticisms that he`s spending too much time on the international stage by going very slowly on it. I mean, he`s not being seen to kowtow to Blair and us pink-noses in the West. He`s following his own line. He`s in strong alliance with Mbeki of South Africa. So you`ve got two elected black leaders who are saying, "We are paying attention to our domestic constituency. Yes, we don`t like what`s going on in Zimbabwe. Yes, we are saying things behind the scenes. Yes, we have got in strong observer teams but, no, we`re not going to go to the stage that Blair wants us to do."