The third wave of democracy did sweep across much of sub-Saharan Africa in the 1990s, but has now subsided, except for ripples and eddies.

Three years after Nigerians gave the largely unknown Yar'Adua the benefit of the doubt despite his disputed electoral victory, their hopes again rest with an untested leader.

Yar'Adua, though he came to power under a cloud, has won plaudits for his … accommodating approach (so different from Obasanjo's autocratic style).