Despite the fact that Obasanjo is prevented from running for another term as President by law, tensions between the two men are running high. Each have accused the other of corruption and, despite a court ruling that the charges had no legal basis, Mr Abubakar remains under investigation for allegedly diverting US $125 million into personal business interests.

The legal basis for the dismissal of Mr Abubakar has been widely disputed. An editorial in the Nigerian Daily Trust called the decision “the most reckless, the most impudent and also the most dangerous yet to the sanctity of the 1999 Constitution and the health and survival of the Democratic Fourth Republic.”

Business Day wrote that this related to President Obansanjo’s desire to see his hand-picked successor, Mr Umaru Yar’Adua, “whom many believe Obasanjo will be able to manipulate behind the scenes,” become the next President.

As such, President Obasanjo would maintain power and influence but, writes Business Day, “Nigeria no longer needs recycled old generals shaping its future; it needs a generational shift to move on from its past.”