 Early years Wushishi, Minna, and the Gwari native authority primary school.  Provincial Secondary School, Bida.  Early military career  A young officer and a gentleman.  The Nigerian civil war and the NDA teaching years.  Governance and military rule:  The Murtala Muhammed years.  In the saddle  Mounting the saddle, defining a military presidency.  Reforming the economy: privatization, IMF, SAP, and other matters.  The pursuit of a New Socio- Economic Order - MAMSER, DFRRI, People’s Bank, Community Banks, etc.  Towards a dynamic foreign policy.  The challenges of leadership.  The home front: my life with Maryam.  Transition to civil rule and the June 12 saga.  Retirement years  My life in retirement.  Letter to the next generation.