The author, a high-ranking officer in the government toppled by Nigeria's fourth coup-d'etat, offers a detailed account of the coup and Nigeria's history leading up to it, as well as a discussion of what lessons can be learned from it for nation- building in Africa. He considers the role of coups and military rule in modern African politics, and discusses the political model of Nigeria in particular, as well as the role of military, multi-party democracy and welfarism.