In life he was a force to reckon with. In death his legacy remains compelling to those who hold power and those who seek power. Shehu Musa YarAdua was gifted politician, know as a bridge builder, he recongnised the futility of disunity based on ethnicity, regionalism, or religion and understood that a united Nigeria with a common sense of purpose was a prerequisite for the country's growth and development.
set against the backdrop of Nigerian history, this books tell the story of Shehu YarAdua's life and
vision for the nation. following on his training at the Royal Military Academy, Sandhurst, YarAdua's career as a solider in the civil war, and his determines efforts as number two in the first military government to voluntarily hand over power to a civilian administration, inspired his vision for the necessity of grass-roots, participatory democracy as a means to ensure stability and social harmony in Africa's most populous nation. 

CONTENT
- Foreword, President Olusegun Obasanjo ............. vii
- Acknowledgement ........................................... xi
- Prologue ......................... P. 1
- Part 1 Chid
1. A family of Significance ........ P. 9
2. Schools Day ........................ P. 16
3. Coming of Age ..................... P. 21
4. The Army Calls..................... P. 26
- Part II Soldier
1. Into the Army ...................... P. 31
2. Sandhurst ........................... P. 35
3. An Honourable Estate............ P. 42
4. Coup diEtat ......................... P. 45
5. Counter-Coup....................... P. 50
6. Chaos and Crisis ................. P. 56
7. War.................................... P. 62
8. The Battle for Onitsha .......... P. 70
9. Injured .............................. P. 76
10. Peace............................... P. 80
11. An Honourable .................. P. 86
- Part III Public Servant
1. Consolidation Power ............ P. 97
2. The Cement Armada ........... P. 102
3. Government in a Hurry........ P. 110
4. Assassination and Promotion..P 119
5. Second in Command .............P. 124
6. Operation Feed the Nation ......P. 128
7. Reforming Local Government .. P. 132
8. Leading Africa ...................... P. 137
9. Restoring Civilian Ruler ......... P. 143
10. Reflections on Government ... P. 151
- Part IV Politician
1. Retirement ........................... P. 159
2. Politics Calls ......................... P. 168
3. Return of the Military ............ P. 171
4. Babangida's Turn.................. P. 174
5. A Modern Tradition Ruler ...... P. 177
6. Party Politics....................... P. 182
7. To be President .................. P. 196
8. June 12 ............................ P. 209
9. Towards an Interim National Government..... P. 229
10. Babangida's Shadow Pale ... P. 233
- Part V Prisoner
1. Back to Khaki ..................... P. 239
2. War of Attrition .................. P. 245
3. Constitutional Conference.... P. 256
4. Coup Plot, Trial and Death Sentence ... P. 260
5. Prison Days ..................... P. 274
6. Abakaliki ........................ P. 282
7. Final Journey .................. P. 295
- Epilogue .......................... P. 299
- Afterword ........................ P. 303
- Notes .............................. P. 307
- Index ............................. P. 326