On the first of October 1960 a young nation lifted its flag before the watching world. Yakubu Gowon stood as the young general who promised to keep Nigeria one and oversaw the civil war. Yet the young democracy was cut short by the military coup of 1966. He guided Nigeria through the transition to civilian rule in 1979 and handed over power willingly to President Shehu Shagari. In a single year he steered Nigeria toward democracy again, setting in motion the Fourth Republic.