onuman: Visionary leader? I comment my reserve. A Visionary who now has no hometown to rest in peace, as armd Fulani herdsmen and Islamic insurgents have turned his hometown into a shooting range!!
When they tell this funny guy that there's violence somewhere, he'll claim that people are mocking the people, that there's violence everywhere, etc, but just take a look at what he is doing here.
Niger State Governor, farmer Mohammed Umaru Bago, congratulates the former Head of State, Gen. Yakubu Gowon (Rtd) on his 90th birthday.
In a birthday message signed by his Chief Press Secretary, Bologi Ibrahim, farmer Governor Umaru Bago describes the former Nigeria's leader as a symbol of humility, unity, and patriotism.
He recalls the remarkable leadership the celebrant offered to the nation where he initiated and implemented policies for peace building and unity of the country.
The farmer Governor says no doubt, Gen. Gowon is an elder statesman, who has written his name in gold and posterity will be kind to him.
He says it is delightful to celebrate a great leader with high moral standard on his birthday.
The farmer Governor prays that God will continue to protect General Gowon, keep him in good health, and grant him more wisdom for the continuous benefit of humanity.
Bologi Ibrahim Chief Press Secretary to the Governor of Niger State 18/10/2024.
Happy 90th Birthday to General Yakubu Gowon. He was born on October 19, 1934. A remarkable retired Nigerian military leader who served as Head of State from 1966 to 1975. Today, we honor him as a living elder statesman whose leadership and legacy continue to inspire our nation.
Wishing him many more years of good health and happiness!
Bashir Ahmad @BashirAhmaad
The General will always be remembered for the role he played in keeping this great country as one and unbreakable. Happy 90th birthday, Sir.
It gladdens my heart to celebrate a patriotic Nigerian, statesman and a pathfinder at 90.
General Yakubu Gowon (Rtd), former Head of State of Nigeria, wears nobility upon himself in the onerous service to our nation.
His footprints remain indelible. Notable among those is his great initiative of the National Youths Service Corps which was designed to perfectly give every young person a touch of unity in our diversity while proudly being clad with the badge of honour to serve our nation.
On behalf of the people and government of Ondo state, I congratulate the General who's not tired to serve our country even at 90.
May the Lord keep him healthy and strong to witness more years of meritorious service to humanity.
Gowon restates the case for Nigerian unity after Aburi | February 1967
Lieutenant Colonel Yakubu Gowon, the Nigerian head of state, restates the position of the federal government after the Aburi peace conference that Nigeria should remain politically united and that the army should remain under a unified command.
Speech by Major-General Yakubu Gowon Calling For The Surrender of Biafra | May 28th 1968
Major-General Yakubu Gowon, the Nigerian head of state and commander-in-chief of the armed forces, calls on the secessionist state of Biafra to surrender in a speech on May 28th 1968.
He was speaking from his official residence, Dodan Barracks.
Transcript:
"I do not wish to say anything on this occasion that might be regarded as prejudicial to the peace talks now going on in Kampala, Uganda, but in the words of Mr. Asika (the civilian administrator of the newly created East-Central State), the rebel leaders ought to know when enough is enough. They should call a halt to the shameless deception of innocent Igbos with reports of fictitious victories on the battle-fronts. They should appreciate that the so-called diplomatic recognition by dubious characters, will not in the least alter the course of Nigerian history. It is sheer wickedness for Ojukwu and his clique to continue to goad innocent citizens to support the rebellion and lay down their lives for a cause that is not just. The rebel leaders know in their hearts of hearts, that all their false propaganda about genocide and massacre derives from personal ambition and the haunting fear of their own future and safety, consequently they do not know when to stop.
I call on those who claim to love Nigeria and the Igbos, to face reality and advise the people of the East Central State to lay down their arms and return to the fold. It is not enough for organisations and individuals to ask the federal government to cease hostilities while ignoring the evil intentions of the rebels. I honestly believe it is in the true interests of the Igbos that they return to the fatherland. I am satisfied that all of the Nigerians have learnt the lesson of our most recent history and the current war and I pray that there will never be a repetition."
The Chief of Defence Staff (CDS), General Christopher Musa congratulated General Yakubu Gowon, former Head of State and elder statesman, as he marked his 90th birthday.
This was contained in a statement made available to Defence Correspondents in Abuja on Saturday by Director Defence Information, DDI, Major Gen Tukur Gusau.
According to the statement, the CDS noted with delight that as the Nigeria’s Head of State from 1966 to 1975, General Gowon played a key role in promoting and maintaining Nigeria’s peace and unity despite all the challenges of the period.
The statement reads “Indeed, General Gowon’s exemplary service and leadership have left an indelible mark in the history of Nigeria. It is on record that his vision and commitment on peace and national reconciliation since his famous speech ‘no victor, no vanquish’ at the end of the Nigeria’s civil war have contributed greatly for a stable and prosperous Nigeria.
“As a detribalised Nigerian and peace ambassador, it is worthy to mention that General Gowon has sustained his good work to humanity through his NGO, the Yakubu Gowon Foundation.
“In recognition of the former Head of State’s numerous contributions to the country, the AFN honours his enduring legacy. His virtues of discipline, dedication and patriotism as well as vision of a united Nigeria continue to inspire generations of Nigerian military personnel and civilians alike.
“As he celebrates this milestone, the AFN wishes him continued good health, happiness and peace. Happy 90th birthday to an extraordinary leader and an exemplary statesman.”
You presided over Nigeria when the economy of the country was very good. Would you say you used the money judiciously? How do you reconcile the story that you left penniless when your government was overthrown?
I left penniless? But Mr Goodheart, the British parliamentarian, said that when I was leaving Nigeria, I took half of the Central Bank of Nigeria.
Yes, we had a lot of money. During the civil war, we made sure that we did not destroy any of the facilities. We did whatever we could not to damage our oil infrastructure. So, soon after the civil war, they were able to come back and we were able to have a reasonable amount of money. And I can tell you in all honesty that there was discipline in my government. I can tell you that any fund I ever held as head of state was roughly 83,000pounds. That was before we changed to the naira for security reasons. I was forced to do it for the sake of Nigeria.
All we did was in the public interest. I know I was accused of helping certain countries like Grenada, Barbados, but we did the same thing in West Africa too. We helped as much as we could, even at home.
I can say with absolute authority that I may not have anything today, but honestly, at least I have a clear conscience. I thank Idi Amin and Eyadema for the help they gave me to have money to start off with.
You had hints that you were going to be overthrown but you didn’t do anything about it; why?
Who said I didn’t do anything about it? When I was told by the security details that something like that was going to happen, the only two names I was given were people who were supposed to be very close to me – my commander, brigade of guards, Joe Garba and Tony Ochefu. Both of them were from my state, Benue-Plateau. Of course I had to be suspicious of those two names. They were from my state and also Christians, so I could not absolutely believe it. I tried to get Ochefu but could not despite every effort I made. And Joe Garba swore by heaven and earth.
These were people who had helped me to ensure that the country was one; those I trusted. I had to go to Kampala for a meeting. I was the one who made sure that the meeting of the Organisation of African Unity (OAU) was attended by most of the countries so that we could deal with the problem of Africa. As chairman of the OAU, I encouraged most leaders to come so that we could discuss the remaining colonial problem in Africa. We tried to do that and people attended.
I was discussing with the governor that accompanied me to Kampala, the commissioner of police, Farouk Usman, that if the coup happened, as far as I was concerned, it would not create any problem. As far as I was concerned, we would see what happened. My hope was that if God preserved us and we were able to make the 10th year, I would have probably done something about coups and countercoups in Nigeria. That was my prayer.
Usually, I never attended any meeting late, but Mobutu wanted to see me. I am sure he must have heard about the coup already. I got to the conference late, and as I entered, Idi Amin, who was was the chairman, called me. Mr Mbo, a Cameroonian, the head of the education sector, United Nations education, was giving his speech.
When I went to Idi Amin, he showed me a Reuters slip and I saw the news that my government was overthrown. I said I hadn’t heard anything. My high commission had not contacted me to tell me anything, so probably that might be a rumour. Soon after, when that was being done, I was whispering to Farouk that the issue we were discussing on the flight to Kampala and what we were afraid of had happened, but he didn’t quite get it. I didn’t seem to be worried at all, but you could see the worry in Farouk’s face.
That event almost killed the OAU meeting because others started going back. So, I left the meeting place and went to my hotel, and later on to exercise and play some tennis. Honestly, my interest was that Nigeria should continue.
The following day, I had to give a world press conference. I remembered that during my school days at Barewa College in Zaria, we read Shakespeare, who said, “The world is a stage and all the men and women are merely players. They have their exits and their entrances, and one man in his time plays many parts.”
I didn’t go beyond that because if I did, some of you press people would say he wanted to come back. When I got to that,I said, “Ladies and gentlemen of the press, this is my exit and all I want you to do is to give Nigeria the support you gave me in order that the country will progress. That was that.
I went to the United Kingdom to become a student, which they didn’t like because I was taking my tray to get my breakfast.
When I came back and we were going through all the crises, since I could not physically do anything, we formed an organisation called Nigeria Prays, to pray for peace, stability and well-being of Nigeria. Every Nigerian means something to me, so I thought we needed to pray to God to help us.
What is happening in Nigeria today would make you feel sad, but let us not give up in praying and making sure we believe in God.
If you remember, we had a development plan. We started the iron and steel company in Ajaokuta, the petrochemicals in Enugu and the LNG. I was to sign the memorandum of understanding for the LNG to start building four times the size of what was there. We had lots of development – things like Peugeot in Kaduna, and Volkswagen was supposed to be in Lagos, then of course, Steyr in Bauchi, Leylands in Ibadan; and I think Volkswagen in Enugu.
Looking at the situation in Nigeria, what is your advice to the current administration?
Every government that comes has a responsibility to make the country good for every citizen and every part of the country.
By Andrew Agbese & Isiaka Wakili Sat, 19 Oct 2024 6:39:12 WAT
In this interview, a former military head of state, General Yakubu Gowon (rtd) highlights some of his experiences in office, what transpired before and after the civil war, and restates his belief in a united Nigeria.
You are committed to Nigeria’s unity; how did you take it when the civil war broke out?
I grew up with other Nigerians in a little village called Wusasa. It is Hausa community, but honestly, we knew one another. We either attended church together, or if you were a Muslim, you would go to mosque together, whether you were Hausa, Yoruba, or whatever. The unity of this country is certainly something for me.
I have always said that if there’s no secession, there wouldn’t be a break out and there wouldn’t be a question of civil war because it got to the stage that the situation was getting pretty clear that a part of the country, the South-east wanted to secede.
My duty and profession at that time demanded to make sure that we kept the country together. And that was how it happened.
I had an experience of crisis in some African countries, especially the Congo. I served twice in the Congo and saw the brutality and suffering of the people, but little did I know that a few years later, one was going to face the same problem. We had to do whatever we could to keep the country together.
I can assure you that it was not done out of joy but to make sure that at least we would be able to live together after resolving the problem. That was what we did.
The soldiers were given what we called a list of dos and don’ts like all the Geneva Convention instructions in any international conflict. There were about 12 conditions, such as not permitted to fight against old people, women, children etc. It was only against those who took up arms against you; that’s all. But unfortunately, it happened.
If given another opportunity, what would you have done differently?
I don’t think I would have done anything differently. Every effort was made to make sure that the situation did not degenerate into a breakaway. I had a duty to make sure that the breakup of the country did not happen. We had to fight for two and a half years and made sure that there was no interference from outside. There was no question of allowing any nation or power to get involved in our crisis. If you remember, in the Congo you had United Nations forces made up of Nigerian troops and others from other parts of Africa to deal with the problem.
At least we were able to deal with that problem and make sure we were able to live again as a people. So, I couldn’t have done it differently.
There are still agitations in the South-east for a Republic of Biafra. Does it mean that the three Rs that were declared after the civil war failed to make any impact? What is your message to the people of that region?
The Rs stand for reconciliation, rehabilitation and reintegration, and of course, reconstruction.
The instruction I gave to the fighting troops after the war was, ‘having fought your brothers and sisters, I want you to be soldiers of peace. Do whatever you can to help them get back to their homes and places; and give whatever assistance to them.’
Despite what happened, a lot of courageous Igbo people that lived in the North went back to Kaduna, Kano, Jos etc and got back their properties, which some of their friends had kept for them. They got them back almost immediately. The troops helped to transport them to various parts of the country.
There was no question of trial. Everyone was given the opportunity to go back if they wished. But I gave a special instruction to soldiers, especially officers because they knew that they should not have gone against the government. That was where a few retirements were made.
I had Mr Ukpabi Asika, a brilliant nationalist as administrator and gave him all the assistance he needed. For example, we gave assistance to get the schools going. There was also the medical side, etc. A lot of things were done so that at least you could start getting the reconciliation and integration so that people would be able to go back to various parts of the country.
On my message for the people of the South-east, I would say that the civil war has ended and Republic of Biafra is no more because people have accepted to be reintegrated as Nigerians. Do you want me to sort of say they should continue? No. Don’t ask that question.
At the end of the civil war, the Newsweek magazine described you as the equivalent of Abraham Lincoln of the United States. What do you say to that?
I remember this question of comparing me with Abraham Lincoln. I remember that during the time, somebody called Mr Martin Dent and gave me a book about the American civil war, but because of what was happening, I had no time to read it until towards the end.
When I read that book, I said to myself that what was happening in Nigeria was very much like the American civil war. It was so uncanny.
Honestly, if I had read that book before we prosecuted the Nigerian civil war, if anybody had said that I was trying to make myself look like Abraham Lincoln, I would have found it very difficult to say there was no comparison between us. The only difference was that at the end of it, I was able to continue with the reconciliation and getting the country through. So, sometimes I say to myself that I don’t mind being called the Abraham Lincoln of Nigeria because we had a similar situation and we were able to achieve the same result.
I remember that one English journalist asked why I thought the war was over —what if the people continued with guerrilla warfare? But thank God there was no guerrilla.
Let me deviate a little bit. I thank God that when the war ended, I did not capture Chief Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu because I would have probably found it very difficult to handle with public opinion that would have encouraged me to deal with him. This is because I knew that I would have done everything to save his life. But would it be the same thing if it was the reverse?
We heard so many versions of what transpired between you and Ojukwu in Aburi, Ghana. We want to hear from the horse’s mouth. What actually happened? Did you agree to a confederation?
Well, Ojukwu used to say, “On Aburi we stand” and I would say, “From Aburi you will fall.”
The story of Aburi is that we had been trying everything to be able to meet in Nigeria to resolve all the unfortunate things that happened – the killings and all the katakata after the January 15 coup. I was to go to Ibadan the following day, but I was informed that I could not go because there was a reception for officers coming into the brigade – officers like me being posted to that brigade and others from the brigade being posted out. There was a reception by the brigade commander for officers like me and others and I had to attend on that Friday night to ensure that I did the correct thing in that unit. So, that evening I went for the reception, and when it ended, I moved to Ikeja to stay for the night.
Unfortunately, late that night, there was commotion. I was wondering what it was, but nobody told me anything. And I was to take over the battalion the following morning. Then there was movement of troops and vehicles in the unit. After some time, it died down. But after another two to three hours, there was greater movement and commotion and I was wondering what was happening. There was a beagle calling all the troops to a master parade. I was wondering and looking through the window to see what was happening. Luckily, I saw one of the officers, the adjutant of the unit, Captain Martin Ademo, now late. He later became a General. I saw him passing by the duplex, a temporary quarter that I was to stay since the commanding officer’s residence was not ready yet for occupation.
I asked what was happening but he wouldn’t say anything, so I decided to go down and find out. When I met him and asked what the commotion was about, he said General Aguiyi Ironsi, who was the General Officer Commanding (GOC), came and told them that there was some crisis in town affecting the prime minister, Tafawa Balewa and Okotie Eboh, the finance minister and he had come to seek some assistance to see if he could deal with the problem. My first reaction was: Why Ironsi? Why not the brigadier because the chain of command should have come through him? Ironsi should have told the brigadier, who would have related to the battalion commander.
However, I asked where he was and he said he was at the master parade area. So I had to change into civil clothes to see what was happening. When we got there, he briefed me, saying that he wanted some units to be prepared so that they could go and deal with the situation. When he finished, he asked if there were questions.
I did not know that by that time, all the senior officers from my school —Maimalari, Kur Mohammed, Abo Baladinma, Yakubu Pam – had been killed. One of my good friends, Arthur Unegbe, from Ozobulu was also killed and I didn’t know.
I went and I got the Quarter Master to get me some military uniforms, boots, hat etc and I went into town. Luckily enough, we were able to deal with the coup in Lagos. But in Kaduna, they succeeded in killing the premier, his wife and other officials. They were certainly in command, but at least in Lagos, which was the headquarters, we were in charge. I was able to get all the other units to make sure that at least they did not go along with what had just happened. That was how I got involved. I tried to get things under control.
However, it got to a stage when the leadership could not do anything to put things right. But we tried to see if we could meet within the country.
Of course, Ojukwu said that with what happened, he could not be sure of his safety. He asked if we could also go to the East or Mid-west, which was supposed to be neutral, for a meeting since the whole thing seemed to be North versus East.
We got one of the British Airways aircraft for us to meet in the air or on one of the British naval ships. Every effort was made, both by Nigerians and the British for us to meet, but in the end, we had to agree to meet in Aburi. That was where it all started.
I think we went there early January. And as far as I am concerned, we were going for that meeting so that we could agree as military officers.
When I went, I did not take my secretary to the government and officials like advisers. But of course, Ojukwu had a different intention, so he came with all his advisers and prepared a memorandum, which he wanted to be the solution to the problem, as if we were to do an agreement in a class. I said no.
I joked with him and said he came with a pink solution paper. At our training in senior courses, students wrote on a white paper, but the staff had another green paper or something, and the solution paper was usually pink.
It was from his paper that he was reading all the conditions, things he wanted done. We discussed them. We had two days there. The agreement was that when we got back, I would be the one to make a statement on the areas we agreed on.
Unfortunately, I was down with a very serious fever; and honestly, I could not do anything. As soon as Ojukwu got back, he made a statement on what was agreed. I had not seen the document he was using. He made a statement that we had agreed to part or something like that. And early in the morning, David Ejoor called to tell me what Ojukwu had done (I was still on a sickbed).
I asked if that was what we agreed and he said no. That was how the confusion started. Of course, when I got better, we disagreed because that was not the agreement. We were going to discuss most of these things in Nigeria; however, that did not happen. So we had to ensure that something was done.
Ojukwu then started doing all sorts of things, disobeying federal government’s instructions, taking over government’s revenue, all the rolling stock from Port Harcourt and hijacking the Nigerian Airways’ aircraft etc.
A lot of things were happening. Security-wise, people were disappearing etc and the fault was put on northern soldiers. The information was that there were some elements among the recruitment made at that time. There were some bad eggs using the opportunity of being in the military to settle scores.
Ojukwu said his Constituent Assembly said he could break away to form Biafra.
From some of the intelligence I was receiving, it was just a step to the next thing. That was when I created a state of emergency and 12 states to make sure that no region in Nigeria was marginalised because there was the fear of the monolithic North. And the minority group in the East, Biriye, Briggs and others did not want to go along with the agreement given to Ojukwu. They personally came to me several times. I created 12 states to make sure that no place is too big or too strong to threaten the unity of the country.
Lagos State was made up of Lagos central, Epe, Ikeja and Badagry, that was for the old colony of Lagos to become a state of its own. That was probably one of the reasons that after the civil war, the security situation made us to think of establishing a new capital in Abuja so that at least the federal government and a state would not stay in one place. We knew that Lagos was going to remain the commercial capital of the country, as well as the engineer of national activities.
Shagari was my commissioner for finance, and one of the instructions I left for him was that when they were doing the budget, he should make sure that he had some money kept for planning and building the infrastructure of the future capital of Nigeria in Abuja.
Not that I didn’t want to return the country to democracy, but when I was about to do it, politicians had started going at each other. You can remember the popular statement, “If you Tarka me, I Dabo you, if you Dabo me, I Tarka you”.
Honestly, I did not want a sort of situation reflective of what happened before the first coup.
I don’t know what version you heard, but in the end, we had to meet in Benin, me and all the governors at the time to discuss the Aburi agreement and put it in the true context. We invited Ojukwu to be there but he did not come. The only thing I included, which probably made him not to accept it, was that there was no chance for any part of the country to secede without the agreement of two-third of the members of the group. But as soon as we left, Ejoor told me that Ojukwu came to find out what it was.
Former President Goodluck Jonathan has congratulated Nigeria’s former military Head of State, General Yakubu Gowon on his 90th birthday.
Jonathan described Gowon as a model leader worthy of emulation, particularly for his pivotal role in steering Nigeria through the 1967-1970 civil war.
Jonathan made these remarks during a virtual address at an event held to celebrate Gowon’s 90th birthday at the Economic Community of West African States Secretariat in Abuja on Friday.
Reflecting on Gowon’s leadership during one of Nigeria’s most turbulent periods, Jonathan said, “We wish General Gowon well.
“For those of us around my age and others, when you hear his name, what comes to mind is the Civil War. I was about five years old and in primary school at the time. He led the country through those challenges.”
Jonathan also shared that he had gained valuable insights from Gowon during meetings with former heads of state, commending the former leader for his peaceful nature.
“He always prioritised the unity and progress of this country. A true test of a good general is during a war, and Gowon showed his peaceful disposition, feeling the pain of his people and doing what was right during the Civil War. Even in council meetings, I’ve listened to him and learned a lot from his wisdom,” Jonathan added.
The celebration attracted numerous dignitaries, including President Bola Tinubu, represented by the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Senator George Akume; former President Olusegun Obasanjo; immediate past President Muhammadu Buhari, represented by former SGF Boss Mustapha; and former Senate President Bukola Saraki. Other prominent attendees included the National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress, Abdullahi Ganduje, and former Edo State Governor Adams Oshiomhole.
’90 no be joke’: Obasanjo, Sultan, IBB celebrate Gowon as icon of unity
October 18, 2024
By Luminous Jannamike, ABUJA
Former President Olusegun Obasanjo praised General Yakubu Gowon (rtd) Nigeria’s former Head of State, as a statesman worthy of celebration. He noted that few can claim to have witnessed his time in government or the army.
He made this statement at a public lecture in Abuja marking Gowon’s 90th birthday on Friday evening.
The event brought together political leaders, traditional rulers, and citizens from across the country to honour Gowon’s legacy as a symbol of national unity and perseverance.
Obasanjo said: “This is a national celebration, and you are worthy of being celebrated while you’re still with us. Very few can claim to have witnessed your time in government or the army.
“But by God’s grace, you have lived long enough for us to honour you today.”
He humorously remarked on Gowon’s milestone, saying, “God has made you a big 90. If I were from Calabar, I would say, ’90 no be yoke’.'”
The Sultan of Sokoto, Alhaji Sa’ad Abubakar III, who chaired the event, highlighted Gowon’s exceptional longevity and institutional wisdom.
“In our time, children were everyone’s responsibility, regardless of tribe or religion. Honesty, hard work, and selflessness were the benchmarks of our society.
“The civil service was efficient, and society lived in peace and harmony. Not many countries are fortunate enough to have leaders live so long, with full consciousness and insight,” he added.
IBB
General Ibrahim Babangida, in a goodwill message, praised Gowon’s decency and unwavering commitment to Nigeria’s development, urging the younger generation to learn from his life story.
Babangida said “I will continue to pray for him. The younger generation should learn from his life story, as he started leading this country at a tender age.”
Other dignitaries from various sectors who attended the public lecture reflected on Gowon’s broad influence and respect.
They celebrated his leadership, which spanned critical periods in Nigeria’s history, for promoting unity, peace, and harmony.
PRESIDENT TINUBU CELEBRATES GENERAL GOWON ON HIS NONAGINTENNIAL YEAR ANNIVERSARY
TRIBUTE TO GENERAL GOWON AT 90
On his 90th birthday (October 19), I pay special tribute to our elder statesman and former head of state, General Yakubu Gowon.
General Gowon is a gentleman extraordinaire, one of the longest-serving Nigerian leaders.
He did a lot for our country and served meritoriously in various capacities within and outside the military.
As a brilliant officer trained at Sandhurst and reluctantly became Nigeria's leader at 32, his life story has inspired many Nigerians.
As the nation's head of state, he significantly contributed to nation-building and development and can be rightly called the father of national infrastructure.
It is on record that after the country's civil war, his philosophy of "No victor, no vanquished" helped promote national healing, peace, and reconciliation.
His most incredible legacy was the Economic Community of West African States, ECOWAS, founded in 1975.
Since I became President, General Gowon has been my counsellor, offering advice when needed.
He was there for us when we had a misunderstanding with some of our Sahelian states, calling for moderation from all sides for the sake of ECOWAS unity.
General Gowon's life outside the office is also remarkable. After stewardship of the country, he acquired more knowledge, demonstrating that age and status are never barriers to seeking to be the best we can be.
General Gowon has continued to deploy his"Nigeria Prays' Programme in prayer and intercession for the country while also suing for religious tolerance, peace, harmony and stability in the land.
This is a further testament to his belief in the unity and togetherness of Nigeria.
We thank General Gowon for his leadership and his labour of service to Nigeria.
His sterling example remains a beacon of hope and inspiration for us in government, encouraging us to do our best for our beloved country.
We will continue to cherish his wisdom and wise counselling.
I pray that God Almighty will imbue General Gowon with more wisdom and grant him good health and more years to continue to be useful to Nigeria and humanity.
EX-PRESIDENT BUHARI PRAISES GOWON ON HIS 90th BIRTHDAY.
Former President Muhammadu Buhari has paid tribute to former Military Head of State, General Yakubu Gowon as he marks his birthday, praising his visionary leadership and dedication to Nigeria’s unity and progress.
In a message to General Gowon on his 90th birthday, President Buhari said the former military ruler’s far-sighted leadership and commitment to the nation’s unity and future development was praiseworthy.
“We honor his invaluable contributions to our nation's continued existence as one, and the progress that has come with that. “Today we pay a humble tribute a distinguished statesman and a soldier, who had all the qualities of a successful army commander.”
Muhammadu Buhari said both old and the younger generation of Nigerians would continue to be proud of General Gowon and the officers and men he led for their courage and gallantry in preserving the unity and territorial integrity of the nation.
“I pay homage to all those who served and laid their lives for the country. Gowon and the team he led will continue to inspire the young generations and the country for a long time.”
He conveyed his strong appreciation for the resolute dedication of the former Head of State as he continues to offer service to the nation and its people, including “the admirable role he plays in leading his pet project ‘Nigeria Prays.’”
The National Youth Service Corps has congratulated the founder of the 51 year old Scheme, General Dr Yakubu Gowon (Rtd) GCFR as he turns 90 years on 19th of October, 2024.
The Director General of NYSC, Brigadier General YD Ahmed, who visited the nonagenarian Statesman in his house in Abuja, expressed appreciation to God for sparing General Gowon's life over the years.
General Ahmed, who was accompanied by members of the NYSC Top Management and some Corps Members said the visit was to wish the former Head of State a happy birthday.
The Director General presented the celebrant with a life-size birthday card on behalf of the entire Staff and Corps Members nationwide. Responding, General Gowon expressed gratitude to God for sparing his life thus far, and, appreciation to Nigerians for their goodwill towards him.
He also thanked the Director General and the entire NYSC family for the goodwill visit.
He further expressed appreciation for the dogged commitment shown by successive batches of Nigerian graduate youths for ensuring that the Scheme lived up to the ideals of nation building, unity, and integration.
Going down memory lane, General Gowon recalled the initial resistance from the youth at the inception of the NYSC. He noted that despite the initial misgivings, the Scheme had grown to become a huge success story with immense contributions to national development.
The DG along with his team, spontaneously sang the happy birthday song for the celebrating nonagenarian.
I join Nigerians and others to celebrate General Yakubu Gowon, a refined and uncontroversial public figure with an unwavering commitment to national unity and integrity.
Healing the wounds of the civil war through national reconciliation was one of General Gowon's greatest and indelible achievements.
He was instrumental in founding the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), which has helped forge socioeconomic and political integration in the sub-region.
I praise his humility and integrity, some of the remarkable virtues for which he is widely respected.
I pray that the Almighty God continues to bless him with a longer life and good health in the service of humanity. -AA
I am privileged to join other Nigerians of goodwill to celebrate a highly respected leader and former Head of State, General Yakubu Gowon, on his 90th birthday anniversary.
In a time of hate, you stood for love. At a time of strife, you stood for peace. At a time of division, you stood for unity.
Your life of service to our great nation, Nigeria, stand as one of sacrifice, leadership, and unity.
Your steadfast commitment to preserving the peace and sovereignty of Nigeria during a challenging period in our history will forever be remembered and revered.
Your exemplary leadership and statesmanship remain an inspiration to younger and many generations of Nigerians.
As we celebrate this milestone, I pray that God continues to grant you good health, wisdom, and the grace of true fruitfulness.
May your legacy continue to guide us as we strive to build a more united, prosperous, and just Nigeria.
Today, we celebrate the 90th birthday of General Yakubu Gowon, a pivotal figure in Nigeria’s history. As the former Head of State, he played a key role in shaping our nation’s industrial landscape.
We’re especially proud to acknowledge his contribution to the establishment of PAN Nigeria, where he launched the first car rolled out of our assembly plant! This milestone marked the beginning of Nigeria’s automotive industry.
General Gowon’s visionary leadership and commitment to national development continue to inspire us. We honor his legacy and wish him a joyous birthday, filled with good health, happiness, and celebration!!🎉
Opening of Express Way Leading to Eko Bridge | Gen. Yakubu Gowon Meets Walter Scheel | October 1971
Friday, October 15th, 1971.
Reuters Text:
"An important new stretch of motorway, designed to speed up traffic flow into Lagos, was opened on Friday. Nigerian Federal Commissioner for Works and Housing Femi Okunnu cut the tape. And watching was the visiting West German Foreign Minister Walter Scheel. He later drove over the new expressway in a motorcade. The new road, bridging over a mile of creeks and swamps, cost over five million pounds sterling and was built with the help of a West German firm of contractors. It has been called a most successful example of co-operation between the two countries.
On Friday afternoon, Herr Scheel and his West German mission met the Nigerian head of state, General Yakubu Gowon. Talks about further West German loans to the country were expected to crop up during Herr Scheel's two-day visit--which has been undertaken to see as much as possible of Nigeria's development programmes. He was also to have talks with the Nigerian Finance Commissioner, during which it was agreed that private investment by German firms could be an important instrument in the further development of Nigeria. They discussed ways of encouraging investment. Another principle issue of talks was the future relationship of African countries with the European Common Market."
General Gowon Visits The Uncompleted Black Arts Festival Village | Later FESTAC Town | March 1975
Saturday, March 22nd, 1975.
Footage of General Yakubu Gowon, the head of the Federal Military Government of Nigeria visiting the incomplete building project which was to serve as the residence of participants in the forthcoming Second African and Black Festival of Arts and Culture.
Reuters Text:
"Work on the multi-million-naira housing project for the Second African and Black Festival of Arts and Culture has been delayed because of an industrial action and shipping problems.
The Co-ordinator of the project, Mr. Simon Shodipo, explained this to General Yakubu Gowon during an inspection tour of the village on Saturday (22 Match).
Mr. Shodipo said about 20 per cent of the houses in the village would not be completed in time for the Festival...due to open in Nigeria later this year.
He blamed construction delays of two months on strikes by building workers demanding civil services pay increases. He added that this was aggravated by the constant congestion at Lagos Port.
The village will accommodate some 150,000 people -- more than two thirds of those expected at the Festival.
However, General Gowon re-assured Festival officials that there would be no accommodation problem."
The video begins with a street scene. We see a banner on the street that reads, “Happy 14th year anniversary”. Then we see the Tafawa Balewa Square. We can see Western House in the background. The Nigerian Police Mounted Troop escort the state car into the venue. The horses’ hooves kick up too much dust, so I can’t tell for sure if the car is the iconic w100 Mercedes Benz 600 (the number 1 state car) or if it was a W108 S Class. Judging from the length of the car, I think it’s the 600 limousine.
Then we see a cross section of the members of the public who are watching the parade.
Next we see General Gowon in the uniform of an admiral. Behind him is the chief of staff, Supreme Headquarters, Vice Admiral Wey. They are both climbing up the stairs to the saluting dais.
Then we see the troops marching past. Then we see General Gowon, Admiral Wey and General Ejoor on the saluting dais. We next see policemen marching past and then it’s the turn of school children to march past the saluting dais. We also see some foreigners in the audience who are taking pictures.
We see the parade commander and then there’s a loss of sound as the 21 gun salute is fired. There’s still no sound as we see naval ratings give three cheers to the head of state. Finally we see the officers on the saluting dais.
It was on this day that General Gowon made a major mistake. He had previously promised that he would hand over to a civilian government in 1976. However, in his Independence Day speech in 1974, he said that the 1976 handover date was no longer feasible. Many soldiers were tired of military rule. They were tired of being involved in government and they wanted to return to purely military duties. After this speech, Shehu Musa Yar’Adua, Joseph Garba and Abdullahi Mohammed started plotting to overthrow General Gowon. They staged their coup in July 1975 and handed over to Murtala Muhammad, Olusegun Obasanjo and Theophilus Danjuma, who announced that they would hand over to a civilian government in 1979.
"Of particular importance is the progress which we have continued to make with the implementation of our policy of increasing our control over the strategic sectors of our economy as well as encouraging indigenous ownership of business generally. The Federal Government now holds 40 per cent of the equity shares in the three major expatriate commercial banks and has its appointees serving on their Boards of Directors. Further, negotiations which have been in progress and aimed at securing Government participation in the existing oil companies and their concessions have been concluded successfully. As a result, the Federal Government now holds at least thirty-five per cent of the equity shares in each of the oil companies operating in the country.
With effect from tomorrow, 2nd October, 1973, the Nigerian Bank of Commerce and Industry will open business to members of the public. The Bank, as you know, aims at providing equity capital and funds by way of loans to indigenous persons, institutions and organisations for medium and long term investments in industry and commence.
These past few years have witnessed erratic weather conditions all over the world. Scanty rainfalls in the Savannah Region stretching across North Africa, Central Asia and Latin America have caused the worst drought in these areas in recent history. Parts of Nigeria, especially the northern districts of the North-Western, North-Central, Kano and North-Eastern States have been badly affected. It would like to seize this opportunity to express the deep concern of the federal Government about the plight of the people in all the affected areas.
To provide immediate succour to the people in the areas affected by the drought, the Federal Government has made grants totalling 12-million Naira (16.4 million sterling) to the four states gravely affected, partly for the purchase of foodstuffs and livestock feeds to augment whatever is available locally and partly to improve water supply facilities by the provision of bore holes."
Politics › Re: PAN, Obi, Atiku, Others Pay Tribute To Gowon On His 90th Birthday by naptu2(op): 4:13pm On Oct 19, 2024
