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."
We see the Nigeria Police Mounted Troop escorting the state car (a W108 Mercedes Benz S Class) into the arena. General and Mrs Gowon alight from the car. We see General Gowon and Kam Selem walking towards the saluting dais.
Then we see General Gowon reviewing the troops from the back of an open top Land Rover. And then we see the troops marching past. Reviewing the troops on the saluting dais are General Gowon (who was promoted from the rank of major general to general on that day), Rear Admiral Nelson Soroh (who was promoted to the rank of rear admiral on this day), Alhaji Kam Selem, Major General David Ejoor and other senior military officers.
We see policemen marching past and then fighter planes flying overhead. Then we see a cross section of the crowd watching the parade. We see Mrs Victoria Gowon and then the Lagos State Governor Brigadier Mobolaji Johnson. Then we see the federal commissioner (minister) for information and labour, Chief Anthony Enahoro. Finally, we get another view of the audience.
We see a sign above the road and it reads, "ONE COUNTRY ONE DESTINY". Then we see a banner above Carter Bridge and that banner reads, "UNITY AND FAITH". We see flags and buntings over the Cenotaph at Idumota (Soja Idumota). We see another sign that reads, "One Nigeria" and we see the traffic on Broad Street.
Then we see General Gowon's motorcade enter the Race Course in Lagos (venue of the parade). He steps out of the limousine and salutes the policewoman. We then see Victoria Gowon in the audience and the General Gowon saluting as the National Anthem is played.
We see Christian clerics and then the band as they play "Praise To The Lord The Almighty". The people in the crowd also sing along. We see General Gowon, Mrs Victoria Gowon, Admiral Wey, Inspector General of Police Kam Selem and another officer as they also sing along.
Then we see the Catholic Archbishop of Lagos, Reverend Doctor John Kwao Amuzu Aggey, as he also sing the song. We see other Christian clerics and then we see the Oba of Lagos, Oba Adeyinka Oyekan. Then we see General Gowon greeting the Christian clerics.
We see Mrs Victoria Gowon leaving the grandstand. It looks like she is pregnant. Then we see the motorcade leaving the arena and people waving at it.
Major General Yakubu Gowon Opens Eko Bridge | Lagos, Nigeria | February 1969
Saturday, February 8th 1969.
Footage of Major General Yakubu Gowon, the Head of the Federal Military Government of Nigeria, opening Eko Bridge, the second bridge to link Lagos Mainland to Lagos Island.
Reuters: The construction of the bridge was financed from a loan of 66 miliion Deutschmarks from the West German government. A special eight-man delegation led by Dr. Udo Hein, State Secretary and Deputy Minister of Economic Co-operation represented West Germany at the ceremony. In a short speech Dr. Hein described federal Nigeria as "one of the most important trading partners of the Federal Republic of Germany in Africa.
General Yakubu Gowon is told that he has been overthrown | July 29th 1975
July 29th 1975.
General Yakubu Gowon, the Nigerian Head of State and Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces, is captured at the Organisation of African Unity conference in Uganda, being informed that he has been overthrown by a military coup.
It is exactly 9 years after the army mutiny led by Northern officers brought him to power.
Meeting of Nigeria's Supreme Military Council in Lagos Boycotted by Lt. Col. Ojukwu | March 1967
Sunday, March 19th 1967.
Footage of a meeting of the Supreme Military Council of Nigeria. The SMC discussed the annual budget as well as the rejection by the Eastern Region of several clauses in a draft decree on Nigeria's constitutional future.
The meeting was chaired by Lt. Colonel Yakubu Gowon, the Head of State and was attended by Commodore Joseph Wey, the Chief of Naval Staff; Colonel Adeyinka Adebayo, the military governor of the Western Region; Lt. Colonel David Ejoor, the military governor of the Mid-Western Region, Lt. Colonel Hassan Katsina, the military governor of the Northern Region; and Major Mobolaji Johnson, the military administrator of Lagos.
The Chief Justice of the federation, Dr. T.O. Elias was also in attendance.
Meeting of Nigeria's Supreme Military Council in Benin Boycotted by Lt. Col. Ojukwu | March 1967
Footage of members of Nigeria's Supreme Military Council meeting for the second day running on Friday March 10th 1967 in Benin City, Capital of the Mid-West Region.
The Head of State, Lt. Colonel Yakubu Gowon had expressly invited Lt. Colonel Odumegwu Ojukwu, the military governor of the Eastern region to attend. The meeting was being held in the Mid-West Region, which borders the Eastern Region, as a gesture towards Ojukwu. Ojukwu however refused to attend despite the assurances given in regard to his safety.
Two months after the meetings in Aburi, Ghana, Nigeria was teetering on disintegration because of a disagreement over the interpretation of the Aburi Accord.
Ojukwu warned that if provisions he insisted were part of the Aburi agreement were not implemented by the end of the month, he would take unilateral action. "Unilateral action" was taken to mean the secession of the Eastern Region from the federation which the Supreme Military Council maintained would be an act of rebellion that would be met by force.
Ojukwu responded by stating that "force would be met with force".
Earlier in the week, the military governor of the Northern region, Lt. Colonel Hassan Katsina had said that the east would be crushed within a matter of hours.
The members of the Supreme Military Council at the meeting were:
1. Lt. Col. Yakubu Gowon, the Head of State. 2. Commodore Joseph Wey, the Chief of Naval Staff. 3. Lt. Col. David Ejoor, MIlitary Governor of the Mid-West Region. 4. Col. Adeyinka Adebayo, Military Governor of the Western Region. 5. Lt. Col. Hassan Katsina, Military Governor of the Northern Region. 6. Major Mobolaji Johnson, Military Governor of Lagos State.
Major General Gowon Presents the Nigerian Navy with its First Colours | October 21st 1968
Major General Yakubu Gowon, the Nigerian Head of State and Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces presents the Nigerian Navy with its first colours at a parade held at the Naval Base in Apapa, Lagos.
The Navy was instrumental in executing the seaborne assault of the town of Bonny in July of 1967 -a strategic necessity in the overall federal objective of encircling the secessionist state of Biafra, and it also maintained a blockade.
Hosting Major General Yakubu Gowon were Rear Admiral J.E.A. Wey, Chief of Naval Staff and Navy Captain James Rawe, Chief-of-Staff and Base Commander who authored the amphibious landings at Bonny (July 25, 1967), Sapele, Warri and Koko (September 21, 1967), Calabar (October 18, 1967) and Oron (March 19, 1968).
The ceremony took place on Monday, the 21st of October 1968.
Obafemi Awolowo Released | Arrival in Lagos | Met By Lt. Col. Gowon & Lt. Col. Muhammed | Aug. 1966
Early August 1966.
Rare footage of Chief Obafemi Awolowo on his release from prison by the new military regime headed by Lt. Colonel Yakubu Gowon.
Awolowo, the leader of the Action Group Party and former Prime Minister of the Western Region, had been imprisoned by the civilian government of Nigeria in 1963 for "Treasonable Felony".
Awolowo was flown to Lagos after his release from a prison in Calabar where he met Gowon. Also present and captured in the newsreel is Lt. Colonel Murtala Muhammed one of the leaders of the July uprising by soldiers of Northern Nigerian origin which overthrew the government headed by Major General J.T.U. Aguiyi-Ironsi.
Original source: Reuters.
NB.
. Controversy.
Who released Awo: Ironsi, Gowon or Ojukwu?
After ignoring internatonal requests and refusing a personal plea from Awolowo himself, Ironsi had begun the process of releasing him at the time he was assassinated on July 29th 1966. Gowon gave effect to it as soon as he assumed power in early August 1966 and Ojukwu who governed the Eastern region where Awo was being held (Calabar) did not oppose the release of the man who was a prisoner of the federal government.
. His own words.
"At this juncture, it is of interest to narrate the nature of Ironsi’s proposed release as it was disclosed to me after my actual release. The plan was to take me to Ikoyi prison until it was judged safe to set me free. A cell had been prepared for me there which contained extra facilities . If I did not like the place, I could be placed under house arrest at Ikenne. If I wanted to travel abroad, every facility would be afforded me to do so. That was why my intended release was not announced, even though a plane had been dispatched to Calabar to bring me to Lagos. Until negotiation with me on the above lines had been concluded, Ironsi’s team did not want the public to know that I had been transferred back to Ikoyi prison or to my house under house arrest, with my own consent."
Major General Yakubu Gowon visiting Bonny Camp in September 1967
Major General Yakubu Gowon, the head of the military government which succeeded that of the slain Major General Aguiyi-Ironsi, visits Bonny Camp, a military installation on Victoria Island in Lagos.
Bonny Camp was being used to train troops to be deployed to the Nigerian Army then engaged with the task of crushing a rebellion in the eastern part of the federation.
Gowon ended the tour by visiting the premises of the American International School which was located within the camp.
General Gowon Launches Nigeria's National Youth Service Scheme | June 4th 1973
Footage of Nigeria's military ruler, General Yakubu Gowon announcing the establishment of the National Youth Service Corps on Monday June 4, 1973.
Modelled on the American Peace Corps, it is still in operation in Nigeria today.
Transcript of General Gowon's remarks:
"It has been generally accepted that if Nigeria is to make rapid progress on all fronts internally, and if she is to make her mark on the continent of Africa, and indeed, in the community of Nations, then her youths must be fully mobilised and be prepared to offer, willingly and without asking for rewards in return, their best in the service of their nation at all times.
I wish to assure you, Mr. Chairman and Members of the Directorate of the National Youth Service Corps, of the full support and co-operation of all the Governments in the Federation in all your undertakings. Yours is not an easy assignment and the whole world will watch to see what you make of this bold and challenging venture. God willing you will not fail. I wish you the very best of luck, success and God's blessings.
Major General Gowon at University of Ibadan Installation | November 17th 1967
Major General Yakubu Gowon was the special guest at the ceremonial installation of Sir Kashim Ibrahim as university chancellor and other distinguished Nigerians who received honorary degrees from the University of Ibadan in the Western State.
Honorary degrees were bestowed on:
1. Mr. Robert Gardiner, the Secretary-General of the Economic Commission for Africa, who was previously the head of the United Nations Peace Keeping Operation in the Congo. He was also the first director of the Department of Extra-Mural Studies at the University of Ibadan. He received an honourary law degree.
2. Mr. Justice Udo Udoma, the Nigerian Chief Justice of Uganda.
3. Chief Akin-Deko, chairman of the United Nations Food and Agricultural Organisation in Africa.He was a former minister for Agriculture and Natural Resources in Western Nigeria.
You can see the Emir of Kano's Rolls Royce Silver Wraith, the same vehicle that Queen Elizabeth II used when she came to Nigeria in 1956.
Gen. Gowon Hosts President Ahidjo Of Cameroon | Kano | Northern Nigeria | August 1974
Friday, August 30th 1974.
Footage of General Yakubu Gowon, the Nigerian Military Head of State hosting President Ahmadou Ahidjo of Cameroon on a state visit to NIgeria.
Ahidjo arrived in the ancient city of Kano, and part of his itinerary was a visit to the Palace of the Emir.
According to Reuters:
"Thousands of people packed the terminal to shout their welcome. Banners and Cameroun flags were waved as the two leaders inspected a guard of honour before leaving for the centre of Kano and the Palace of the Emir. Offices along the route between the airport and the city were closed to allow workers to line the streets as the official party made its way to the Palace."
Emperor Haile Selassie Arrives For a State Visit To Nigeria | Welcomed By General Gowon | Jan. 1972
Wednesday, January 19th 1972.
Footage of Haile Selassie's arrival in Nigeria on a national tour.
Reuters Text:
"A warm welcome with traditional dancing, and the full ceremonial due to an honoured Head of State was laid on at Lagos airport on Wednesday for the arrival of Ethiopian Emperor Haile Selassie on a five-day State visit. There to greet Africa's elder statesman was the Nigerian Federal leader, General Yakubu Gowon. The 70 year-old Emperor is to have two rounds of official talks with Nigerian leaders before leaving Lagos on Sunday for Monrovia to preside over an O.A.U. peace meeting between Senegal and Guinea.
The two African leaders inspected a Guard of Honour together as part of the ceremony of welcome, and later General Gowon introduced military leaders and Government officials, before driving into town.
Next day the Emperor was to visit Kaduna, capital of the north-central state, for a tour of defence industries, and for a colourful Durbar at which horsemen gave acrobatic displays. On Friday Emperor Selassie was scheduled to fly to Enugu to see for himself the progress of post-war rehabilitation and reconciliation in the east-central state. He was due to return to Lagos to receive an honorary Doctorate in Law the same evening, and on Saturday was to have a major session of talks with General Gowon. Emperor Selassie has a high standing among Nigerians, not least for his efforts during the Nigerian civil war to reach a settlement using the good offices of the O.A.U. He will end his Nigerian tour on Sunday following a Church service at the Anglican Cathedral in Lagos, and after further talks with General Gowon."
Gen. Yakubu Gowon Visits National Census Board Prior to Nigerian Census | November 1973
Thursday, November 22nd 1973.
Footage of the Nigerian Head of State, General Yakubu Gowon, visiting the National Census Board Secretariat in Lagos to inspect preparations for the national census, which was scheduled to begin on November 25.
Gowon was shown around the census headquarters by the Board Chairman, Sir Adetokuobo Ademola.
The NCB was scheduled to deploy 300,000 field workers during the seven-day population count.Schools throughout the country were to be closed during the exercise to enable teachers and senior students to help in the operation. The government also decided to reduce working hours in the major cities by two to three hours so that workers could be at home when the count is taken.
The census was scheduled to tabulate such national characteristics as religion, ethnic origin/nationality, and languages spoken. There are about 250 ethnic groups in Nigeria.
General Yakubu Gowon Opens the First Nigeria-Ghana Sports Festival | August 1974
Nigerian Head of State, General Yakubu Gowon opens the first Nigeria-Ghana Sports Festival at the National Stadium, Surulere, Lagos on Saturday, August 10th 1974.
A Nigerian newspaper explained that the goal of the games was to help remove the political, economic and social barriers which endanger unity within West Africa. It went on to say that the idea of the Ghana-Nigeria competition would hopefully form the nucleus of an intended West African Games.
Observers from Dahomey (Benin), Togo, Ivory Coast, Senegal, Guinea, Sierra Leone and Gambia were attending the festival.
Text of Gowon's speech:
"The history of our sporting relations dates back to our colonial past some seventy years ago. We have, particularly since independence, strove to maintain our sporting links in athletics, football, cricket, lawn and table tennis, polo, hockey, basketball and all other sports. And we found these sporting contacts most useful and helped in no small measure to forge closer links and foster mutual understanding, respect and good relations between our two countries. It is now my pleasure and great honour to declare the first Ghana-Nigeria Sports Festival 1974 open."
General Gowon Closes 2nd All-African Games | Lagos, Nigeria | January 1973
Thursday, January 18th 1973.
Footage of General Yakubu Gowon, the Nigerian military Head of State closing the Second All-Africa Games which was held in Lagos.
He referred to the games as "an undeniable success and a vision for the future of Africa."
Reuters Text:
"About 30,000 spectators and the 3,000 athletes who took part, smashing dozens of records during 12 days of competition, watched the five-hour closing programme of bands, fireworks and speeches.
Egypt claimed the most medals of the games--25 gold, 16 silver and 17 bronze--but Nigeria, the host nation came second and took the final event with a 2 - 0 soccer win over Guinea on Wednesday. Nigeria got 18 gold, 25 silver and 20 bronze medals."
Major-General Gowon and Colonel Obasanjo Accept Biafra's Surrender - January 1970
This is the official surrender ceremony that ended the Nigeria Civil War. At Dodan Barracks the Nigerian head of State Major-General Yakubu Gowon shook hands with surviving senior Biafran officers that were presented to him by Colonel Olusegun Obasanjo. Obasanjo said the Biafran officers were reporting for "reassignment and redeployment". Gowon greeted the leader of Biafra's delegation Phillip Effiong with the words "how are you my friend?"
Effiong closed his surrender statement with "we are loyal Nigerian citizens, and accept the authority of the Federal Military Government of Nigeria...the Republic of Biafra hereby ceases to exist..." (applause).
General Gowon Informs Muhammad Ali That Ali Is The "President Of Boxing" | Nigeria | October 1971
Thursday, October 7th, 1971.
Footage of General Yakubu Gowon, the Head of the Federal Military Government of Nigeria, hosting Muhammad Ali, then the former World Heavyweight Champion at Dodan Barracks, Lagos.
Ali was on a four-day goodwill tour of Nigeria.
Reuters text: "The President returned the compliment and told Ali that he hoped the boxer would help educate Afro-Americans about the social and economic progress being made in Africa. The General also appealed to Ali not to worry about his last defeat to Joe Frazier adding that it was sometimes good to taste defat in order to better appreciate the joy of victory."
Source of footage: Reuters News Archive.
NB.
. Also present at the meeting were Chief Anthony Enahoro, the Federal Commissioner for Education and Brigadier Austen Olumuyiwa Peters (wearing sunglasses), the first indigenous Commander of the Nigerian Army Corps who later became the Director General of the Armed Forces Medical Services
. Brigadier Peters was an alumnus of Cambridge University where he earned a boxing "Blue"
. General Gowon was the captain of the boxing club at Barewa College, Zaria
naptu2: General Yakubu Gowon’s state visit to the UK in 1973 (video)
We see General Gowon exit the train from Gatwick Airport to Victoria Station. He salutes and shakes hands with the Queen. Mrs Victoria Gowon curtseys to the Queen. General Gowon and Prince Philip exchange salutes. They are both in uniform. Then General Gowon salutes and shakes hands with Princess Margaret (the Queen’s sister). Then we see senior military officers and lords spiritual and temporal and the Duke of Kent. Then the Queen and General Gowon exit Victoria Station. There is a large group of Nigerians in the distance and General Gowon waves to them as he exits the station and they wave their Nigerian flags.
General Gowon and the Queen board the carriage outside the station and we can see a guard of honour on the other side of the street. The guards render a royal salute as the carriage starts moving. Don’t be confused by the tune, that’s Nigeria’s former anthem, “Nigeria We Hail Thee”. There’s another group of Nigerians on the roadside and General Gowon waves to them as the carriage goes past.
"With All Our Hearts, With All Our Love" | Gen. Gowon Welcomes Evacuated Igbo Children | Nov. 1970
Tuesday, November 10th 1970.
Footage of Major General Yakubu Gowon, the Head of the Federal Military Government of Nigeria, welcoming ethnic Igbo children back to Nigeria from the Ivory Coast where they had been evacuated during the Nigerian Civil War.
Gowon to the Children:
"After how many years, about two years, away from home? I can assure you that we'll welcome you back with all our hearts with all our love. I want to assure you that you are back home, there's nothing that's going to happen to you. You are Nigerians."
The Nigerian Civil War lasted from July 1967 to January 1970. It followed the secession of the Igbo-dominated Eastern Region from the Federation after a concatenation of violent events which occurred during 1966.
General Gowon Opening Nigeria's 2nd Motor Plant | March 1975
Friday, March 21st 1975.
Footage of the Nigerian Head of State General Yakubu Gowon opening Nigeria's second multi-million pound motor plant at a site on the outskirts of Lagos. The plant, which was a joint venture between the Federal government, the government of Lagos State and West German interests, assembled Volkswagen cars.
The 11.5-million naira (7.4-million pounds sterling) plant was expected to have an initial production rate of 60 cars a day.
During the ceremony General Gowon praised West Germany's previous financial aid to Nigeria and said the car project was a "manifestation of the good relations and understanding between the two countries." He urged Nigerians to develop a pride in Nigerian-made products so that local market potentials could be developed to the full.
It was the second such plant to be opened, the first having been in the city of Kaduna at a ceremony presided over by Gowon the previous week.
General Gowon Opening a Car Assembly Plant | Kaduna | March 1975
Friday, March 14th 1975.
Footage of General Yakubu Gowon, the military Head of State of Nigeria opening a car assembly plant in the city of Kaduna. The plant, which cost 8.5-million-naira (GBP5.4 million-sterling), was built by the Federal Military Government, Peugeot Automobiles of France and Nigerian businessmen. It was expected to have a production capacity of 20,000 cars a year.
Gowon said that said the purpose of building the factory in Kaduna was part of his Government's policy to disperse industries in the country.
This, he added would spread the benefit of acquiring skills and technological expertise to workers in their natural surroundings. He went on to say that the policy was designed to prevent young people from gravitating to urban centres.
Wedding of Major General Yakubu Gowon | April 19th 1969
Footage of the marriage between Major-General Yakubu Gowon, the Nigerian head of state, and Victoria Zakari on Saturday April 19th 1969.
The 95-minute wedding ceremony, which took place at the Cathedral Church of Christ, Lagos, was presided over by the Anglican Bishop, S.I. Kale.
The bridegroom's best man was Rear Admiral Joseph Wey, the Naval Chief of Staff and Chief of Staff Supreme Headquarters. Gowon, was 34 and his bride, Victoria Zakari, a nurse from his home village, was 23.
Hundreds of Nigerians, including uniformed schoolchildren and market women, waited outside the cathedral. About 800 civilian and military dignitaries were in attendance.
Armed troops in combat uniforms, threw a security ring round the cathedral and scores of plainclothes security policemen mingled with the congregation which included two of the three civil war commanders. The third, Colonel Mohameed Shuwa, who was directing an offensive against the Biafran stronghold of Umuahia, was conspicuously absent.
The bride, who was given away by her civil servant father, wore a white lace dress and carried a small bunch of white and yellow roses. Gowon and his new wife then embarked on a four-day honeymoon, in the north of the country.
’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.
Gowon Visiting His Alma Mater Sandhurst Military Academy | June 1973
While on a state visit to the United Kingdom in June 1973, the Nigerian leader, General Yakubu Gowon, paid a sentimental visit to the military establishments where he trained as a young Nigerian army officer.
He visited the Royal Military Academy at Sandhurst near London, and the staff College at nearby Camberley. The young Gowon's special hero was Field Marshal Lord Montgomery of Alamein.
He was escorted during his visits by the British Defence Secretary, Lord Carrington.
Music briefly heard in the footage include Handel's "Scipio", the slow march of the Grenadier Guards and the national anthem of Nigeria.
This is actually taken from his book Because I Am Involved by Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu (1989), published by Spectrum Books.
Yakubu Gowon
People make me laugh when they talk about an enmity between Yakubu Gowon and Ojukwu. That Gowon and I did not see eye to eye on certain issue was as a result of our different perceptions of the situation at the time. These were perceptions built into our being in Nigeria. If I were from the North my perception of the situation would have been entirely different, just as if Gowon had been from the East. In leading the war we both postured. For anyone, therefore, to try and extend this posturing and make it permanent on the national stage, to my mind, is sterile. I will most certainly invite Gowon to my house for lunch any day.
naptu2: I want to thank you for reminding me to search for this. I have been searching for it for a long time, but I couldn't remember its name.
In the early 2000s the NTA did an excellent series of documentaries about Nigeria's history. It was mainly about the Civil War. Everybody that was important in Nigeria's history was interviewed. Not only did they interview people afresh for the documentary series, but, as you know, the NTA has an enormous catalogue of videos; unfortunately some of these videos have been lost or recorded over, but they still had a lot of those interviews that they did for Independence Day celebrations in the 1980s, so the documentary also featured interviews with people that had died by the time the documentary was made.
Some of the people whose interviews were shown in this documentary included President Nnamdi Azikiwe, General Yakubu Gowon, Chief Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojuku, Colonel Conrad Nwawo (who convinced Nzeogwu to surrender to Ironsi), Chief Obafemi Awolowo, General George Inih, General David Ejoor, Peter Enahoro (Peter Pan), General Ibrahim Babangida, President Shehu Shagari, Colonel Ben Gbulie (one of the people that planned the first coup), Philip Effiong (chief of staff of Biafra) and so many more people.
I am particularly looking for the episodes in which General Innih criticised Colonel Benjamin Adekunle and the one in which General Ejoor talked about the Midwest Invasion.
The NTA celebrated its 40th anniversary in 2018 and they posted some of their old programmes on YouTube as part of the celebration. I believe that this was the second episode of the series. You can see interviews with Ben Gbulie (he talks about the reasons that made them stage the coup), Ibrahim Babangida, Peter Pan, Colonel Conrad Nwawo, etc.
The series was narrated by my friend's father, the late legendary Nigerian broadcaster and MC, Ikenna Ndaguba.
#NTA@40: The Military Intervenes 'No Victor No Vanquished'
naptu2: Dear Diary, I have told you about this series many times and lamented the fact that I can't get the full version. Luckily the NTA celebrated its 40th anniversary in 2018 and posted some of its old shows. They posted part of one episode and I shared that version here. I told you that they interviewed virtually everybody that was involved in the Civil War. Now here is another clip from it.
This clip features interviews with both Gowon and Ojukwu.
The series was narrated by my friend's father, the late great Ikenna Ndaguba.
Picture 1: I was searching for a picture of Gowon and Ojukwu at the National Stadium in Lagos in the 1980s, but I couldn't find it (I once had the picture, but I can't find it anymore). However, Chief Ojukwu did invite General Gowon to his house for lunch and the picture below was taken at Ojukwu's house when General Gowon came to visit.
Birthday Parade: A Special Military Display Marking the 38th Birthday of Gen. Gowon | October 1972
Thursday, October 19th 1972.
Footage of a special military event in honour of the Nigerian Head of State, General Yakubu Gowon, who was celebrating his 38th birthday.
The audience in Bonny Camp, a cantonment situated on Victoria Island included high-ranking government officials such as Major General David Ejoor, the Chief of Army Staff and Brigadier Mobolaji Johnson, the governor of Lagos State. Members of the diplomatic community were also present.
The forty-minute event began with music by the Nigerian Army Band Corps which was followed by a parade staged by units of the federal Guard and Lagos Garrison.
Birthday Parade: Gen. Yakubu Gowon Marks his 37th Birthday with a Special Parade | October 1971
Tuesday, October 19, 1971.
Footage of Nigerian military ruler General Yakubu Gowon celebrating his 37th birthday at a display of the massed bands of the Nigerian army who partook in the traditional Beating of the Retreat ceremony.
It was held at the Federal Guards Battalion barracks, Bonny Camp, in Victoria Island, Lagos, where Gowon and his wife Victoria were welcomed by the Commander of the Brigade of Guards, Lt. Colonel Joseph Garba.
A graduate of Sandhurst Military Academy, Gowon was commissioned into the Nigerian Army in 1957, and rose from the rank of Second Lieutenant to become Supreme Commander of the Armed Forces in 1966.
Birthday Parade: Maj. Gen. Yakubu Gowon Calls For Nigerian Unity During the Civil War | October 1969
Sunday, October 19th 1969.
Footage of Nigerian military leader, Major General Yakubu Gowon addressing troops of the Brigade of Guards at a parade in honour of his 35th birthday.
He told the troops that he had confidence in the ability of the federal armed forces to bring an end to the rebellion by the former Eastern Region which would pave the way for national unity and solidarity.
Transcript of part of Gowon's speech:
"It's an understatement for me to say that I am proud of you guardsmen. Your record of loyalty, your record of discipline cannot be compared anywhere. We've got men able to do the task - the task of keeping this country one and united, the task of making everyone in this country and every African proud of being Nigerian or an African."
Source: Reuters News.
Note:
Gowon reserved the highest praise for soldiers of the federal guard, among them their commander Major Joseph Garba who would in 1975 pave the way for the bloodless coup which removed him from power.
Politics › Re: Today Is General Yakubu Gowon's 90th Birthday. by naptu2(op): 7:58am On Oct 19, 2024
