Gowon At 90: Leaders Recommit To Nation’s Unity, Development

President Bola Tinubu yesterday topped the long list of Nigerians who  extolled the virtues of former Head of State, General Yakubu Gowon as he marks his 90th birthday today.,

The main auditorium of the ECOWAS Commission, Abuja, venue of the anniversary lecture organised to honoru General Gowon, was packed to full capacity with eminent personalities and a motley collection of people from different persuasions including youth and women groups gracing the occasion.

President Bola Tinubu, in his celebratory statement to honor Gowon on Friday, noted that Gowon represents Nigeria’s unity and symbolises its strides to remain together in the pursuit of its common destiny.

Tinubu in the statement hailed Gowon as a “sterling example” of leadership, adding that “he did a lot for our country and served meritoriously.”

Tinubu praised Gowon’s philosophy of “No victor, no vanquished” after the Nigerian Civil and commended Gowon’s for his post-presidency dedication to prayer and national harmony through the “Nigeria Prays Programme”.

Former President Muhammadu Buhari in his tribute to Gowon noted that the elder statesman made invaluable contributions to Nigeria’s advancement and praised Gowon for his visionary leadership and dedication to Nigeria’s unity and progress.

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 to a distinguished statesman and a soldier, who had all the qualities of a successful army commander.”

Muhammadu Buhari said both the 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.’”

Also, former President Olusegun Obasanjo, who referred to Gowon as his boss, said that Gowon’s birthday “is a national celebration” for his immense contributions to building modern Nigeria. He added that Gowon is worthy to be celebrated while he is still alive, stressing that the ripe age of ninety is a profound milestone in the life of the General.

The chairman of the occasion,Sultan of Sokoko  Abubakar Sa’ad III in his remarks said that General Gowon evokes nostalgia for the good old days of the “struggle to keep this country intact and united. His name evokes Nigerian unity, indeed he was the symbol of unity, humility and accommodation.  He became a leader at a time of necessity after the military coups of 1966.”

The spiritual head of Nigerian Muslims said national integration and cohesion have been the hallmark of what Gowon has been doing as he laid the foundation for continuity and stability.

“We owe him immense gratitude for his perseverance in putting this country into one piece and at peace with itself. Nigeria is lucky to have a statesman at his age in full consciousness. Statesmen like Gowon are repositories of institutional memory. We must appreciate his contribution,” Sultan said.

And from Gombe state Governor, Inuwa Yahaya and chairman Northern States Governors Forum, has felicitated with the former Head of State, General Yakubu Gowon, on the occasion of his 90th birthday.

In a statement signed by his media aide, Isma’ila Uba Misilli, Governor Inuwa described Gowon as a “true patriot, elder statesman, and architect of national unity.”

Inuwa commended General Gowon’s enduring commitment to peace and reconciliation, as well as his exemplary humility and moral leadership.

He noted that General Gowon’s legacy has inspired generations of leaders, reminding them of the importance of unity, peace, and service to nation and humanity.

“Governor Inuwa joins Nigerians in celebrating General Gowon’s remarkable life and contributions to the country’s development. He urges the compatriots to emulate his good virtues and legacies.”, the statement reads in parts.

In his keynote address entitled “Building a Global Nigeria” the president of the African Development Bank Akinwunmi Adesina,  said the life of Gowon was worthy of emulation.

He however, lamented that 64 years after independence, Nigeria judging by its vast resources and immense potential, should not be a developing country but a developed nation. According to him the nation has not met up to its expectations even as he called on Nigerians to rise to the occasion as Africa’s development depends on Nigeria.

He said “It is time to think of Nigeria not in terms of where we currently are or where we see ourselves but rather in terms of the responsibility of history that we must lift all of Africa. History beckons on Nigeria and we cannot disappoint.”

Adesina noted that a global Nigeria must end the deplorable poverty ravaging the country where 63% of the country’s population is wallowing in multidimensional poverty even as he urged concerted efforts to end the scourge.

He expressed optimism that despite Nigeria’s mounting challenges; the country has the potential to surmount its obstacles, saying   “I believe that Nigeria will overcome, rise and shine.”

General Gowon became Nigeria’s Head of State in July 1966 after two bloody military coups that threatened the corporate existence of the country.  Through sheer courage, the young Gowon at just 32 years in really difficult times, steered the country through a thirty- month fratricidal war that threatened to dismember the country when the former Eastern region tried to break away from the federation.

The war ended in 1970 with Nigeria’s unity restored but at high sacrifice in blood as over 2 million people were consumed in the civil war. Gowon ruled Nigeria until July 1975 when he was overthrown in a military coup while he was in Kampala, Uganda, attending a meeting of the then Organisation of African Unity OAU now African Union (AU)

There are so many policies and programmes attributed to him such as the creation of 12 states out of the then four regions, unity schools and perhaps the most profound which is the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC).