Gowon at 70

By Olu Ojewale
Monday, October 25, 2004

Former head of state, General Yakubu Gowon, turns 70, celebrates in style

General Yakubu Gowon, the former head of state, celebrated his 70th birthday, Tuesday, October 19, amidst encomiums from within and outside the country. Friends and former aides took out on radio, television and newspaper advertisements to congratulate him.

The board of trustees, governing council and staff of Yakubu Gowon Centre, commended him for his vision to keep Nigeria as one united, indissoluble and peaceful nation. "We bless God for the gift that you are to our generation," the Yakubu Gowon Centre said.

A group of northern senators said that Gowon's life had been strewn with authentic achievements, humility, selflessness and humanitarian services. They described him as a true Nigerian hero and a good model on leadership.

"Your genuine commitment to the building of a truly great nation is instructive. You demonstrated perceptive leadership during the period of Nigeria's civil war from 1967-70," the group said. The senators said the declaration of the verdict of no victor, no vanquished, as well as his bold reconciliatory policies at the end of the war were commendable, and showed his sterling qualities as a leader.

In his own tribute, John Akunyili, husband of Dora Akunyili, director general of NAFDAC, said Gowon's 70 years on earth had become a veritable celebration of integrity and exemplary conduct. "You are a beacon of strength for this great nation. Your good governance and leadership qualities have marked you as one of the greatest leaders of our time," Akunyili said.

Diepreye Alamieyeseigha, governor of Bayelsa State, congratulated Gowon for reaching the biblical age of 70. He described the former head of state as the symbol of Nigerian unity, and commended his role in Nigerian politics. "The driving force for the continued unity and sustenance of democracy in Nigeria marks you out as a statesman with exceptional qualities."

The occasion was also marked with a public lecture in Abuja. Ali Marzrui, professor of history and international scholar, delivered the lecture titled: Mega-Nigeria from Lugard to Gowon: Between Exceptionalism and Typicality. Marzrui, in the lecture, compared the late President Abraham Lincoln of the United States with Gowon. "Like the United States in the 1860s, Nigeria in the 1960s fought a civil war to save the union and save the boundaries of their respective federations," the lecturer said at the end of the war. Lincoln made some great speeches, but Gowon had no major speech to be remembered by but he had a remarkable life to celebrate.

Gowon came to prominence in 1966, when at 31 he became the youngest head of state that has ever ruled the country. Barely one year after, he led the country against secessionist Biafra. During the war, New York Times in 1968, defended why he had to engage in the war. "There is no alternative to Federation of Nigeria… Nigerians are therefore, fighting to ensure that long after the present ugly events shall have passed unto history, there shall remain one strong forward-looking and prosperous Nigeria. A Nigeria where no state or ethnic group will be able to try to dominate the others. A Nigeria which will then be assured of the stability necessary for economic development to uplift the dignity of man in this part of the world," the newspaper said.

After accepting the Biafran surrender, the former head of state was magnanimous enough to declare that there was "no victor, no vanquish." He then introduced policies for reconciliation of the whole country.

During his regime, Nigeria witnessed modest economic growth and earned some respect among the comity of nations.

Gowon was ousted in a coup d'etat on July 29, 1975 while he was attending the Organisation of African Unity, OAU, meeting in Kampala, Uganda. From there he went on exile in the United Kingdom, and returned to the classroom. By the time he left Warwick University, in 1983, he had earned his B.A., M.A. and PhD degrees in political science. He returned to the country in 1984. He is a visiting professor of political science, University of Jos.

Born October 19, 1934, in Garam, Pankshin local government, Plateau State, he was educated at St. Bartholomey's School, Wusasa, Zana, 1939-49, Government College, now Barewa College, Zaria, 1950-53. He enlisted in the Nigerian Army and trained in the officer cadet training school, Teshie, Ghana, 1954; Eaton Hall, Officer Cadet School, Chester England, 1955, Royal Military Academy Sandhurst, England. He held many military command positions and was chief of army staff, before becoming head of state and commander in chief of the armed forces, 1966-75.

Since his return to Nigeria, Gowon has engaged in various humanitarian projects, including the guinea worm eradication and Nigeria Prays. He is chairman of many companies. He holds the national honour of the grand commander of the Federal Republic, GCFR. He also has many foreign honours as well as many honorary doctoral degrees.