At 91, Soldier-statesman Gowon Reflects on Nigeria’s Tumultuous Journey, Unfinished Story

•My belief in united Nigeria flow from a deep sense of duty, national loyalty

Emma Okonjiand Agnes Ekebuike

Nigeria’s former head of state, General Yakubu Gowon, rtd., yesterday, reflected on Nigeria’s tumultuous journey and unfinished business, and shared a rare, reflective account of his nine-year rule and the complex events that shaped the nation at that time.

Gowon spoke in an exclusive interview with ARISE News Channels, the broadcast arm of THISDAY Newspapers, reaffirming his belief in a united Nigeria is guided by a deep sense of duty and national loyalty.

The encounter was anchored by veteran journalist, Mr. Charles Aniagolu.

At 91, Gowon remains a towering figure in Nigeria’s political memory, not just as the country’s youngest head of state as at the time he presided over the affairs of the country, but also as the man who presided over one of its most defining and tragic chapters: the Nigerian Civil War.

Appointed as the head of state at 31, Gowon emerged as Nigeria’s leader in 1966 after a bloody counter-coup that followed an earlier military takeover in January of the same year.

His assumption of office came in the wake of the assassination of Prime Minister TafawaBalewa and General Johnson Aguiyi-Ironsi the erstwhile head of state.

Describing his sudden elevation to power, Gowon recalled being unprepared but deeply grounded in military training and a strict Christian upbringing which helped him ‘appreciate any situation’ and develop strategic responses.

He emphasised that the creation of 12 states to replace the four original regions was not merely a political calculation, but a response to persistent demands from marginalised communities.

These agitations, he noted, became louder after the coups, especially as fears grew over domination by any single region.

Addressing the aftermath of the July 1966 coup, Gowon acknowledged the ethnic violence that erupted, particularly against eastern Nigerians in the North and parts of the West.

While he condemned the violence, he attributed much of it to spontaneous civilian reactions rather than a coordinated military agenda.

He recalled reaching out to traditional rulers and regional leaders to quell tensions and protect lives, citing interventions such as his appeal to the Emir of Bauchi.

According to Gowon, the inability to contain the spiraling violence and political distrust ultimately led to secession by the Eastern Region and the declaration of the Republic of Biafra.

This marked the beginning of the civil war, a conflict he still insists was avoidable, had dialogue and national unity prevailed.

Reflecting on the war and its heavy toll, he reaffirmed his belief in a united Nigeria, noting that his decisions were guided by a deep sense of duty and national loyalty.

His famous declaration of ‘no victor, no vanquished’ upon Biafra’s surrender was a call for healing one that, over half a century later, remains both a historical landmark and an unfulfilled promise of reconciliation.

Gowon’s legacy, as he now marks 91 years, continues to provoke debate between those who remember him as a reluctant soldier-leader and those who question the price of keeping Nigeria united at all costs.