Former military head of State General Yakubu Gowon (rtd), has expressed concern over the polarization of the country, and fears that the gains of the last civil war under his government, may be in vain.
He said his emergence as Head of State at the time, came as a surprise, and at a time he personally never believed a military coup could take place in Nigeria until the first one on January 15, 1966, followed by the assassination of Aguiyi-Ironsi in a counter-coup staged by a group of northern army officers in July 29, 1966.
Gowon who disclosed this a day after his 85th birthday on October 20 at a ceremony in Abuja where he was honoured with a `Lifetime Achievement Award` and Patron of the Civil Youth Society Group, said he was merely a career soldier and had no involvement in politics, until the political upheavals and military rebellion at the time, catapulted him into power.
“I had no ambition to go beyond reaching my zenith in my military career but certain development came through that I never thought of,” he said after receiving the award in Abuja.
He said the tense situation at the time, especially barely a decade since the nation gained independence, necessitated the war albeit not out of hatred for the Igbos, but rather, giving the newly independent nation a chance to succeed as a united entity.
“That is why when the war ended, we did not glorify the victory over defeated people,” Mr Gowon said.
“The victor was Nigeria, that has now remained one and united,” Gowon added.
However, recent happenings in the country especially since the Buhari administration came to power, has pushed the country to the brink, as fears of a possible disintegration looms.
The country is currently littered with agitations and calls for restructuring in other to save it from eventual collapse.
Gowon said, while he is grateful that the country has remained united since the war ended 50 years ago, he can only hope the country continues to remain united for many more years.
“If I want to give glory to God, I will say ‘God, thank you, we remain united after 50 years and I hope we will be united for another 50 years and more to come.”
