Nigeria’s former head of state, Gen. Yakubu Gowon (rtd), has opened up about how he unexpectedly found himself leading the country at a young age, relying heavily on his background and military experience to manage the situation.
Speaking during a recent interview with Arise TV, the retired General shared memories of his rise to power at just 31 years old. He said he never planned to rule the country but found strength in his solid upbringing, school education, and military discipline.
“I had a good upbringing from home, school, and various military trainings. And I was brought up in a strict religious background. I fell back on all of these,” he said during the interview.
Gowon added, “I was not prepared to rule Nigeria, but I was a loyal soldier trained to serve my country.” This loyalty, he noted, guided his decisions during a difficult period in Nigeria’s history.
When asked about the decision to move Nigeria from four main regions to 12 states, Gowon said that it was not a personal choice but a response to demands from different communities across the country.
According to him, the change was necessary to calm tensions and give more groups a sense of belonging, especially after the events of January 1966.
He also reflected on the tragic death of his predecessor, General Aguiyi-Ironsi. Gowon said he was informed of the incident early in the morning and immediately tried to intervene.
“By the time I got to the government house, it was too late. I instructed that he should be taken somewhere safe, but unfortunately, he was assassinated.”
Talking about the violence against Igbos in the North during that time, he explained that it was more of a reaction from the general public rather than a military operation.
He noted, “There were reactions in the North and West against the unitary system formed by Ironsi, as they feared being overwhelmed by people from the East.”
On the Aburi meeting held in Ghana, Gowon said that the outcomes were misunderstood. He said he was unwell during the trip and later learned about Ojukwu’s early morning statement.
“The accord was not an agreement,” he stated, noting that other regional governors disagreed with what was claimed to have been decided there.
Looking back on Nigeria’s journey since the civil war ended, he stated, “We’ve survived 55 years since the war. My idea was that we’d rebuild the country after the war. We’ve come a long way and are still improving.”
Regarding his refusal to hand over power in 1975, Gowon explained that political disputes among commissioners and ongoing national plans made him delay transition.
He admitted he was aware of his planned overthrow but didn’t act on it until years later, when former president Babangida revealed more details in his book.
When asked if he ever wanted to return to power, Gowon replied, “I never had. Babangida’s option A4 almost forced me into it. But my wife didn’t want it, and I was only interested in contributing to Nigeria’s development.”
