Gowon At 80: He Is A Good Example Of An Elder Statesman – Jonathan
President Goodluck Jonathan has described former head of state, General Yakubu Gowon, as a good example of a genuine elder statesman who every Nigerian political leaders should emulate.
President Jonathan, who made this known at the birthday thanksgiving service of Gen. Gowon at the National Christian Centre in Abuja yesterday, described Gowon is somebody deserving to be honoured because of his exemplary leadership.
According to Jonathan, Gowon is a good example of elder statesmen, noting that statesmen look towards the next generation just as Gowon has done and is still doing.
He said, “You (Gowon) is a good example of elder statesmen. You are a true patriot of this country. We know that some of us are not expected to come and talk about General Gowon because when he was the head of state, I was still in primary school.
“But one thing we knew then about Gowon was that as a patriot and the head of government then, he was prosecuting the civil war. He did not see the Biafran side as a thing that must be crushed. He saw the war as a struggle of Nigerians and his emphasis was ‘how do we keep Nigeria together.’
“That was why the slogan, ‘to keep Nigeria one’, is a task that must be done,’ came up. His commitment was to unite this country, that is, to keep Nigeria one, not to win a war, or defeat an opponents and crush the rebellion, but to keep this nation indivisible. Gowon did that very well. At the end of the war, rehabilitation, reconciliation and reconstruction came up. And that was the emphasis.”
The president noted that to underscore his commitment to keep Nigeria one and to prepare the nation for the future generation, “since he (Gowon) came back from his studies, he has been working with every regime to see that we develop our nation. He is somebody that we all should emulate.”.
In his response, Gowon, said that he was humbled by all the praises showered on him.
“I feel humbled, but that all glory and thanks should be given to God,” he said, and urged every Nigerian, whenever there is trouble, to put every thing in the hands of God and He will solve them.
Meanwhile, chairman, Northern Governors’ Forum and governor of Niger State, Dr Mu’azu Babangida Aliyu, speaking on behalf of his colleagues, urged Nigerians to celebrate General Gowon’s 80th birthday, remembering why we must ‘Go-On-With-One-Nigeria,’ the general’s undying conviction which the northern governors shared.
President Jonathan, who made this known at the birthday thanksgiving service of Gen. Gowon at the National Christian Centre in Abuja yesterday, described Gowon is somebody deserving to be honoured because of his exemplary leadership.
According to Jonathan, Gowon is a good example of elder statesmen, noting that statesmen look towards the next generation just as Gowon has done and is still doing.
He said, “You (Gowon) is a good example of elder statesmen. You are a true patriot of this country. We know that some of us are not expected to come and talk about General Gowon because when he was the head of state, I was still in primary school.
“But one thing we knew then about Gowon was that as a patriot and the head of government then, he was prosecuting the civil war. He did not see the Biafran side as a thing that must be crushed. He saw the war as a struggle of Nigerians and his emphasis was ‘how do we keep Nigeria together.’
“That was why the slogan, ‘to keep Nigeria one’, is a task that must be done,’ came up. His commitment was to unite this country, that is, to keep Nigeria one, not to win a war, or defeat an opponents and crush the rebellion, but to keep this nation indivisible. Gowon did that very well. At the end of the war, rehabilitation, reconciliation and reconstruction came up. And that was the emphasis.”
The president noted that to underscore his commitment to keep Nigeria one and to prepare the nation for the future generation, “since he (Gowon) came back from his studies, he has been working with every regime to see that we develop our nation. He is somebody that we all should emulate.”.
In his response, Gowon, said that he was humbled by all the praises showered on him.
“I feel humbled, but that all glory and thanks should be given to God,” he said, and urged every Nigerian, whenever there is trouble, to put every thing in the hands of God and He will solve them.
Meanwhile, chairman, Northern Governors’ Forum and governor of Niger State, Dr Mu’azu Babangida Aliyu, speaking on behalf of his colleagues, urged Nigerians to celebrate General Gowon’s 80th birthday, remembering why we must ‘Go-On-With-One-Nigeria,’ the general’s undying conviction which the northern governors shared.
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