By Kolawole Ojebisi
A former Head of States, Gen. Yakubu Gowon (retd.) has explained why he has refused to join partisan politics in the country after a successful military career.
The 90-year-old elder statesman gave the explanation on Wednesday in Abuja when he received the League of Northern Democrats (LND) led by a former Kano State governor Senator Ibrahim Shekarau.
Speaking on what informed his seeming apolitical stance, Gowon said:
“I am not affiliated with any political party. My only allegiance is to Nigeria. My profession (military) shaped my belief in serving the country above all else, and I’ve avoided partisan politics.
“I encourage others to think beyond regional interests and focus on Nigeria as a whole. Differences in opinion are natural, but they should never prevent us from working together to resolve issues for the good of the country.
“I’ve always believed in taking the best from all ideologies, be it socialism, capitalism, or others, and applying them for the greater good. During my time in government, we valued diverse perspectives, but decisions were always made in the interest of the people and the nation,” Gowon said.
He expressed hope that the guests’ mission was not just about returning to the old thinking where every region prioritised theirs.
“My position has always been that whatever the north does must serve the greater interest of Nigeria. From your speech, I understand that this is your intention—to ensure the north, in its current state, focuses on national unity.
“It was for this reason that I supported the creation of multiple states, to prevent any one region from becoming too powerful and threatening the country’s unity,” he added.
Earlier, the Chairman of League of Northern Democrats (LND), Senator Ibrahim Shekarau, spoke on the 90th birthday of Gen Gowon.
He said, “First, let us congratulate you on your 90th birthday, a milestone that reflects a life of unparalleled service and dedication to our great nation. As Dr. Akinwumi Adesina so eloquently articulated in his paper as Guest Speaker during the celebration, your vision and legacy remain cornerstones of Nigeria’s progress.
“Indeed, as former President Olusegun Obasanjo also aptly observed then, you are one of the few leaders whose exemplary deeds are celebrated during their lifetime.
“Sir, we proudly stand with all well-meaning Nigerians to uphold and champion the legacy of unity and integrity that you so manifestly embody.”
Shekarau said that the LND was born out of a shared sense of urgency and responsibility among northern elites to address the critical challenges facing the region.
“Together, we seek to reposition the North as a bastion of political, economic and cultural influence – a North that reclaims its historical role as a beacon of leadership in Nigeria.
“There is very little we can tell you that you may not have averted your mind on. But the challenges we face today, disunity, poverty, illiteracy, insecurity, drug addiction and the erosion of societal values, demand urgent and deliberate action.
“As you have often reminded us, if people do not rise to address their own issues, no one else will. This ethos of self-reliance and collective responsibility inspired the formation of the LND as a platform for proactive and collaborative solutions to our problems,” Shekarau said.
Gowon ruled the country for solid nine years (1966-1975) having assumed office following the military counter-coup that claimed the life of his predecessor, Major General Johnson Thomas Umunnakwe Aguiyi-Ironsi.
He presided over the country during the bloody civil war that raged for almost three years, eventually forging an organic nation from a disparate ethnic entities.
He was ousted from office by Muritala Muhammad in 1975.
Since then, the former head of states has remained relatively quiet.
