General Yakubu Gowon: A Living Legend at 90

Among the great men whose struggles led to the emancipation of Nigeria and ensured peace and unity of the country, General Yakubu Dan-Yumma Gowon’s outstanding legacies stand out.

Gowon piloted the affairs of the country during the most challenging period in Nigeria’s history. As a 32-year-old military officer, fate and history placed on his shoulders the critical role of leading Nigeria as Head of State and Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces.

Gowon’s emergence as Head of State followed the military coup d’états of 1966 which sparked the 30 months-civil war, six years after Nigeria gained independence from Britain.

That period tested General Gowon’s leadership qualities, political will and can-do spirit. The prosecution of the war and the policies formulated by General Gowon’s regime reflected his love for mankind and the patriotic spirit, especially his declaration of “no victor, no vanquished” after the Civil War.

The Gowon administration’s programme of reintegration, reconciliation and reconstruction, the 3-Rs, was with clear objective to ensure the reintegration of people from the secessionist region into Nigeria, reconciliation of the peoples of Nigeria and the reconstruction of the country after the war.

The administration capped up these policies with the establishment of the National Youth Service Corps, NYSC scheme, on 22 May, 1973. The scheme mobilised and deployed young Nigerian graduates of tertiary institutions to states outside of their regions, to live with people of other ethnic groups learn their cultures and contribute to the development of those communities. To date, the NYSC remains one of the greatest legacies that General Gowon bequeathed to Nigeria.

It was also during his administration that Nigeria’s national currency, the Naira, was introduced on January 1, 1973, to replace the pound sterling, by the colonial administration post-independence. Nigeria also changed its driving code from left-hand drive to right-hand drive under Gowon’s administration.

A critical component of the Gowon administration was the development of infrastructure.

General Gowon completed the construction of Nigeria’s 960 megawatts Kainji Dam in 1968 and rebuilt the Niger Bridge in Onitsha on the eastern bank of Niger River in the south-eastern state of Anambra, destroyed during the civil war.

The Gowon administration also initiated the Second National Development Plan (1970-1974), focused on higher standard of living and increased infrastructure across Nigeria.

The administration equally expanded the existing road network and established unity schools in the 12 states of the Nigeria and the University of Benin in 1970.

In April 1975, the Gowon administration established seven new universities as contained in the 2nd National Development Plan and constructed some of them before he was overthrown in 1976.

The Nigerian economy recorded significant growth under Gowon’s administration.

Nigeria joined the Organisation of Petroleum Exportation Countries, OPEC, which contributed to the remarkable growth recorded in the real and agriculture sectors during the period.

On the international scene, Nigeria maintained the policy of non-alignment. His government contributed human and material resources to the liberation movement in many African countries, especially Zimbabwe and later South Africa.

General Gowon was one of the founding fathers of the Economic Community of West African States, ECOWAS, established in 1973. His administration continued to work with other African countries as members of the Organisation of African Union, OAU, now African Union, AU.

While attending the OAU summit in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia in 1975, he was overthrown by military officers led by the late General Murtala Ramat Muhammed.

As the literary icon, Chinua Achebe wrote, Gowon’s ascendancy was not merely because his palm kernels were broken by a benevolent spirit. He walked up the rough terrain of life to attain greatness and remained focused on his life’s ambition.

Born on 19 October, 1934, in Pankshin, Plateau State, North Central Nigeria, Gowon began his early education in Zaria in present Kaduna state north-western Nigeria. His father, Nde Yohanna and mother, Matwok Kurnyang were missionaries in the Church Mission Society, CMS, and transferred to Wusasa, Zaria province at the time. Gowon continued his education at Government College, Zaria, before proceeding for military training at the Royal Military Academy Sandhurst, United Kingdom.

After he was overthrown in 1975, General Gowon enrolled at the Warwick University in the United Kingdom, where he earned a Doctorate Degree in Political Science. After he returned to Nigeria General Gowon retired began a movement “Nigeria Prays” as a way of demonstrating his unwavering commitment to Nigeria.

Critics say General Gowon ruled Nigeria during the oil boom, but his administration was profligate in the management of resources and reluctant to begin a transition programme to hand over to an elected government.

However, these criticisms have paled in comparison to the lofty achievements, especially in infrastructure development and keeping Nigeria as one united, peaceful and stable country.

As General Yakubu Gowon, the longest-serving Nigeria’s Head of State, marks his 90th birthday, Voice of Nigeria celebrates this iconic legend, whose selfless service and sacrifice for Nigeria remains a remarkable cornerstone.

Congratulations, General Yakubu Gowon.

– By Cyril Okonkwo