A former Sole Administrator of Rivers State, General Zamani Lekwot has described former Head of State, General Yakubu Gowon as a unifier who successfully brought together conflicting factions and created a harmonious Nigeria.
He said this while speaking with our Correspondent on the legacies of the former Head of State on his 90th birthday anniversary in Kaduna.
He described General Gowon as a humble and God fearing individual who after the civil war never allowed treason trials against those who plotted the coup in January, 1966 and killed a lot of people.
According to Lekwot, General Gowon declared a non victas and non losers in order to lay a foundation for a total national reconciliation.
He mentioned other legacies of the former Head of State to include the creation of twelve states in the country, because the first coup in 1966, dissolved the regions, there by promoting unity system in the country.
“He also created the National Service Corp, NYSC for youths to serve in states other than thier own in order to know thier country and appreciate the differences in tribe and religion.
“This scheme can be described as a fundamental foundation for the total integration of Nigeria as a country, even as complex as the nation is.
“Gowon along with the Togolese President initiated the formation of ECOWAS. Some of the ingredients were free movements without passports. In almost all the African countries, the boundaries cut across tribes, therefore, the protocol that enabled people to move freely helped in promoting trade,” he said.
Lekwot further stated that, it was during Gowon’s regime that the federal government colleges were established and admissions into the colleges cut across the country, there by, bringing the youths together to study in states other than thier own, thus, contributing to the promotion of national unity.
He says, “It was Gowon that changed the use of British pounds to naira. His contribution to Nigeria development helped stabilize the country”.
General Lekwot rtd wished the former Head of State many more beautiful years in good health. ” He has a good heart, a God fearing man with a forgiving spirit, no wonder, he looks younger than his age.’
Confidence Okwuchi
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