The Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) has hailed Nigeria’s former Military Head of State, General Yakubu Gowon (Rtd) as he marks his 90th birthday.
CAN in a statement signed by its President Archbishop Daniel Okoh said Gowon’s significant milestone highlights not only his longevity but also his profound dedication to Nigeria’s unity and progress.
“Your Excellency, General Yakubu Gowon (Rtd), as a former military Head of State, your leadership during one of the most turbulent periods in our history—the Nigerian Civil War—was pivotal in maintaining the unity of our country.
“Your dedication to reconciliation and peace is a legacy that continues to inspire generations of Nigerians. You stood as a beacon of hope, guiding our nation through immense challenges with wisdom and compassion.
“Your visionary initiative ‘Nigeria Prays’ has mobilised countless Nigerians in a collective pursuit of divine intervention for the myriad challenges we face. The rallies you led across states have fostered a spirit of unity and resilience among our citizens, reminding us that, together, we can seek solutions to our problems through faith and solidarity.
“As you reflect on your remarkable journey, may you be filled with joy and pride in the knowledge that your contributions have left an indelible mark on our nation. Your life’s work has taught us the importance of love, forgiveness, and service to others.
“On this momentous occasion, we celebrate not just your achievements but also the profound impact you have had on the heart and soul of Nigeria. May God bless you with continued health and happiness, and may your legacy inspire future leaders to prioritise peace, unity, and the common good,” the statement noted.
Profile
General Yakubu Dan-Yumma “Jack” Gowon was born on October 19, 1934, in Pankshin, in the present Plateau State of Nigeria He was a Nigerian military leader who served as head of state between 1966 and 75.
His father was an early convert to Christianity. Gowon was educated in Zaria (now in Kaduna state) and later became a career army officer. He was trained in Ghana and in England at Sandhurst and twice served in the Congo region as part of Nigeria’s peacekeeping force there in the early 1960s. In Nigeria, after the coup of January 1966, he was appointed chief of staff to Major General Johnson Aguiyi-Ironsi, the country’s first military leader. Northern officers staged a countercoup in July 1966, and Gowon emerged as the compromise head of the new government.
Gowon tried to resolve the ethnic tensions that threatened to fatally divide Nigeria. Although he was eventually successful in ending attacks against Igbo in the north, he was unable to effect a more lasting peace. In a final attempt to resolve the conflict, on May 27, 1967, Gowon declared a state of emergency and divided Nigeria’s four regions into 12 states. Three days later the Eastern region declared itself the independent state of Biafra, with Odumegwu Ojukwu as its leader, and armed conflict between Biafra and the Nigerian government began in July.
Gowon directed government forces to remember that they were essentially fighting Nigerians, who were to be encouraged to rejoin the country. He also allowed a team of international observers to monitor the conduct of his troops. After the government victory in January 1970, a remarkable reconciliation took place between victors and vanquished, largely attributable to Gowon’s personal influence. By the mid-1970s Gowon was emerging as an international leader and was involved in the establishment of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS). On July 29, 1975, however, while Gowon was in Uganda for an Organization of African Unity summit meeting, the army removed him from office.
Gowon was exiled to Great Britain. In addition, he was stripped of his rank for allegedly participating in the assassination of his successor, Brigadier General Murtala Mohammed, in 1976. However, he was pardoned by President Shehu Shagari in 1981, and his rank was restored by President Ibrahim Babangida in 1987. Having earned a Ph.D. at Warwick University in 1983, Gowon had become a Professor of Political Science at the University of Jos in the mid-1980s and attained the status of an Elder Statesman in Nigerian politics.
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