GOWON UNVEILS AUTOBIOGRAPHY, IGNITES CIVIL WAR NARRATIVES

Added: 2026-05-20

[00:00:00]More than five decades after the Nigerian Civil War, former head of state Yakubu Gowon says his autobiography is an attempt to present the account of the conflict and address lingering misconceptions surrounding one of the most defining periods in Nigeria's history.

[00:00:19]At the public presentation of My Life of Duty and Allegiance in Abuja, Gowon urged Nigerians to remain committed to unity and reject narratives portraying the country as a failed state.

[00:00:34]When I eventually decided to write, I was clear that I only needed to tell my my truth, not join issues with anyone, or sit in judgement over what might be considered right or wrong.

[00:00:58]I chose instead I chose this path over my former stance to maintain silence conscious, you know, of the need to preserve institutional memory through a truthful documentation of my experience. Former President Goodluck Jonathan says Gowon's post-war declaration of no victor, no vanquished laid the foundation for reconciliation, reconstruction, and national healing after the Civil War.

[00:01:36]This we also record his commitment to the preservation of national unity, and perhaps most importantly, his magnanimity at the end of this conflict, embodied in the enduring declaration of no victor, no vanquished.

[00:01:55]>> [applause] >> A former Minister of Defense, General Theophilus Danjuma, represented by retired General Martin Luther Agwai, praises Gowon's leadership in keeping Nigeria united during a difficult period in the country's history. General Gowon is not only [laughter] a household name in Nigeria, but also a global acknowledged leader with impeccable record and outstanding credentials in leadership, nation building, military strategy, peace building, and conflict resolution among many other noble endeavors. Catholic Bishop of Sokoto Diocese, Matthew Hassan Kukah, who reviewed the book, says debates around the coup and the Aburi Accord would continue among scholars and historians. All we can take away from this book is a renewal of our commitment, our faith, our dedication to the fact that God, the supreme creator of heaven and earth, is not done with our country. He will still do great things for us. All of us are called upon to become agents of reconciliation because the book ends with the final sentence to keep Nigeria one is a task that must be done.

[00:03:08]The sustained Emir of Kano, Muhammadu Sanusi II, recalls Gowon's relationship with the late father and his contributions to Nigeria's diplomatic history.

[00:03:19]What is abiding in the memory of people about their leaders is who those leaders are.

[00:03:31]Do they remember you for your integrity or for corruption?

[00:03:37]Do they remember you as a patriot or as a parochial person?

[00:03:42]Do they remember you for justice or for injustice?

[00:03:47]And I think General Gowon represents for us and all subsequent generations an example of the values that should govern you in your life.

[00:04:00]Observers say beyond documenting Gowon's passionate journey, the autobiography has reopened national conversations on unity, reconciliation, and the lessons of the civil war for future generations.