GENERAL Yakubu Gowon, Nigeria’s third Head of State and founder of the interfaith association “Nigeria Prays’, who today marks his 80th birthday anniversary, is a living national monument that telegraphs the conscientiousness our beleaguered nation needs. In the life of this gentleman and statesman, Nigeria could learn what it means to take a progressive turn from fallenness to self-mastery.
With this landmark celebration, Gowon joins the eminent class of octogenarians: the Class of 80 – a distinguished category of senior citizens, who, early in life, were impelled by our political history to tread Nigeria’s tumultuous political plain, act on its melodramatic stage, and oversee its magical and monstrous moments. Like these octogenarians, who are availed the grace and privilege to defend themselves in their lifetime, longevity makes Gowon’s life an open book to be judged by posterity for his personal achievement and for the good fortunes or otherwise he has bequeathed to our age.
Bashed from certain fronts, on account of the way his government prosecuted the civil war, Gowon has, since his post-Head of State years, maintained a sagely taciturnity, displayed genuine humility and persistent quest for national reconciliation. As if his surname is a pre-determined acronym specially created to suit his destiny, Gowon has been leading a life to “Go On With One Nigeria”. In the kindness of history, this gesture towards a better Nigeria seems to have sufficiently atoned for whatever foibles his youthful leadership and naivety had cost him.
Bashed from certain fronts, on account of the way his government prosecuted the civil war, Gowon has, since his post-Head of State years, maintained a sagely taciturnity, displayed genuine humility and persistent quest for national reconciliation. As if his surname is a pre-determined acronym specially created to suit his destiny, Gowon has been leading a life to “Go On With One Nigeria”. In the kindness of history, this gesture towards a better Nigeria seems to have sufficiently atoned for whatever foibles his youthful leadership and naivety had cost him.
