Former military Head of State, General Yakubu Gowon has reflected on Nigeria’s civil war, emphasizing that it was never his wish to engage in conflict.
In a video recently shared on YouTube by TVC, Gowon clarified that the decision to fight the civil war wasn’t rooted in hatred but a response to the challenging political circumstances of the time. Gowon stressed that the crucial choice was between maintaining Nigeria’s unity or facing disintegration. He said during that period, his focus was on preserving the nation, expressing a deep commitment to Nigeria’s greatness. He asserted his belief in the country and underscored the importance of keeping Nigeria intact.
In Gowon’s words:
“It was not my wish or intention to fight the civil war, It is not a hatred against any people but the political situation at the time was such that it got to the point where it is either Nigeria remained one country or not.
And as I always said during that time, if the question of breaking Nigeria is not part of our discussion, we will review everything in order to make sure that Nigeria survived and be a great country. I am a great believer in Nigeria”.
You can watch the video from 0:5