GENERAL YAKUBU GOWON AND GOVERNOR YAHAYA BELLO INTERFACE: THE MESSAGE
There is no gainsaying that the Nigerian political history will be incomplete without General Yakubu Gowon, fondly known as “Jack Gowon”. General Yakubu Gowon was the Military head of State in Nigeria from 1966 to 1975 and ranked the youngest head of state when he took over the leadership of the country at the age of 31 following the counter coup against Major General Aguiyi -Ironsi in July 1966.
General Yakubu Gowon with a root from the North Central political region of Nigeria is known as a nationalist, unifier and peacemaker. He is one of the few former heads of State who still remain relevant in the Nigerian political terrain today. It is on record that, though he spearheaded the Nigerian civil war in 1966, he was also instrumental to the unity and political cohesion and inclusiveness of all Nigerians in the affairs of the country and he promotes healing and reconciliation after the civil war which lasted for about three years. He will always be remembered for his “No victor, No vanquished” speech after the civil war. So, without mincing words, General Yakubu Gowon is a symbol of Nigeria unity and the strength of togetherness.
The meeting between General Yakubu Gowon and Governor Yahaya Bello is both revealing and instructive. There is unmistakable message that must be gleaned from the meeting of the duo; here is once youthful Nigerian leader with unquestionable wealth of experience and knowledge meeting with a prospective Nigerian President with a vision to set the country on the right cause and path. It is meeting of the Nigeria’s history and Nigeria’s potential and it is a meeting of “youthful minds” for the sole progress of the country.
One of the invaluable traits of a good leader is the ability to learn from the mistakes of the past, improve on the gain of the past and harness potentials for the betterment of the society. Governor Yahaya Bello is passionate about steering the country in the right path, not by trials and errors but by understanding our problems as it was in the past, as it is today and avoiding same going forward and to know what happened in the past in an accurate term, requires getting information from the key players and those who had gone before you. This is one of the sure ways to overcome what has been dragging us behind as a country.
This is the message of the meeting; the unmistakable and timely interface between General Yakubu Gowon and Governor Yahaya Bello.
Written by
Barr Shadrach Emmanuel, FICMC.