“The fortune of nations has often depended on accidents”, –  Edward Gibbon

Knight-errants in shining armour do occasionally canter out of the horizon, not from the pages of some romantic fantasy novels, but from necessity and historical vicissitudes, to rescue not maidens in distress, but their countries from calamities and ambitious adventurers. It was precisely the vicissitudes of fortune that produced the man Yakubu Gowon and provided for him the stage on which to play his part as a great historical figure in rescuing Nigeria from the calamities of January 1966 and from adventurers who sought to remake the country in their own frail and distorted images. 

“To Keep Nigeria One, Is A Task That Must Be Done”, were words of profound significance and historic importance that still echo down the years and continue to reverberate with such force and cadence across generations. These words defined and encapsulated the essence of Nigeria and what she stood for, in the affairs of the world and of Africa in particular. They also delineated the character, the stature and the indomitable spirit of General Yakubu Gowon, as wartime leader during a watershed moment in Nigeria’s history. He was the product of his environment and his times. He combined in his personality the placid temperament of Wusasa, Zaria, with the decorous and religious upbringing of the home of a devout Christian pastor. 

The responsibilities that were thrust upon him by destiny at a relatively young age, were immense and disproportionate to his experience and knowledge. However, by virtue of his natural disposition and the breadth of his mental faculties, he was able not only to rise up to the occasion, but to surpass every expectation thrust upon him by blind chance. His coming to power was not only fortuitous but also accidental. He assumed responsibilities of governance under difficult and immensely fractious situations when Nigeria was teetering on the brink of collapse. He not only succeeded in bringing the country back from the edge of the precipice, but also in keeping Nigeria one and united against all the odds.

These achievements alone would suffice to place General Gowon in the hallowed halls of heroes and historical personalities whose efforts can never be erased by the passage of the ages or the fading memories of generations. Capturing moments of significance and recognising the roles of individuals who have contributed to the shaping of our nation will therefore become urgent and critical. There are many notable individuals who deserve to be recognised and celebrated as being instrumental in shaping the destiny of this country. General Gowon is the primus inter pares or first and most deserving candidate in this endeavour.

But beyond these accomplishments, he it is who placed Nigeria on the trajectory of development and modernity on whose track the country is inexorably moving today. The greatest attribute of General Yakubu Gowon was his magnanimous treatment of the defeated Biafra region that sought to secede from the Nigerian Federation. In his book  A Profile in Courage: Let the Truth be Told, Major-General Paul C. Tarfa, Gowon’s contemporary and comrade-in-arms, wrote thus: “General Gowon’s action after the war was uncommon. By his declaration of “no victor, no vanquished”, he proved to the world how to win war and peace at the same time. No country has fought a Civil War and healed its wounds as fast as Nigeria did under Gowon. The world should learn from his wisdom and clean heart”.

No greater encomium can be showered on a man by his contemporary as General Tarfa did on General Gowon. During the hostilities when every atrocity is likely to be committed in the heat of battle, Gowon ensured that the war was fought in a humane and gentlemanly fashion, true to his calling as an officer, a sportsman and a gentleman. He issued a code of conduct about the treatment of people in the rebel enclave that proved to be a rare proclamation in any war situation. That directive served to form the instrument of reconciliation and re-absorption of the breakaway Biafra region into the larger Nigerian family. There is no better way to convey the true essence of Yakubu Gowon as a man of honour and integrity than to once again recall the glowing tribute paid to him by no less a companion than General Paul C. Tarfa.

Concluding his reminiscences about Gowon, General Tarfa wrote: “No adequate words can be used to describe General Yakubu Gowon. He is a man of extraordinary character and a vessel of honour whom God used to keep Nigeria one. He was a man of impeccable character and integrity, an officer and a gentleman whose leadership qualities are exemplary to military experts and other African Heads of State alike. He led Nigeria through the turbulent years of the Civil War with competence, a sense of justice and diligence. He is a man whose humility and simplicity is often mistaken for weakness. A man who is never boastful but always victorious over his critics and foes. Under him, Nigeria fought a bitter thirty-month Civil War. Under the spirit of magnanimity in victory, General Gowon was able to reconcile the victors and the vanquished of the Civil War and united the country to one indivisible entity”.

Such is the man whose life we are celebrating today. Such is his spirit that soared above the ordinary and commonplace contemplation of gains and advantages in favour of collective advancement of his people and nation. Such is his character that forbade atrocities and upheld humanity and compassion as the integral pillars of his administration. He led without vengeance and when he was removed from power, he left without malice, forgiving his enemies and embracing his friends even closer.