Former Head of State and convener of Nigeria Prays, a non-profit Organisation dedicated to organising seeking divine guidaiance for Nigeria, General Yakubu Gowon, has been continuously bathed with accolades since Sunday when he turned 86.
The biggest of the surfeit of accolades came from President Muhammdu Buhari who not only saluted his former boss on the occasion but also described him as “a gallant patriot whose commitment to national unity is beyond comparison in the annals of our chequered history.”
This was revealed in a statement issued in Abuja on Sunday by the Senior Special Assistant to the President on Media and Publicity, Mallam Garba Shehu.
In the statement marking the former Head of tate’s 86th birthday anniversary, President Buhari remarked that “the role General Yakubu Gowon played in our political history and infrastructure development is etched in stone and cannot be rewritten.”
Buhari said “as young military officers, many of us regarded General Gowon as our role model because of his patriotism, commitment to unity and his humility.”
According to the President, “the Nigerian civil war brought out the most brilliant qualities of General Gowon as a visionary leader who put the interest of Nigeria before his own personal interest.”
He noted that “the former Head of State led a very impressive national reconciliation effort at the end of the civil war in order to heal the bitter emotional and psychological wounds of the fratricidal conflict.”
President Buhari added that “General Gowon is one of the fairest leaders I have ever known who has inspired so many future leaders.”
“Even in the context of Africa, many leaders in the continent draw inspiration from his adroit handling of the outcome of the civil war through his policy of ‘No Victor, No Vanquished,’” he further stated.
“As he marks 86 years of age, Nigerians cannot forget General Gowon’s immeasurable contributions to the unity and development of Nigeria. May God continue to bless him with more good health and the needed strength in understanding his ongoing spiritual engagements and service to humanity,” the President prayed.”