I did what I had to do to keep this country together during Biafran War –  Yakubu Gowon

General Yakubu Gowon

I did what I had to do to keep this country together during Biafran War –  Yakubu Gowon

* Civil war lasted from July 6, 1967, to January 15, 1970.

Former Head of State, General Yakubu Gowon (rtd), has said that the Biafran War was never his personal decision.

He recently revealed that he only ushered in the era of the Nigerian Civil War out of necessity to preserve Nigeria’s unity.

Speaking while receiving the Lifetime Integrity and Achievement Award at the 5th Convention of the Christian Men’s Fellowship of the Abuja Anglican Diocese, Gowon described the civil war, which lasted from July 6, 1967, to January 15, 1970, as the most challenging period of his life.

The ex-Nigerian leader declared that he simply did what he had to do to keep the nation together, and he never made the decision out of hatred for any tribe.

“I always remember the civil war. It was the most difficult period of my life. It was not my choice, but I had to be there, and had to do what I did in order to keep this country together. It was never a hatred against any people, I can assure you,” he said.

Stressing that his prosecution of the war was out of commitment to his duty, he maintained that he was only trying to uphold Nigeria’s territorial integrity.

According to him, he felt no form of animosity toward the secessionist Eastern region, and he has always emphasized the need for unity across ethnic and religious lines.

Gowon concluded by saying that every of his leadership decisions was guided by prayer, integrity, and compassion.

“As far as this heart is concerned, everything that I do, it is through prayers. I ask God to help me to do the right thing the way He thinks it should be done, with love and respect for all the people. That is why, at the end, what do we have to say? As they say: no victor, no vanquished,” he added.