Former Nigerian Head of State, General Yakubu Gowon (retd.), has opened up on the extraordinary burden of leading a fractured country at the age of 31, saying he was not trained to rule but relied on military discipline, upbringing, and a deep sense of duty to navigate Nigeria through one of its darkest chapters.

Naijaonpoint reports that Gowon, who ruled Nigeria from 1966 to 1975, made the remarks during a reflective interview on Arise News on Wednesday.

Recounting the events that led to his emergence as Head of State following the July 1966 counter-coup and the assassination of General Johnson Aguiyi-Ironsi, Gowon said leadership came unexpectedly.

He stated, “I was not trained to rule. But I had sufficient upbringing to be able to deal with the situation the best way I could.

“I had a good upbringing — from home, from school, and from military training, especially at the British Staff College. They taught us how to appreciate a situation, even if you don’t fully understand it. That foundation helped me a lot.”

Gowon firmly denied having any prior knowledge of the counter-coup that toppled Ironsi.

He revealed that he first learned of the mutiny in the early hours via phone calls alerting him to violent developments in Abeokuta.

“By the time I tried to intervene and called the government house, it was already too late,” he recalled.

He added that his emergence as leader was not based on seniority, but on the trust his fellow officers had in him to unify both the military and the country.

Gowon also clarified the decision to split Nigeria from four regions into 12 states in 1967, a move widely seen as pivotal in the lead-up to the civil war.

He further stated, “It wasn’t solely my decision. It was a response to popular demands after the 1966 crisis. Ethnic communities wanted autonomy. It was a response to the people’s wishes.”

The state creation, he said, was intended to give minority groups a greater sense of belonging in the Nigerian federation.

Reflecting on the 1966 pogroms that targeted southeastern Nigerians in the North, Gowon acknowledged the military’s efforts to halt the killings, though he admitted the violence was largely driven by mob reactions rather than official directives.

“I called leaders to stop the killings. I spoke to soldiers and told them it was not their role to allow civilians to be harmed,” he said.

He said he engaged traditional rulers and local leaders across affected communities to preach peace and restraint.