Gowon has lived to see the country he fought to preserve remain intact. On October 19, 2025, he turned 91 — still upright, sharp-minded, and dignified. True to his modest nature, he did not mark the day with fanfare. Instead, he received warm tributes from leaders across the nation…
Throughout his career, Gowon remained a firm believer in a united Nigeria. As Head of State, he led the Federal Government during the Civil War against the secessionist Biafran movement. His leadership, though controversial, ensured Nigeria’s survival as a single entity
THE slogan: Go-On-With-One-Nigeria was coined out of the acronyms of his name, GOWON.
Indeed, the man loved Nigeria so much that his name was converted into a rallying call for the unity of Nigeria.
How can we forget that it was gen. Yakubu Gowon, then 31 years old military head of state (currently a 91-year-old elder statesman) who led the unfortunate Nigerian civil war to keep our country unified.
In light of the above, one can only imagine the joy that wells up in Gen.Gowon’s belly as he remains a witness to Nigeria’s continued existence as one nation since independence in 1960 from British rule and 58 years post Nigerian civil war, which raged from 1967-1970.
But Gen. Gowon is not all about war.
He is very quick-witted and full of humour as evidenced by my encounter with him in the narrative detailed below.
On October 19, which was his 91st birthday (last week), the ebullient Gen. Gowon did not roll out the drums, but the milestone was no less remarkable as it generated a stream of warm birthday felicitations from the Senate President Godswill Akpabio to the governor of … state and leader of northern governors forum, amongst other Nigerian leaders.
A self-effacing statesman whose passion for the unity of Nigeria has not waned, Gen. Gowon has aged gracefully as even in his 90s, he still walks straight, with the gait of a soldier and without the support of a walking stick.
Arising from the above, it is needless to state that the good Lord has been very generous to the former Nigerian head of state for keeping him well and with his faculties fully functional in these 91 years on Mother Earth.
When he graciously accepted the invitation to be the chairman at the launch of my book: “Leading From The Streets. Media Interventions by A Public Intellectual 1999-2019” Gen. Gowon, Nigeria’s 3rd head of state (Sir Abubakar Tafawa Balewa, Gen. JTU Aguiyi Ironsi) was in his element.
First of all, although he had flown into Lagos the previous day, he arrived quite ahead of schedule at the venue of the book launch- Mike Adenuga/ Alliance Francaise Centre in Ikoyi, Lagos. To me, that was a validation of the popular cliche: “old soldier never dies”.
The ex-head of state’s promptness had quite a positive impression on me, as even at age ninety (90) in 2024, he was prompt to an event far away from his home base, Abuja.
After apologising to him for not being at the door to receive him, l inquired why he was not in attendance with his wife – the delectable former first lady of Nigeria, Mrs Victoria Gowon.
He retorted: “well, the invitation card stated Gen. Gowon, not Gen. and Mrs Gowon”.
That threw me off balance as l had no idea that he is still that quick-witted.
Incidentally, it was Gen. Gowon who had also written the foreword to the book. Upon approaching Nigeria’s Nobel laureate in Literature prof. Wole Soyinka, to be the keynote speaker at the event, observed that Gen Gowon was his incarcerator just before the unfortunate Nigerian Civil War started.
He then jokingly told me to inform Nigeria’s wartime leader, Gen. Gowon, that he was looking forward to meeting him at the book launch to finish the ‘fight’ that they started in 1967.
When l shared Prof. Soyinka’s ‘ threat’ and invitation to dwell with Gen. Gowon, in his characteristic candour, he told me to tell the man whose devotees tagged Kongi – (the title of his consequential book) that he was looking forward to meeting him on the battlefield.
At this juncture, it is critical that we put things in context by recalling that just before the unfortunate Nigerian civil war, Soyinka, the intellectual and activist, had attempted to avert the war by mediating between the late Chukwuemeka Odimegwu Ojukwu, then Biafran leader and Nigerian leader Gen. Gowon.
But the response to Soyinka’s mediatory effort was a twist of events that led to the clamping in jail of Prof. Soyinka by Gen. Gowon at the commencement of the war in July 1967.
It was amazing that last year, which was the 57th since the war was triggered and fought for three (3) years, Gen Gowon, the jailor and Prof Soyinka, the activist /intellectual, were to meet at the launch of my book: “Leading From The Streets. Media Interventions by a Public Intellectual 1999-2019”.
The much-anticipated “rematch” between Gen. Yakubu Gowon and Prof. Wole Soyinka at my book launch promised to be an epic encounter. But due to unforeseen circumstances, Prof. Soyinka was unable to attend, as he had to respond to an emergency in his home base in Abu Dhabi.
Although Gen. Gowon was disappointed by his absence, he took it in stride. During his speech, the old soldier wittily remarked that he had hoped to meet with “his guest,” Prof. Soyinka — the same man he once imprisoned. That lighthearted description reflected Gowon’s grace and his well-earned reputation as an officer and a gentleman.
Another example of his calm temperament was seen in 1975, when he was toppled in a coup while attending an OAU summit in Kampala, Uganda. Historical accounts reveal that Gowon received the news with remarkable composure. He did not resist, panic, or attempt to destabilise the country. Instead, he accepted the situation with dignity — a gesture that underscored his statesmanship and commitment to Nigeria’s stability.
Throughout his career, Gowon remained a firm believer in a united Nigeria. As Head of State, he led the Federal Government during the Civil War against the secessionist Biafran movement. His leadership, though controversial, ensured Nigeria’s survival as a single entity.
His vision for a unified nation was also reflected in policy. In 1967, he created twelve new states, a move that diluted regional tensions and restructured the federation. Later, in 1973, he established the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) — a landmark program promoting national integration among young Nigerians.
After the war, his famous “No Victor, No Vanquished” declaration set the tone for reconciliation and rebuilding. It helped heal a fractured country and remains one of the most memorable gestures of leadership in Nigeria’s post-war history.
Even beyond politics, Gowon’s record of service is extensive. His government expanded infrastructure, education, and healthcare. He remains a respected elder statesman and a moral voice in Nigeria’s public life.
Of course, Gowon is not without critics. For some, especially victims of the war, his legacy remains painful. For others, he is the hero who held Nigeria together when it was on the brink of collapse. To his credit, he has long sought reconciliation through his “Nigeria Prays” initiative — an interdenominational movement devoted to national healing and spiritual renewal. While progress has been made, the journey to complete reconciliation is ongoing.
To understand Gowon’s journey, one must revisit the circumstances that thrust him into leadership. At 31, he became Nigeria’s youngest Head of State in August 1966, just months before his 32nd birthday. Leading a nation at war with itself was a heavy burden for a man barely out of youth.
In the heat of battle, propaganda became a tool for unity. The now-famous slogan “Go On With One Nigeria” — cleverly derived from the letters of his name — became a rallying cry. With his youthful looks, military charisma, and reassuring smile, the message resonated deeply, especially among the young. It became both a war slogan and a patriotic anthem.
Nearly six decades later, Gowon has lived to see the country he fought to preserve remain intact. On October 19, 2025, he turned 91 — still upright, sharp-minded, and dignified. True to his modest nature, he did not mark the day with fanfare. Instead, he received warm tributes from leaders across the nation — including Senate President Godswill Akpabio and the Chairman of the Northern Governors’ Forum, Muhammadu Inuwa Yahaya— all acknowledging his lifelong service to Nigeria.
At 90, he was similarly celebrated when ECOWAS honoured him with a public lecture delivered by Dr Akinwumi Adesina, President of the African Development Bank — a fitting tribute to one of the founding fathers of the regional body and its last surviving pioneer.
Though opinions about him remain divided, Gowon continues to embody restraint, humility, and quiet patriotism. His life’s work — in war, peace, and prayer — tells the story of a man who, despite controversy, has remained steadfast in his belief in one Nigeria.
And so, as he turns 91, we salute the soldier-statesman whose calm under pressure, sense of duty, and enduring faith continue to remind us that true leadership is as much about humility as it is about power.
Happy Birthday, General Yakubu Gowon — Nigeria’s wartime leader, peacemaker, and eternal patriot