IN beginning this tribute, it may be appropriate to say that General Yakubu Gowon and a one-time military head of state of Nigeria from 29th July 1966 to 29th July 1975 rose from humble beginnings to become a leading figure like Jean-Jacques Rousseau (1712-1718), a great philosopher of the 18th-century French Enlightenment alongside such giants as Diderot and Voltaire. General Gowon had the singular opportunity of ruling Nigeria for close to a decade. Only General Ibrahim Badamosi Babangida, the first and only military president for Nigeria's eight-year tenure from 1985 to 1993, and that of Chief Olusegun Obasanjo as civilian president from 1999 to 2007 came close to Gowon's record of political longevity, in a country where the life-span of government is, on the average only four years.While in office, and after relinquishing same, General Gowon continued to display an amazing degree of charisma, charm, and political brinkmanship. He has rendered himself to the common man on the street. To this, many Nigerians see him as not engaging in what they describe as 'dirty politics'. Consequently, we should express happiness that at 77, General Gowon is still bearing with confidence and dexterity.It is crystal clear that Gowon's tenure coincided with the massive increase in Nigeria's foreign exchange earnings, accruing from the oil bonanza, and as a result, an expansion of the country's infrastructure. Gowon's accepted claim to political eminence rests on his successful prosecution of the Nigerian civil war in which he succeeded in forcibly bringing back break-away Biafra into the federal fold. This is because Gowon (Go On With One Nigeria) believes so much in the words of Alhaji Ahmadu Bello, (of blessed memory) first and only premier of the defunct Northern Region of Nigeria, on September 25, 1963 and I quote 'I wish to state categorically my belief in the unity of this country for there are far more things that divide us. Our path to salvation lies in cooperation'. To this end, Gowon utilised the expertise of the likes of Chief Jeremiah Obafemi Awolowo (of blessed memory), Alhaji Aminu Kano (of blessed memory), among many others in his administration. With his high administrative background and military training, Gowon successfully managed the civil war without braking Nigeria. Again, he is often likened to Abraham Lincoln, 16th American President, 1861-1865 (Republican), who as president reunited Southern United States with the North.He was born on October 19, 1934 in Kanke, Plateau State to a humble Christian family. Gowon had his early education at the St. Bartholomew School, Wusasa and Barewa College, Zaria from where he graduated in 1953. In 1954, he joined the Nigerian army and was quickly sent to Ghana where he attended the Regular Officers' Special Training (ROST). From there, he proceeded to Britain in 1955 where he attended Aton Hall, Cheshire as well as Sandhurst. He also had a stint at the young officers' course at Blythe before returning to Nigeria in 1957. On his return, he was posted to the Fourth Battalion, Ibadan as second lieutenant. He exhibited professionalism in different capacities, including the United Nations Peacekeeping Forces in the Congo. He was subsequently promoted to lieutenant-colonel and appointed adjutant-general of the Nigerian Army.Due to his dedication to his military assisgnments, he was appointed Chief of Army Staff in 1966. This was the position he occupied when a low-key jostle ensued among senior military officers for the office of the Head of State and Commander in Chief of the Armed Forces of the Republic of Nigeria after the assassination of General Johnson Thomas Umunakwe Aguiyi-Ironsi at Western Region while on national duties. Writing on Gowon's biography, Professor Isawa Eleigwu, categorically stated that his emergence as Head of State at the age of 32, over colonels like Murtala Mohammed, Hassan Katsina, among others outside the North, had been attributed to his humaneness, determinations to consolidate the integrity of Nigeria, and his capacity for striking compromises among opposed perspectives.After his dismissal from power on the 29th of July 1975, Gowon went to Britain and enrolled as a student at the University of Warwick. He later took a first degree, second degree and subsequently a doctorate degree in political science with specialisation in Nigeria's role in the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS). However, Gowon suffered a setback while in England after the abortive coup of Friday, February 13, 1976 led by Lt. Col. Bukar Suka Dimka, in which General Murtala Mohammed was killed and Gowon was implicated. Based on inability to extradite him to Nigeria to face trial, the military government then under Lt. Gen. Olusegun Obasanjo withdrew his rank and privileges. However, he was granted a state pardon in 1982 by the civilian government led by Alhaji Shehu Shagari, the first executive president of Nigeria. He returned to Nigeria in 1983 and his military rank was restored by the IBB's administration in November 1987. Between late 1980s and early 1990s, Gowon sought to re-enter the mainstream of national politics, culminating in an ill-advised presidential bid of 1983. For many years now, General Gowon has tried to stay above the hurly-burly of political partisanship, cultivating instead, the role of peace-maker and nation-builder.General Yakubu Gowon founded in 1996, 'Nigeria Prays', a spiritual movement devoted to praying for the peace, unity and progress of the country. One can boldly and proudly say that Gowon's nation-building and conciliatory posture ideally placed him on a vantage position to save the country from disintegration.Soeze can be reached via charlessoeze@yahoo.com
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