Gowon: Federal Character will promote equality and foster Unity among all Nigerians

According to the Retired General Yakubu Gowon the head of the State of Nigeria from 1966-1975, Igbo is still marginalized in Nigeria. General Yakubu Gowon ruled the nation during the deadly civil war that took the lives of over 3 million civilians.

He left power after he was removed forcibly in 1975 Nigerian coup d’état. During an Igbo Leadership Development Foundation event, Gowon urged that the right measures should be taken up to make the bad situation of the Igbo better.

At a debate with the theme “Federal Character, Restructuring and Rotation of Presidential Power in Nigeria.” A debate intended for National Unity, Yakubu Gowon was represented by Dr Obadiah Mailafia who is the former Deputy Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria.

Gowon made known that the country has everything it takes with no shadow of a doubt to meet the needs and wants of all its citizens irrespective of tribe or creed. The retired General suggested a large formal assembly of people to debate and revisit the disparity, inconsistency, and imbalance that has for the longest of years slowed and kept the country down.

All of which should be restructured and corrected to pilot the unity and cohesion of the country. He stated that a lot of evil and injustice have been meted out to the Igbo and a constitutional debate to revisit all of these disparities and imbalances will wake hope and confidence for them.

The former Head of State also made known that the true Nigerians are the Igbo, Yoruba and the middle belt which include states like Nassarawa, Benue, Kogi, Kwara, Niger, Plateau, Taraba, Adamawa, and even Abuja the country’s federal capital territory. This is on the bases that these groups of people have always been here. People come from other places to Nigeria, but these set of people have always been here.

Following this, the former head of state stated that Nigeria must create a federal democracy that will encourage and enhance the country to work together as one. As one Nigeria and not a matter of East-West. A federal democracy that will promote equality and actively involve women and youths in the building of a new Nigeria.

Gowon made it known that it wasn’t a mistake on the part of God to create the Ndigbo as part of the nation. So the country must involve the creativity, intelligence and hard work of the Ndigbo. And while restricting is important for a new Nigeria, the process of restructuring must be carried out in a tolerant and an environment of love.

”I am not a friend of hate speech and bitterness but a friend of patriotism because Nigeria is dear to my heart and I believe in the bright future of Nigeria and Ndigbo and that together, we can make our country great,” the former head of state stated.