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| Gen. Yakubu Gowon |
Gowon had led Nigerian forces to defeat Ojukwu’s army during the Nigerian civil war from 1967-1970.
Speaking at the Diamond Jubilee Lecture of the Foursquare Gospel Church in Lagos on Thursday, the former military ruler said he was known to be a ‘Born Again’ Christian and Ojukwu, who was the then premier of the Eastern Region, thought his region could break away from Nigeria without much resistance.
He said:
“During the crisis, my colleague and brother, Emeka Ojukwu, said, ‘We know Gen. Gowon, he is a Christian and he would not like to fight. Do you know the first thing he puts in his suitcase? His Bible; and that will make him not to engage in a fight’. I think unfortunately, he was proved wrong.
“As a Christian soldier, it was my duty to keep my country together.”
Gowon expressed his joy as the new generation of Nigerian leaders were also putting the unity of Nigeria above their political ambitions.
He said despite the predictions that Nigeria would break up in 2015, the elections went on peacefully.
He also praised President Goodluck Jonathan and the President-elect, Muhammadu Buhari, for the peaceful conduct of the general election.
The former military head of state commended the church, particularly Foursquare Gospel Church in Nigeria, for its role in nation building.
He said:“Even when many predicted the break-up of Nigeria by 2015, the effective prayers of the people intervened and the elections were peaceful. As an observer, I was impressed by the turnout and camaraderie of all Nigerians.
The Vice Chancellor,of Mcpherson University, Ogun State, Prof. Adeniyi Agunbiade, who also spoke at the event said the church must be active in nation building.
Meanwhile the former military head of State, recently advocated the need for the creation of a West Africa government.
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