News Editor
By David Odama
Former military head of state, General Ibrahim Badamosi Babangida has revealed that General Dr Yakubu Gowon did a lot to unite, keep and develop Nigeria as a military head of state.
This is even as the former military jonta tasked young Nigerians on the need to to keep the country as a United, indivisible and peaceful nation.
Speaking with Journalists in his hill top country home, Minna yesterday on Gowon at 90, the former military leader advised Nigerians against cutting conners in their aspirations to rule the country at any levels.
“Nigeria need a patriotic, committed and dedicated leader such as general Yakubu Gowon who gave all his life to keep the country. Our nation is plauged into where we are now because of personal, regional interest has been allowed to crop into our country”
“The purpose of fighting the war was to unite the country to keep it one, not to break it. So that’s the uniquely sad aspect of a civil war and I pray it never happens again.”
“I think it is our ability to keep this country one in accordance with the dreams of our leaders such as General Gowon who fought a war that United this country. This is the greatest thing that Gowon has done for this country that must continue to Director our common goal for the unity of Nigeria”, IBB declared.
” General Gowon is a decent man I must say, very very decent indeed, free from disruptive influences. He is a very good gentleman, worthy of emulation.
“Well, first of all, I want to pray for him and to say that he is the best example of the saying that old soldier never die. I will continue to pray for him because I have lived with his brothers So I have always considered myself as part of his family”.
According to General Babangida, Nigeria still have a lot to learn from Gen. Gowon, his commitment to this country, his commitment to the development of this country. He is a decent man and I would advise the younger generation to study Gen.Gowon, read about him, his life.
“Nigerians should start building the country from the foundation laid by the past leaders. Gowon handled the affairs of this country at a reasonably young age so if he was able to do it well, Young aspiring Nigerian specially our politicians can copy and emulate him so they can do what he has done for this country.
“You have an opportunity now as young people, get to know the country, study the country, the people and if you are able to do that or to understand that, basically I think that will go a long way to prepare you for the eventual leadership of the country,” he said.
The only way to do it is to study him, his life, his works and even what he did as a military officer.
Reacting to the economic hardship confronting Nigerians, IBB explained that all nations, developing nations went through the same processes the nation is going through adding that it is the resilience of the people that make the country great.
” We have to go through the same process, we have the people, the leadership and whatever it needs to develop. I think it is nothing new, the country is undergoing such problems, it is for the people to rise up and say we will overcome it”, IBB stated.
“I introduced the structural Adjustment programm (SAP), I believed in it and today this is happening now, the people have control of the economy, they have the economy in their hands.
“We opened up media houses, this is the perfect example I always use, so as to educate the public on what is happening and people see that there is opportunity and those opportunities, the doors are open and people are free to veer into any economic activity without hindrances”, the former military leader said..
