Former head of state Gen. Yakubu Gowon has said he would forever be grateful to Nigerians who agreed with him that the country should remain one and helped him to achieve the goal.

“I went into what I believed had to be done at the time and my name was spelled into ‘‘Go on With One Nigeria’’ (GOWON) by people who recognised that we meant well for the country, I greatly appreciated it because it strengthened my resolve and eased the efforts that we were making,’’ Gowon said yesterday during a lecture in Jos to mark his 78th birthday.

Gen. Gowon, who was born on October 19, 1934, in Kanke, Plateau State, and was head of state between 1966 and 1975, said he remained committed to the unity and progress of Nigeria and charged other Nigerians to protect Nigeria’s oneness.

“Let us re commit ourselves to the unity of this nation that our forbearers presented to us and nurtured it to higher rounds,” he said, amidst prayer that Nigeria should never need to fight another war.

Also, the secretary to the government of the federation and chairman of the Yakubu Gowon commemorating lecture, Anyim Pius Anyim, credited Gowon with the unity that Nigeria still enjoys, saying: “Even outside government, you have continued to work at ensuring that Nigeria holds together, taking to organised prayers at times for God to sustain Nigeria’s unity.”

Anyim who represented President Goodluck Jonathan on the occasion added, “It is a privilege to be part of the occasion to honor this great man (Gen. Gowon), the architect of modern Nigeria, a statesman, and indeed the father of united Nigeria. His commitment to our nationhood is legendary.”

Anyim said Jonathan’s transformation agenda is tailored at strengthening Nigeria’s unity and enhancing its common wealth.

Earlier in his remark, the host governor, Jonah Jang of Plateau State, commended Gen Gowon for the efforts he made to keep Nigeria together and expressed hope that such efforts would not be rubbished by posterity.

Jang said: “We are proud of you. And we in leadership now must work hard, emulating you, to make a greater country for tomorrow, we must not betray your fate in Nigeria’s unity and progress.”

I went into what I believed had to be done at the time and my name was spelled into ‘‘Go on With One Nigeria’’ (GOWON) by people who recognised that we meant well for the country, I greatly appreciated it because it strengthened my resolve and eased the efforts that we were making,’’ Gowon said yesterday during a lecture in Jos to mark his 78th birthday

gboss4sure: Unpon all Gowons AIM to make Nigeria one yet Nigeria is not still ONE. I dont know your definition of ONE NIGERIA but in real life Nigeria is not ONE

juman:

Hmmm, nigeria is still not one and cannot be one because of selfishness of all kinds of leaders.

One nigeria would have been a paradise, but destroyed.

gboss4sure:

Yeah, Nigeria would have been great if ONE but every well meaning Nigeria would know that even in the next century Nigeria is not going to be ONE and thats why i stopped advocating for One Nigeria because i want Peace and i want Development and i bet that those things cant happen in Nigeria.

The people in Nigeria are not one and thats the major problem of Nigeria and not Governance

Anyim who represented President Goodluck Jonathan on the occasion added, “It is a privilege to be part of the occasion to honor this great man (Gen. Gowon), the architect of modern Nigeria, a statesman, and indeed the father of united Nigeria. His commitment to our nationhood is legendary.”

berem: One Nigeria my right ear! What have we benefited from being one Nigeria? The Dumbfuck who have refused to say anything about the Bakassi issue.Stewpid old man!

CyberG: See iboz crying again...lol. Nigeria's less than stellar standing is not becaus it is still a nation but bad leadership, corruption, crimes, kidnapping, consumerism, bad followership including iboz, Hausas, Yorubas, etc. That some herdsmen killed folks in the MB or SE or anywhere is not because Nigeria won the war but because elected leaders and followers have not done their jobs.