Former Head of State, General Yakubu Gowon, says the January 1967 summit in Aburi, Ghana, could have prevented Nigeria’s civil war.
The 90-year-old statesman, who led Nigeria from 1966 to 1975, said he wishes to be remembered as a leader who loves the country and its people.
Gowon stated this in an interview on Arise Television, shedding light on the irreconcilable differences that led to the outbreak of the Nigerian Civil War in July 1967.
A fundamental disagreement between Gowon and the Eastern regional leader, Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu, contributed to the war that lasted for 30 months.
He said Ojukwu pushed for a form of regional autonomy that the federal side could not accept.
“I want to be remembered as someone who loves his country, Nigeria, who loves Nigerians, who prays, at least if I cannot fight, I pray for Nigeria to continue to be a country that all of us love. I know it is impossible for any country to be absolutely perfect,”; Gowon said.
