General Yakubu Gowon, the former Head of State, has said that the much-anticipated author-biography will give Nigerians a clear and coherent explanation of some of the expedient decisions he took when he was the military leader.
This is even as he stressed that the autobiography will provide clarity on grey areas, particularly the turbulent period of the civil war.
General Gowon made this disclosure ahead of the public presentation of his autobiography on Tuesday, May 19, at the Bola Ahmed Tinubu International Conference Centre in Abuja.
The event is expected to host top government officials, military veterans, diplomats, and prominent Nigerians from across the country.
Also, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu is expected to be the event’s special guest of honour, while a former Chief of Army Staff and ex-Minister of Defence, Lt.-Gen. Theophilus Danjuma (retd.) will officially unveil the book.
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The 881-page autobiography was published by Havilah Group, which gives a chronological account of Gowon’s personal life, military career, leadership journey, and reflections on key moments in Nigeria’s history, including the Nigerian Civil War that was fought between 1967 and 1970.
Addressing newsmen ahead of the book launch, Gen. Gowon said that the memoir was not intended to reopen painful memories but to offer his own perspective on policies and decisions taken during his years in office.
“By choosing to write, I took a conscious decision not to reopen old wounds but to clarify my thinking on policies and plans at a period often narrated by others,” he said.
The former Head of State added: “My story is one of conviction evaluated by circumstances at the crossroads of expectations and reality.”
According to him, the autobiography captures not only the challenges of leadership during a difficult era in Nigeria’s history but also the motivations behind several controversial decisions taken by his administration.
The book also tells the story of Gowon’s early years and his emergence as Nigeria’s leader in August 1966 at a critical moment in the nation’s political history.
The Group Chief Executive Officer of Havilah Group, Lanre Adesuyi, described the autobiography as a major contribution to Nigeria’s historical documentation and national conversation.
“We consider this project a significant milestone in our journey, one that reflects our commitment to preserving history, promoting thought leadership, and contributing meaningfully to national discourse,” Adesuyi stated.
Born in 1934, Gen. Gowon became Nigeria’s Head of State and Commander-in-Chief on August 1, 1966, remaining in office for nine years before he was overthrown in 1975.
Following his exit from power, he attended the University of Warwick in England, where he obtained a PhD in Political Science in 1984.
Over the years, Gen. Gowon has remained active in peacebuilding, national development, and humanitarian causes, through initiatives such as the Yakubu Gowon Centre and the “Nigeria Prays” movement.
He has also championed advocacy campaigns against diseases, including guinea worm, HIV/AIDS, tuberculosis, and malaria, while serving as the National Goodwill Ambassador for the control of viral hepatitis in Nigeria.
The autobiography is expected to provide fresh insight into Gen. Gowon’s years in office reopened national conversations around leadership, unity and the challenges of nation-building in Nigeria.
