Ojukwu never believed that I would go to war – Gowon

General yakubu Gowon, who led Nigerian forces to defeat Ojukwu's army
during the Nigerian civil war from 1967-1970, said this at the Diamond
Jubilee Lecture of the Foursquare Gospel Church in Nigeria in Lagos on
Thursday.
The former head of state 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 secede from Nigeria without consequences
because he thought Gowon would not want to go to war.
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 said he was happy that 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 commended President Goodluck Jonathan and the President-elect,
Muhammadu Buhari, for the conduct and outcome of the election.
Gowon commended the church, particularly Foursquare Gospel Church in
Nigeria, for its role in nation building.
He said, "During the civil war from 1967-1970, it was the prayers of
the people of God and the military that helped to keep the country
together. It was God that helped to stem the tide of coups so that we
could enjoy democracy today.
"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.
"I said if the elections could be this peaceful, the end would be
glorious. And didn't it become glorious? It did by the act of good
leadership in both parties and the acceptance of the outcome of the
election even though it went against one of them."
Also speaking, the Vice Chancellor, Mcpherson University, Ogun State,
Prof. Adeniyi Agunbiade, said the church must be active in nation
building.
He, therefore, urged all Christians to show the world the way.
"The church is more than just buildings and edifices; it is the
lifeline of any society. It is a unique solution that should inculcate
change. The church plays a very significant role in the society. It is
meant to be the salt and light in the society, being the only
organisation in the world with such high morality level," he said.
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