By Seun Ibiyemi
President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has described the autobiography of former Head of State, General Yakubu Gowon, as an important national document offering guidance for Nigeria’s future, stronger regional cooperation, and the preservation of national unity.
The President said Gowon’s life and leadership remain a moral and historical reference point, noting that the memoir should be widely circulated as a civic inheritance for all Nigerians.
Tinubu, who was represented by Vice President Kashim Shettima on Tuesday at the public presentation of the memoir held at the Bola Ahmed Tinubu International Conference Centre, Abuja, said the reflections of leaders who witnessed critical phases of Nigeria’s history remain essential to democratic stability and national cohesion.
He warned that societies that fail to learn from history risk division and instability, stressing the importance of preserving historical memory.
“A nation that misplaces its memory soon begins to quarrel with its own reflection. A society without memory becomes an orphan in time,” the President said.
Tinubu noted that Gowon’s account comes at a time when Nigeria and West Africa are grappling with insecurity, economic pressure and social fragmentation, making lessons of reconciliation and statesmanship more relevant.
He praised Gowon’s post-civil war reconciliation policy of “No victor, no vanquished,” describing it as a key foundation that helped sustain Nigeria’s unity after the civil war.
According to him, national healing must be deliberately pursued through inclusive policies that promote trust and shared citizenship.
“The decisions of that period cannot be understood by those who examine them with the arrogance of comfort,” he said, adding that peace must be sustained through fairness and mutual understanding.
The President also highlighted the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) as one of Gowon’s enduring legacies, noting that it has continued to bridge ethnic and religious divides across the country.
He further said Gowon’s life story challenges divisive narratives that seek to reduce Nigeria’s diversity into ethnic or religious stereotypes.
“His story teaches us that the Nigerian project becomes stronger when a citizen refuses to become a weapon in the hands of sectarian entrepreneurs,” Tinubu said.
On regional integration, the President commended Gowon’s role in the establishment of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), describing it as a vital platform for economic cooperation and regional security.
He stressed that West Africa must strengthen collaboration to confront terrorism, political instability and economic hardship, noting that Nigeria’s prosperity is tied to regional stability.
“We need cooperation against insecurity. We need trade that empowers our young people. We need diplomacy that prevents conflict from becoming contagion,” he said.
In his remarks, General Gowon said he wrote his memoir to share his personal truth and document Nigeria’s shared history, noting that his life had been deeply intertwined with the nation’s journey.
He urged Nigerians to remain hopeful ahead of future elections, insisting that the country, which did not collapse during his tenure, will overcome its present challenges.
Former President Goodluck Jonathan, who chaired the occasion, described the memoir as a valuable reflection of Nigeria’s turbulent history, commending Gowon for his service and foresight in promoting national unity.
He said such autobiographies help preserve institutional memory and improve public understanding of key national decisions.
In his review of the book, Catholic Bishop of Sokoto Diocese, Most Rev. Matthew Kukah, described the memoir as a vivid account of Nigeria’s civil war era and Gowon’s leadership experiences, noting that no autobiography captures history in totality but offers a personal perspective.
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He prayed for Nigeria’s continued unity and progress, expressing optimism about the country’s future.
Also speaking, publisher and CEO of Havilah Group, Akogun Lanre Adesuyi, said the publication of biographies and autobiographies is a civic responsibility that preserves history and promotes national development.
The event was attended by top political, religious and traditional leaders, including former Head of State Gen. Abdulsalami Abubakar, First Lady Senator Oluremi Tinubu’s representative, Dame Patience Jonathan, ministers, governors, military officers, the Sultan of Sokoto, Muhammad Sa’ad Abubakar III, and the CAN President, Archbishop Daniel Okoh, among others.
