PRESIDENT Bola Tinubu has described the autobiography of former Head of State, retired Gen. Yakubu Gowon, as a vital national document that preserves Nigeria’s history and offers guidance for future generations.
Tinubu, represented by his Vice, Kashim Shettima stated this on Tuesday in Abuja at the presentation of Gowon’s autobiography, “My Life of Duty and Allegiance.
The President said the book captures defining moments in the nation’s journey and underscores the enduring values of unity, reconciliation and regional cooperation.
Tinubu called for wide circulation of the memoir, noting that the reflections of leaders who witnessed defining moments in the nation’s history remain essential to strengthening democratic stability and national cohesion.
He added that Nigeria must preserve its historical memory to avoid repeating the mistakes of the past.
The Nigerian leader stressed that societies that fail to learn from their history risk drifting into division and uncertainty.
“A nation that misplaces its memory soon begins to quarrel with its own reflection. A society without memory becomes an orphan in time,” he said.
Tinubu observed that Gowon’s account was arriving at a time when Nigeria and the West African region continue to grapple with insecurity, economic pressures and social fragmentation.
This, according to him, makes the lessons of reconciliation and statesmanship even more relevant.
The Nigerian leader praised Gowon’s post-civil war reconciliation efforts, particularly the declaration of “No victor, no vanquished.”
He described the declaration as one of the defining principles that helped preserve Nigeria’s unity after the civil war.
He said that peace and national healing require deliberate policies built on trust, inclusion and shared citizenship.
“The decisions of that period cannot be understood by those who examine them with the arrogance of comfort.
“Every generation that inherits peace must learn to speak gently about the choices made in the season of peril,” he said.
The President noted that national unity must be sustained through institutions and policies that encourage interaction, fairness and mutual understanding among citizens.
He highlighted the role of the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) as one of the enduring legacies of Gen. Gowon’s administration.
He added that the scheme helped bridge ethnic, cultural and religious divides across generations.
According to him, shared national experiences remain vital to building a stronger federation and deepening trust among Nigerians.
Tinubu noted that Gowon’s life stands as a rebuke to divisive narratives that attempt to reduce Nigeria’s diversity into rigid regional 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,” he said.
The President applauded Gowon’s role in the establishment of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS).
He described the regional body as one of the continent’s most important platforms for economic cooperation and collective security.
He said the founding vision behind ECOWAS remains critical as West Africa confronts terrorism, political instability and economic disruption.
“We need cooperation against insecurity. We need trade that empowers our young people. We need diplomacy that prevents conflict from becoming contagion,” he said.
The President maintained that Nigeria’s prosperity and security are closely tied to the stability and development of neighbouring countries.
Earlier, Gowon said he wrote the autobiography out of the desire to tell his truth, not to join issues with anyone or sit in judgment over what was right or wrong.
He said speaking out became necessary because “my story and that of Nigeria became intertwined”.
Gowon added that the book reflects his modest attempt to document the opportunity he had to serve Nigeria.
On 2027 general elections, he advised Nigerians against listening to “naysayers.”
The former head of state maintained that the nation, which did not fail under his watch, would never fail despite the country’s challenges.
The book reviewer, Bishop of Catholic Diocese of Sokoto, His Lordship Most Rev Dr Matthew Kukah, noted that the book was a vivid account of Nigeria’s turbulent history through a civil war, and Gowon’s personal travails and life’s journey.
He explained that different sections of the book provide valuable insights to events during the General’s reign as head of state.
The Bishop, however, noted that no autobiography summaries history in totality as each account presents a particular point of view.
Kukah assured the gathering of God’s continuous favours and blessings for the country, noting that “God will continue to do great things for Nigeria”. (NAN)
