Former President Goodluck Jonathan has commended former Head of State Yakubu Gowon for his leadership during and after the Nigerian Civil War, claiming that Gowon’s iconic pronouncement of “no victor, no vanquished” paved the way for healing and national unity.
Jonathan spoke in Abuja on Tuesday to mark the release of Gowon’s autobiography, which he described as “a living testimony” to leadership, nation-building, and statesmanship.
“Today’s event is not merely the unveiling of a book. It is the presentation of a living testimony.
“It is a reflection of a leader who stood at the center of some of the defining moments in our national journey,” Jonathan said.
The former president stated that the autobiography provided valuable insights into military leadership, peacekeeping, and the difficulty of running a diverse society.
“The Nigerian autobiography offers not only a personal account of military strategy and leadership but also one of the big insights into the challenges of nationhood, reconciliation, peace building, and statesmanship,” he said.
Reflecting on the 1967-1970 civil war, Jonathan called it one of the most traumatic chapters in Nigerian history but praised Gowon’s approach to reconciliation following the fight.
“The years of the civil war from 1967 to 1970 remain among the most painful chapters of our national experience.
“Yet, this historical record is committed to the realization of national unity and perhaps more importantly, the unanimity at the end of this conflict embodied in the enduring declaration of ‘no victor, no vanquished.’ The declaration laid the foundation for healing, reconstruction, and reintegration at a time when victims and witnesses would have been in pain,” he said.
He also praised Gowon for introducing policies that transformed Nigeria, particularly the establishment of the National Youth Service Corps, NYSC.
“In Nigeria, the establishment of the NYSC was one key policy that today remains in place,” he said.
He stated that the plan promoted unity among young Nigerians and addressed teacher shortages in rural schools at the time.
Recalling his personal experience, Jonathan stated, “I remember in 1973, I was in class three in secondary school when the third batch of the NYSC came.
“In those days, it was so difficult to get graduate teachers to teach in secondary schools, especially schools that were not in the cities.”
He stated that two corps members posted to his school taught him subjects including mathematics, chemistry, and biology and contributed significantly to his education.
“So the vision of the NYSC is great and will continue to be great,” he added.
Jonathan further lauded Gowon for continuing to promote peace and national unity decades after leaving office.
“General Gowon has continued to distinguish himself through decades of public service and advocacy for peace.
“His commitment to national unity, interfaith harmony, and youth development has remained steadfast long after leaving office,” he said.
The former president stated that memoirs like Gowon’s autobiography are critical for preserving Nigeria’s past and educating future generations on the responsibility of leadership during tough times.
“As younger generations study our nation’s history, it is important that they hear directly from those who bore the burden of leadership during critical times.
“By sharing his stories, General Gowon has once again rendered another important service to Nigeria and the historical record of Africa,” he said.
