Gowon's rendezvous with history

General Yakubu Gowon, approaching his 92nd birthday, embodies a quiet dignity, though time has inevitably softened his once-commanding presence. His recent memoir, "My Life of Duty and Allegiance," presents a narrative of a patriot who steered Nigeria through a near-disintegration, making difficult choices to preserve national unity.

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He comes across as unassuming and possessed of a quiet dignity.

The author, while never having met Gowon, perceives him as a decent, gentle man who shuns confrontation and public debate, drawing parallels with former President Goodluck Jonathan in their shared image of humility and humanity in power. Unlike some other generals, Gowon avoids public criticism of successors or contentious national discourse.

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Perhaps it is this concern for legacy that inspired Gowon’s recent memoir, My Life of Duty and Allegiance, in which he presents himself as a leader who made painful but necessary choices in what he believed was the supreme interest of preserving Nigeria’s unity.

However, for those who lived through or learned about the Nigerian Civil War, a sense of disappointment lingers. Gowon presided over a pivotal era where decisions profoundly shaped millions of lives. The article suggests that different choices, particularly in managing the political crisis leading to the war, might have averted the conflict that claimed over two million lives. The author notes that even well-intentioned actions can lead to dire consequences, a timeless historical warning.

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He appears to be someone who avoids confrontation and controversy.