General Yakubu Gowon Canvases For Igbo President Next Election: Says Will Help Heal Civil War Wounds

Nigerian Former military leader Gen. Yakubu Gowon (rtd), Wednesday said an Igbo president would help heal the civil war wounds. Gowon said this while delivering a lecture entitled “No Victor, No Vanquished: Healing the Nigerian Nation” to mark the 6th Convocation ceremony of the Chukwumeka Odumegwu Ojukwu University (COOU), Igbariam, in Anambra.

He maintained that the civil war was not fought out of hatred for the late Igbo leader Odumegwu Ojukwu or the Igbos, but was based on the principle of a commitment to a united Nigeria.

The former head of state, lauded Ojukwu for his courage in defending his people during the war, saying: “if Ojukwu were in my shoes, he would have equally waged the war.”

He however, added that “It was a reluctant war waged to unite the country.” Gowon also commended the Anambra government and management of the university for honouring Ojukwu with the change in name of the institution from Anambra State University to COOU.