ABUJA, Nigeria – Former Nigerian Head of State, General Yakubu Gowon (Rtd), has revisited the painful memories of the Nigerian Civil War, describing it as the most difficult period of his life and affirming that it was never a war of hatred, but a duty to preserve the unity of the nation.
Gowon made the remarks on Saturday in Abuja after receiving a Lifetime Integrity and Achievement Award at the 5th Convention of the Christian Men’s Fellowship of the Anglican Diocese of Abuja. Addressing attendees at the event, the former leader spoke candidly about the burden of leading Nigeria through the 30-month civil war that lasted from 1967 to 1970.
I always remember the Civil War. It was the most difficult period of my life. It was not my choice, but I had to be there and had to do what I did in order to keep this country together,” Gowon said. “It was never hatred against any people, I can assure you.
He stressed that his decisions during the war were driven by a sense of responsibility, not animosity. Gowon added that he relied heavily on faith and prayer to guide his leadership choices.
As far as this heart is concerned, everything that I do, it is through prayers. I ask God to help me to do the right thing, the way He thinks it should be done—with love and respect for allthepeople, he added.
Gowon also reiterated his famous post-war philosophy, which shaped Nigeria’s post-conflict recovery:
That is why at the end, what do we have to say? As they say: no victor, no vanquished.
This statement, which has become a cornerstone of Nigeria’s reconciliation narrative, reflects Gowon’s enduring commitment to unity. It also formed the basis of his post-war reintegration policy, aimed at healing divisions and rebuilding the nation.
Gowon’s remarks on Saturday echo previous reflections, including his 2015 speech at Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu University, where he stated that no single group or community possesses all the answers to Nigeria’s challenges, emphasizing that collective unity is essential for national progress.
