Former President Olusegun Obasanjo praised General Yakubu Gowon (rtd) Nigeria’s former Head of State, as a statesman worthy of celebration. He noted that few can claim to have witnessed his time in government or the army.
He made this statement at a public lecture in Abuja marking
Gowon’s 90th birthday on Friday evening.
The event brought together political leaders, traditional
rulers, and citizens from across the country to honour Gowon’s legacy as a
symbol of national unity and perseverance.
Obasanjo said: “This is a national celebration, and you are
worthy of being celebrated while you’re still with us. Very few can claim to
have witnessed your time in government or the army.
“But by God’s grace, you have lived long enough for us to
honour you today.”
He humorously remarked on Gowon’s milestone, saying, “God
has made you a big 90. If I were from Calabar, I would say, ’90 no be yoke’.'”
The Sultan of Sokoto, Alhaji Sa’ad Abubakar III, who chaired
the event, highlighted Gowon’s exceptional longevity and institutional wisdom.
“In our time, children were everyone’s responsibility,
regardless of tribe or religion. Honesty, hard work, and selflessness were the
benchmarks of our society.
“The civil service was efficient, and society lived in peace
and harmony. Not many countries are fortunate enough to have leaders live so
long, with full consciousness and insight,” he added.
IBB
General Ibrahim Babangida, in a goodwill message, praised
Gowon’s decency and unwavering commitment to Nigeria’s development, urging the
younger generation to learn from his life story.
Babangida said “I will continue to pray for him. The younger
generation should learn from his life story, as he started leading this country
at a tender age.”
Other dignitaries from various sectors who attended the
public lecture reflected on Gowon’s broad influence and respect.
They celebrated his leadership, which spanned critical
periods in Nigeria’s history, for promoting unity, peace, and harmony.
Advertise on NigerianEye.com to reach thousands of our daily users
No comments
Post a Comment
Kindly drop a comment below.
(Comments are moderated. Clean comments will be approved immediately)
Advert Enquires - Reach out to us at NigerianEye@gmail.com