General Yakubu Gowon, who led Nigeria through the civil war with Biafra, at a lecture in Diamond Jubilee Lecture of the Foursquare Gospel Church, Lagos Nigeria held on Thursday, May 14, 2015 disclosed that Major General Odimegwu Ojukwu underestimated him due to the fact that his is a born again christian, thinking he would not be capable of going to war.
He said, “During the crisis, my colleague and brother, Emeka Ojukwu, said, ‘We know Gen. Gowon, he is a Christian and he would not like to fight.
‘Do you know the first thing he puts in his suitcase? His Bible; and that will make him not to engage in a fight’. I think unfortunately, he was proved wrong”
“As a Christian soldier, it was my duty to keep my country together,” Gowon said.
Gowon made known his unhappiness towards the new generation of Nigerian leaders who were putting their political ambitions over the unity of the country.
He revealed that the predictions that Nigeria would break up in 2015 failed and that the elections went on peacefully.
He also commended President Goodluck Jonathan and the President-elect, Muhammadu Buhari, for the conduct and outcome of the election.
Gowon commended the church, particularly Foursquare Gospel Church in Nigeria, for its role in nation building.
He said, “During the civil war from 1967-1970, it was the prayers of the people of God and the military that helped to keep the country together.
“It was God that helped to stem the tide of coups so that we could enjoy democracy today.
“Even when many predicted the break-up of Nigeria by 2015, the effective prayers of the people intervened and the elections were peaceful. As an observer, I was impressed by the turnout and camaraderie of all Nigerians.
“I said if the elections could be this peaceful, the end would be glorious. And didn’t it become glorious? It did by the act of good leadership in both parties and the acceptance of the outcome of the election even though it went against one of them.”
