Gowon counsels Nigerians on right attitudes, values, insists unity of Nigeria not affected by religious, ethnic differences
*Relives his feeling when he emerged Head of State at 31
By BASHIR ADEFAKA
Former Head of State, General Yakubu Dan-Yumma Gowon (Rtd), has counselled Nigerians, particularly the young ones on right attitudes and values as well as to be more importantly committed to the unity of Nigeria.
He gave this counselling, on Friday, at a virtual reality history competition, organised by the ANISZA Foundation and Gallery.
Reliving some of his life experiences, he advised his audience to contribute their quotas to national development.
The Retired Army General seized the opportunity afforded him by the event to reiterate his faith in the Nigerian youth and the country’s potential for greatness.
“We can live in peace and unity irrespective of our religions and tribes,” he maintained.
General Gowon, strengthening his position during the remarks, said he was petrified when he emerged Nigeria’s Head of State at the age of 31.
He became the third Nigerian president and the youngest ever, on August 1, 1966, before his 32nd birthday on October 19, 1966.
He said: “I felt petrified when I took over as Head of State.”
The event, which had the theme: ‘Sustaining Peace Together’’, was organised to commemorate the second anniversary of the foundation.
The virtual event was moderated by the Founder and Curator of ANISZA Foundation and Gallery, Ms Novo Isioro.
The 86-year old Chairman of Pray Nigeria said that his ambition then was just to be a good soldier.
“I never planned to be the president, it just happened,” he said.
A highpoint of the event was the debut of the ‘Heart of the Matter with Novo Isioro’, an online talk show where the host will raise issues of peace and unity as they affect Nigeria and the world at large.
The host, Isioro, explained that the event and the concept of ANISZA were to educate Nigerian youths, especially secondary school students, about the nation’s history, using pictures.
She said that the national virtual history competition was part of the efforts of ANISZA to engage young Nigerians to foster national unity.
One of the participants, Mr Godswill Chibuzor, said he was delighted to see and hear from the former Head of State.
He hailed the event organisers for the initiative.
Chibuzor and some other participants at the virtual event expressed confidence that Nigeria would be great.
