Gowon stated this when Deputy Chairman of Senate Committee on Foreign Affairs, Sen. Shehu Sani, paid him a courtesy call in Abuja on Wednesday.
Gowon was reacting to calls by some Nigerians for the reduction of age limit to 30 years to contest for presidential position in the country.
“What happened was the accident of history.
“When you have lost your leadership and there was crisis and you don’t know what to do and it happened that those within your constituency chose you, what would you do? “I was lucky enough within the military at that time and all the officers knew me by reputation.
“I had no intention to become head of state but it is the opportunity, if opportunity presents itself and people ask you to do it then do it.
“What I have achieved is (because of) God. I had never thought of becoming head of state but there was a coup and all my senior colleagues were killed and I was the only one that survived.
“My plan was to rise in my profession and hopefully become a head in my profession but that did not happen. `I didn’t know what happened but I had the duty and responsibility to ensure the coup in Lagos did not succeed’’, he said.
The former head of state advised younger Nigerians to prepare themselves academically and morally to take advantage of opportunities when they present themselves. Click to signup for FREE news updates, latest information and hottest gists everyday
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And the worst genocide in Africas history. Your hell fire na VIP
ReplyDeleteAnd you went on to commit Africa's worst genocide. Only because it is africa that you are not locked up in the haugue. Hellfire be your resting place
ReplyDeleteWhat about ojuckwu the cause og biafra war? Nonsense
ReplyDeleteWhich type of genocide? It was after Ironsi was killed in the first coup and Gowon was sworn in that Ojukwu rose up to mastermind the civil war in the name of Biafran nationhood, in what way did Gowon commit genocide? Was it because he did not want the civil to escalate when the supply of food to the Biafran soldiers was stopped which eventually incapacitated them that made him commit genocide? Should he not have used the greater weapon (wisdom) which Ojukwu lacked and allow more people to be killed by Ojukwu? A man who put a stop to civil war you said committed genocide? I am sure you don't know the meaning of genocide. Ojukwu was the architect of the civil war killing innocent people until he was apprehended at Ore.
ReplyDeleteGowon came into power in 1967 that was 49 years ago, in 1975 he was overthrown and that was 41 years ago, 31 years ago was 1985 when Babangida came into power. Journalists do you mean Babangida? Gowon came to power 49 years ago and not 31 years ago. Please correct this next time. Thank you.
ReplyDeleteThanks for the notice. I wonder as well. I think the thought is that he( Gowon) was 31 years then
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