I Was Criticized During The Civil War But I Succeeded – Gowon Tells Tinubu

Former Head of State, General Yakubu Gowon (rtd) has told President Bola Tinubu not to be worried about the criticisms of Nigerians on his performance since he assumed office in May 2023.

Gowon said this while addressing newsmen after he visited President Tinubu at the State House in Abuja on Wednesday.

He said that as a former leader of the country, he also faced the same situation when he started the Civil War in 1967, which many Nigerians thought would destroy the country but his government succeeded.

Gowon also begged Nigerians to give President Tinubu more time to solve the socioeconomic problems in the country.

He said, “I was telling him that there’s no Nigerian leader that can get there, that will not get all of these; all that is being said about him.

“But certainly, there is no doubt about all what one has heard and seen from various media. I think the government is trying its best to deal with the various problems of the country.

“But with Nigerians, don’t you worry you will get criticised, but people who get there know better than you know. I think all one can say to Nigerians is that they have to give the President time to get things really done and it is too early to sort of say perfect result will be achieved. That is my opinion.

“At least, if I remembered, I was told that I was too slow, fighting the war and that probably Nigeria would not make it and that we should seek for discussion. Well, did we do it or not? They probably did not know the problem there on the ground there.

“I came to discuss various matters, especially the issue of the ECOWAS problem at the moment which I think needs to be resolved. And being the surviving leader, or founding fathers of the ECOWAS, I think we had to discuss some of his plans in order to see what can be done to bring the matter under control.

“So, this is what has brought me here and we had a very interesting meeting and I’m sure some of you have read report that I refused to attend ECOWAS conference, isn’t it? Is it you that did that report? Who did that? You know trying to give that impression that it was me who was probably trying to sort of sabotage ECOWAS.

“No, that is not the case. I think there was a miscommunication but then it gave the opportunity for Mr President to call me so that we can discuss what I was to do.”

“So that ECOWAS meeting was part of the discussion we had today. So that has been done and solved and I hope that we can probably be able to have that message done later on today at ECOWAS headquarters probably by 5pm they will let you know,” he added.