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Yakubu Gowon | |
|---|---|
.jpg) Gowon in 2007 | |
| 3rd Head of State of Nigeria | |
| In office 1 August 1966 – 29 July 1975 | |
| Chief of Staff | J. E. A. Wey |
| Preceded by | Johnson Aguiyi-Ironsi |
| Succeeded by | Murtala Mohammed |
| Chairperson of the Organisation of African Unity | |
| In office 27 May 1973 – 12 June 1974 | |
| Preceded by | Hassan II |
| Succeeded by | Siad Barre |
| Federal Commissioner of Defence | |
| In office 1966–1975 | |
| Preceded by | Inuwa Wada |
| Succeeded by | Illiya Bisalla |
| Federal Commissioner for External Affairs | |
| In office 1966–1967 | |
| Preceded by | Nuhu Bamalli |
| Succeeded by | Arikpo Okoi |
| Chief of Army Staff | |
| In office 16 January 1966 – 29 July 1966 | |
| Preceded by | Johnson Aguiyi-Ironsi |
| Succeeded by | Joseph Akahan |
| Personal details | |
| Born | 19 October 1934 Kanke, Northern Region, British Nigeria (now Kanke, Plateau, Nigeria) |
| Spouse | |
| Alma mater | |
| Occupation |
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| Nickname | "Jack" |
| Military service | |
| Allegiance |  Nigeria |
| Branch/service |  Nigerian Army |
| Years of service | 1954–1975 |
| Rank |  General |
| Battles/wars | Congo Crisis Nigerian Civil War |
Yakubu Dan-Yumma "Jack" Gowon[1] GCFR (born 19 October 1934) is a Nigerian general and statesman who led the Federal military government war efforts during the Nigerian Civil War. He served in this role as military leader and as head of state of Nigeria.[2]
Gowon delivered the famous "no victor, no vanquished" speech at the war's end to promote healing and reconciliation. The Nigerian Civil War is listed as one of the deadliest in modern history, with some accusing Gowon of crimes against humanity and genocide.[3] Gowon maintains that he committed no wrongdoing during the war and that his leadership saved the country.[4]
An Anglican Christian[5] from a minority Ngas family of Northern Nigeria, Gowon is a Nigerian nationalist,[6] and a believer in the unity and oneness of Nigeria.[7] Gowon's rise to power followed the July 1966 counter-coup and cemented military rule in Nigeria. Consequently, Gowon served for the longest continuous period as head of state of Nigeria, ruling for almost nine years until his overthrow in the coup d'état of 1975 by Brigadier Murtala Mohammed.[8]
- ^ "General Yakubu 'Jack' Gowon at 85". guardian.ng. November 2019. Retrieved 14 March 2021.
- ^ Cite error: The named reference
Britannicawas invoked but never defined (see the help page). - ^ 247ureports.com (22 September 2013). "Crimes Against Humanity: Why Yakubu Gowon And Accomplices Should Face Trial". News Ghana. Retrieved 14 March 2021.
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link) - ^ "Gowon speaks on civil war, says he didn't commit any crime". Pulse Nigeria. 18 January 2020. Retrieved 14 March 2021.
- ^ "Archbishop welcomes Nigeria's General Yakubu Gowon to Lambeth Palace". The Archbishop of Canterbury. Retrieved 8 April 2021.
- ^ "The National Youth Service Corps: A Bridge to Nationalism in Nigeria". Council on Foreign Relations. Retrieved 8 April 2021.
- ^ "Nigeria's unity, not negotiable, says Gowon". Punch Newspapers. 23 October 2018. Retrieved 26 March 2021.
- ^ "Yakubu Gowon – Nigeria's Prodigious War General". Africa 360 Degrees | African Economics | Business | and Political affairs 360 degrees coverage | Independent | Analysis | Insight | africa360degrees.com. Archived from the original on 5 June 2020. Retrieved 26 May 2020.
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