During My Time In Power Decisions Were Made In The Interest Of The People – Gowon

A former Head of State, Gen. Yakubu Gowon (retd), has urged Nigerians to think beyond regional interests and focus on the country as a whole.

He explained that it is imperative to take the best from all ideologies and apply it for the greater good.

The 90-year old elder statesman said this on Wednesday in Abuja when he received the League of Northern Democrats (LND), led by a former Kano State governor and Sardaunan Kano, Senator Ibrahim Shekarau.

He explained that he refused to align with any of the nation’s political parties or joined partisan politics because he is more focused on Nigeria as a whole.

Naija News reports that Gen. Gowon ruled Nigeria as a military leader for nine years before being ousted by the Gen. Ibrahim Babangida military led junta.

He has since then refused to be associated with the nation’s multi-party democracy, unlike some of the nation’s military leaders, who were active in politics.

“I encourage others to think beyond regional interests and focus on Nigeria as a whole. Differences in opinion are natural, but they should never prevent us from working together to resolve issues for the good of the country.

“I’ve always believed in taking the best from all ideologies, be it socialism, capitalism, or others, and applying them for the greater good. During my time in government, we valued diverse perspectives, but decisions were always made in the interest of the people and the nation,” Gowon said.

He expressed hope that the guests’ mission was not just about returning to the old thinking where the north prioritises the north, the west prioritises the west, and the east prioritises the east, until the Mid-West emerged to think for itself.