North Must Ensure That Its Actions Are In The Best Interest Of Nigeria – Gowon Tells Shekarau Delegation

Former Head of State, Yakubu Gowon, has urged the people of the northern region and their leaders to always put the interests of Nigerians first.

According to him, having different opinions or positions on an issue should not hinder the North from working together with other regions for the good of the country.

Naija News reports Gowon made the submissions on Wednesday when he hosted a delegation from the League of Northern Democrats (LND) led by Ibrahim Shekarau at the Yakubu Gowon Centre in Abuja.

The former Nigerian leader stressed the need to foster unity and collaboration across Nigeria’s diverse regions.

“The north must ensure that its actions are in the best interest of Nigeria. My support for the creation of states was driven by the need to address fears of domination and to promote unity among all regions of the country,” he said.

Gowon also went down memory lane, submitting that all decisions he took during his time in office, including the creation of additional states, were in the interest of the entire country.

“At that time, the fear of disintegration was palpable across all regions. My decision to advocate for state creation was to mitigate these fears and ensure a balanced federation,” he said.

The elder statesman also explained he deliberately avoids partisan politics so as to focus on national service.

“My allegiance has always been to Nigeria. I believe in putting the country first and avoiding the distractions of partisan politics. Differences in opinion should never hinder us from working together for the nation’s good,” he told the LND delegation.

Gowon, while addressing the delegation, expressed concern over the current challenges facing northern Nigeria, including insecurity, disunity, and social issues like poverty and drug addiction and appreciated the members of the group for their efforts towards tackling the issues.

“The activities of groups such as the Lukurawa from Mali have only compounded our problems. However, I am encouraged by your efforts to address these issues and promote unity in the north and across Nigeria.”

Gowon assured that LND of his support as long as their activities are targeted at making Nigeria better.

“Whatever you do, prioritize the collective good of Nigeria. Collaboration among states is essential, but it should never undermine the nation’s unity. Your efforts give me hope for Nigeria’s future, and I remain at your service,” he said.

The Chairman of the League of Northern Democrats, Ibrahim Shekarau, in his remarks, praised Gowon’s leadership qualities.

Shekarau explained that the LND is not a political party, but was established to address critical challenges facing the north and to reposition it as a leader in political, economic, and cultural spheres within Nigeria.

He said: “LND is not a political party but a platform for patriots to find collaborative solutions to the issues of disunity, poverty, insecurity, and societal value erosion.”