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Yakubu Gowon | |
|---|---|
 | |
| 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 former Head of State and statesman who led the Federal military government war efforts during the Nigerian Civil War.[2]
Gowon delivered the famous "no victor, no vanquished" speech at the war's end to promote healing and reconciliation.[3] The Nigerian Civil War is listed as one of the deadliest in modern history, with some accusing Gowon of crimes against humanity and genocide.[4] Gowon has maintained that he committed no wrongdoing during the war and that his leadership saved the country.[5]
An Anglican Christian[6] from a minority Ngas ethnic group of Northern Nigeria, Gowon is a Nigerian nationalist,[7] and a believer in the unity and oneness of Nigeria.[8] 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.[9]
- ^ "General Yakubu 'Jack' Gowon at 85". The Guardian. 1 November 2019. Retrieved 29 August 2024.
- ^ Cite error: The named reference
Britannicawas invoked but never defined (see the help page). - ^ "Did we really have no victor, no vanquished?". Business Day. 7 July 2020. Retrieved 3 July 2024.
- ^ 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) - ^ Wahab, Bayo (18 January 2020). "Gowon speaks on civil war, says he didn't commit any crime". Pulse. Retrieved 14 March 2021.
- ^ "Archbishop welcomes Nigeria's General Yakubu Gowon to Lambeth Palace". The Archbishop of Canterbury. 16 September 2016. Retrieved 29 August 2024.
- ^ "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". The Punch. 23 October 2018. Retrieved 26 March 2021.
- ^ "Yakubu Gowon – Nigeria's Prodigious War General". Africa 360 Degrees. Archived from the original on 5 June 2020. Retrieved 26 May 2020.