Former Nigerian military Head of State, General Yakubu Gowon, has revealed in his autobiography that he never aspired to lead the country, saying he was thrust into power following the July 1966 counter-coup.
The 92-year-old elder statesman made the disclosure in his memoir, My Life of Duty and Allegiance, launched in Abuja at the Bola Ahmed Tinubu International Conference Centre, with President Bola Tinubu, former leaders Ibrahim Babangida, Abdulsalami Abubakar, Goodluck Jonathan, and other dignitaries in attendance.
Gowon said he was a junior officer at the time and initially resisted the offer to become Head of State, proposing senior officers instead, but was rejected by coup participants who insisted he was the most acceptable leader.
He described the moment as overwhelming and said he turned to prayer before accepting responsibility to prevent further bloodshed and national collapse. His rise eventually led to the civil war era and a nine-year rule shaping Nigeria’s military history.