November 28th, 2024
General Yakubu Gowon (retd), the former Head of state and elder statesman, has stated the reasons why he spareheaded the creation of states in Nigeria.
Gowon said this when a delegation of the Senator Ibrahim Shekarau-led League of Northern Democrats, LND, visited him yesterday at the Yakubu Gowon Centre, in Abuja.
Gowon said, “May I thank you sincerely, as a former governor and now the chairman-am I correct?-of the League of Northern Democrats. I hope you’re not suggesting that Baba Tafawa Balewa was not both a northern and a national democrat.
“I firmly believe, as I have always said, that the responsibility of maintaining Nigeria’s true democracy rests on the north, and Baba Tafawa Balewa embodied this ideal.
“Let me also say that I hope your visit is 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, of course, the Mid-West emerged to think for itself.
“My position has always been that whatever the north does must serve the greater interest of Nigeria.
“From your speech, I understand that this is your intention-to ensure the north, in its current state, focuses on national unity.
“It was for this reason that I supported the creation of multiple states, to prevent any one region from becoming too powerful and threatening the country’s unity.
“This perspective was born out of extensive discussions with political leaders, chiefs, and various groups.
“The north had to make sacrifices to address fears of domination by one region, especially given the size and population of the north.
”At that time, there was considerable anxiety from the south about the north’s dominance, which nearly led to calls for secession from all regions-the west, the east, and even the north.
“This deeply worried me. I was born in Nigeria, raised in Nigeria, and served a profession that represented the country’s collective interest.
“My decision to advocate for state creation stemmed from a desire to prevent the fragmentation of our nation.
“Even now, I recall that at one point, people believed the north wanted to secede, just as similar claims were made about the east and the west. This fear of disintegration weighed heavily on me. If we had allowed it, what would we call ourselves today? We might have ended up with separate nations-whether Yoruba, Igbo, Hausa, or otherwise. I hesitate to say more, as I might risk offending someone here.”