Bola Tinubu, in a statement
on Friday night, made available by his Media Office in Lagos, described Gowon
as a statesman who contributed immensely to nation-building.
All Progressives Congress
Chieftain, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, has congratulated former Head of State, Gen.
Yakubu Gowon, as he turns 85 on Saturday.
Gowon served as military
Head of State of Nigeria from 1966-1975.
Tinubu said: “I
congratulate former Head of State, General Yakubu Gowon, as he clocks 85 on
October 19, 2019.
” He is a statesman and
national icon who contributed enormously to Nigeria’s unity and development.
“Nigeria owes General Gowon
a debt of gratitude for his efforts at resolving ethnic tensions that
threatened to fatally divide the country and for his continued and untiring
efforts at building one Nigeria.
“It’s on record that after
the civil war, General Gowon propounded the ‘No Victor, No Vanquished’ policy
aimed at bringing about national reconciliation, which thrives on his personal
influence. ”
Tinubu said that Gowon had
not looked back since then, and not relented in his efforts geared towards
forging national integration, even at advanced age.
“General Gowon has
continued with the task of engendering peace and unity in the land with the
‘Nigeria Prays’ project.
“The General also laid the
foundation for the decentralisation of the country with the creation of
additional states and the division of Nigeria into 12 states.
“General Gowon was also one
of the leaders who worked assiduously towards the formation of the Economic
Community of West African States (ECOWAS), to drive integration in the
sub-region.
“I pray that God grant him
many more years, good health and vitality to continue to contribute to
nation-building and development, and be a shining example to the younger
generation that he has always been,” he said
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