Former Head of State, Gen. Yakubu Gowon, says his long-awaited autobiography was written to clarify the controversial decisions taken during the Nigerian Civil War and other defining moments of his administration, insisting the book is not intended to reopen old national wounds.
The 881-page memoir, scheduled for public presentation on May 19 at the Bola Ahmed Tinubu International Conference Centre in Abuja, offers Gowon’s personal account of events that shaped Nigeria between 1966 and 1975, including the civil war that claimed millions of lives.
President Bola Tinubu is expected at the event as Special Guest of Honour and will be represented by Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Senator George Akume, while former Defence Minister and ex-Chief of Army Staff, Gen. Theophilus Danjuma, will formally unveil the book.
The event is expected to attract top political figures, military veterans, diplomats, and senior government officials from across the country.
In remarks released ahead of the unveiling, Gowon said the autobiography became necessary because many accounts of the civil war and the turbulent years of his government had been written without adequately reflecting his own perspective as Nigeria’s leader during the crisis.
“The autobiography became necessary because many accounts of the civil war era had been written from different perspectives over the years without fully reflecting my own reasoning as Nigeria’s leader at the time,” Gowon said.
“By choosing to write, I took a conscious decision not to reopen old wounds but to clarify my thinking on policies and plans at a period often narrated by others.
“My story is one of conviction evaluated by circumstances at the crossroads of expectations and reality.”
According to a statement issued by Yomi Odunuga, Special Adviser on Media and Publicity to the SGF, the autobiography chronicles Gowon’s early life, rise to power, and reflections on key moments in Nigeria’s political history, especially the 1967–1970 civil war.
The book was published by Havilah Group, whose Group Chief Executive Officer, Lanre Adesuyi, described the project as a major contribution to Nigeria’s historical documentation and national discourse.
“We consider this project a significant milestone in our journey, one that reflects our commitment to preserving history, promoting thought leadership, and contributing meaningfully to national discourse,” Adesuyi said.
Born in 1934, Gowon became Nigeria’s Head of State on August 1, 1966, following a period of political instability and military coups. He ruled for nine years before he was overthrown in 1975.
After leaving office, Gowon obtained a PhD in Political Science from the University of Warwick in 1984 and later focused on peacebuilding, spiritual advocacy, and public health campaigns.
Through the Yakubu Gowon Centre and the “Nigeria Prays” movement, the former military leader has championed initiatives against diseases such as guinea worm, HIV/AIDS, tuberculosis, and malaria, while also serving as National Goodwill Ambassador for the control of viral hepatitis in Nigeria.