By Chinedu Echianu
President Bola Tinubu has described the autobiography of former Head of State, General Yakubu Gowon, as a vital national document that offers direction for Nigeria’s future, regional cooperation and the preservation of national unity.
Speaking on Tuesday at the public presentation of Gowon’s memoir, My Life of Duty and Allegiance, held at the Bola Ahmed Tinubu International Conference Centre in Abuja, the President said the book should be widely circulated across the country as part of Nigeria’s civic and historical inheritance.
President Tinubu, who was represented by Vice President Kashim Shettima, noted that reflections from leaders who witnessed defining moments in the nation’s history remain essential for strengthening democracy and promoting national cohesion.
A statement signed by Stanley Nkwocha, Senior Special Assistant to The President on Media & Communications (Office of The Vice President) quotes the President as saying: “A nation that misplaces its memory soon begins to quarrel with its own reflection. A society without memory becomes an orphan in time.”
He stressed the importance of preserving Nigeria’s historical memory to prevent the country from repeating past mistakes, warning that societies that fail to learn from history risk drifting into division and uncertainty.
Tinubu observed that Gowon’s memoir comes at a crucial time when Nigeria and the wider West African region are facing insecurity, economic challenges and social fragmentation.
The President commended Gowon’s reconciliation efforts after the Nigerian Civil War, especially his famous declaration of “No victor, no vanquished,” which he described as one of the defining principles that helped preserve Nigeria’s unity.
“The decisions of that period cannot be understood by those who examine them with the arrogance of comfort. Every generation that inherits peace must learn to speak gently about the choices made in the season of peril,” he said.
Tinubu also highlighted the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) as one of the enduring legacies of Gowon’s administration, noting that the scheme has continued to bridge ethnic, religious and cultural divides among Nigerians.
According to the President, Gowon’s life and leadership remain a strong response to divisive narratives that seek to reduce Nigeria’s diversity to regional or religious stereotypes.
“His story teaches us that the Nigerian project becomes stronger when a citizen refuses to become a weapon in the hands of sectarian entrepreneurs,” he stated.
On regional integration, Tinubu praised Gowon for his role in establishing the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), describing the bloc as one of Africa’s most important platforms for economic cooperation and collective security.
“We need cooperation against insecurity. We need trade that empowers our young people. We need diplomacy that prevents conflict from becoming contagion,” the President added.
Earlier, General Gowon said the memoir was written to tell his own story rather than pass judgment on historical events or individuals.
He noted that his personal journey became inseparable from Nigeria’s history and described the book as his modest contribution to documenting his years of service to the country.
The former Head of State also urged Nigerians not to lose hope in the country despite current challenges, insisting that Nigeria would continue to overcome its difficulties.
Former President Goodluck Jonathan, who chaired the occasion, described the memoir as a valuable reflection of Nigeria’s turbulent past and praised Gowon for his vision of a united and prosperous nation.
Jonathan said autobiographies such as My Life of Duty and Allegiance would help preserve institutional memory and deepen public understanding of key moments in Nigeria’s history.
In his review of the book, the Catholic Bishop of Sokoto Diocese, Bishop Matthew Kukah, described the memoir as a vivid account of Nigeria’s civil war era and Gowon’s personal journey through some of the country’s most difficult periods.
He noted that while autobiographies present individual perspectives, the book offers important insights into events during Gowon’s administration and Nigeria’s evolving history.
Also speaking, the Chief Executive Officer of Havilah Group, Akogun Lanre Adesuyi, described the publication of biographies and autobiographies as an important civic responsibility that helps preserve history and promote national development.
He said Gowon’s memoir would serve as a valuable historical resource for students and researchers interested in Nigeria’s political evolution.
Dignitaries at the event included former Head of State General Abdulsalami Abubakar, former First Lady Dame Patience Jonathan, Plateau State Governor Caleb Mutfwang, the Sultan of Sokoto, Muhammad Sa’ad Abubakar III, President of the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN), Archbishop Daniel Okoh, senior military officers, traditional rulers and religious leaders.
