Gowon urges Nigerians to defend the unity of the country

An ex-Nigerian military head of state, Rtd. Gen. Yakubu Gowon has called on Nigerians to defend at all cost the unity of the country.

The former military leader made the call in a presentation delivered at an event tagged: Sixty Nation Builders at Sixty” in Abuja on Friday.

Gowon who was the chairman of the occasion was not physically present but joined the conversation Online.

Addressing the gathering, the revered elder statesman enjoined Nigerians to close ranks and resist agents of destabilization or any contraption including talks of restructuring targeted against the unity of the country.

Gowon said he is satisfied with the success Nigeria has achieved in the last sixty years and called on citizens to continue to work and live together in harmony for the great country they desire.

The retired military tactician said he has picked a lot of lessons from the civil war more than half a century ago that threatened the country’s unity when he was head of state.

He called on the younger generation sixty of whom were being honoured for their exemplary achievements in the task of nation building to reflect on it as well and learn to love their country.

Gowon it could be recalled was overthrown in a coup in 1975, but has since been active as an elder statesman promoting peace and unity.

The organisers explained that the event was not only to acknowledge and honour sixty nation builders but also to change the mindset of Nigerians from pessimism to optimism.