Former Nigerian Head of State, General Yakubu Gowon on Wednesday dwelt on the historical considerations that led to his support for state creation in Nigeria, saying that it was to ease the fear of the northern region’s dominance given its size and population.
In a speech delivered during a courtesy visit by the League of Northern Democrats (LND) in Abuja, he reflected on his leadership era and discussed the group’s vision for northern Nigeria.
Gowon, who governed Nigeria during a tumultuous period that included the Civil War, emphasised that the decision to advocate for state creation was rooted in the need to preserve national unity and allay fears of domination by the northern region.
“The north’s size and population created significant anxiety among southern regions,” Gowon noted. “These fears, if left unaddressed, could have led to the fragmentation of Nigeria.”
He recounted the widespread secessionist sentiments of the era, not only in the East but also in the West and even parts of the North.
“At one point, people believed the north wanted to secede, just as similar claims were made about the east and the west,” he said.
