Gowon: Nigeria is better off with Igbos

Former Nigerian dictator, Yakubu Gowon, has said Nigeria is better off with Igbos. Gowon disclosed this on Saturday while delivering a speech at the burial service for Chinyere Asika, wife of the former Sole Administrator of East Central State. Gowon’s declaration was borne out of a deep appreciation of the commitment and sacrifice of the deceased and her husband, Ajie... Read More

The News Blog

igbos, nigeria, Yakubu Gowon

July 7, 2015

“You cannot solve Nigeria’s problem in one day” | Gowon asks Nigerians to be patient with PMB

Former head of state Yakubu Gowon has urged Nigerians to be patient with the Buhari administration following recent criticisms. According to Nigerian Tribune, Gowon said in an interview on Sunday that pushing the leadership could result in haphazard and wrong actions. He said, “Give him a chance. You cannot solve any problem within two or... Read More

The News Blog

Buhari, nigeria, Yakubu Gowon

March 15, 2015

Simon Kolawole: ‘Petropathetic’ Syndrome – That’s what Nigeria has been suffering from

by Simon Kolawole Has anything changed today? Have we learnt any lessons? Have we changed our ways? I am sad to report that the petropathetic syndrome has even worsened. You have probably checked your dictionary and could not find the word “petropathetic” anywhere inside. I’ll be honest with you: I made it up. But “petropathetic”... Read More

Attahiru Jega, Goodlcuk Jonathan, Muhammadu Buhari, nigeria, Petroleum, petropathetic syndrome, Politics, PVC, simon kolawole, Yakubu Gowon, Yemi Osinbajo

March 12, 2015

Opinion: Why is Obasanjo so different from the rest?

by John Akpaide Does our home-bred Double-O-Seven believe in anything outside his own Omnipotence: Could he possibly have mistaken the Christian exhortation –‘Watch and Pray’ for his private inclination to ‘Watch and Prey’?” The most paradoxical aspect of these weird presidential campaigns, which are much more about emotions than issues, is that Chief Olusegun Obasanjo,... Read More

Abdulsalami Abubakar, olusegun obasanjo, Yakubu Gowon

December 13, 2014

.@MaxSiollun: Biafra – A lesson for the world in making peace?

by Max Siollun Nigerians are an opinionated and self-critical bunch. Dinner and beer parlour conversations among Nigerians almost inevitably turn to the country’s underwhelming accomplishments and disastrous mismanagement. Self-flagellation is a national obsession. Despite our penchant for mvoicing our opinion when it comes to national failures, we suddenly become reticent when it comes to recognizing... Read More

biafra, max siollun, Odumegwu Ojukwu, opinion, Yakubu Gowon, ynaija

October 14, 2014

Rebuilding the nation: Lessons from other lands || This is the Babatunde Fashola speech everyone is talking about

by Babatunde Raji Fashola They say lightning does not strike in the same place twice. For the sake of all of us, I sincerely hope that this saying holds true for Nigerians. Whilst thanking my hosts, the Leadership newspaper, for inviting me to speak at this event to celebrate General Yakubu Gowon, a patriot... Read More

boko haram, Goodluck Jonathan, Gorgia, Insecurity, lagos, Leadership Newspapers, nigeria, Politics, Sam Nda-Isaiah, Yakubu Gowon

July 17, 2014

#InCaseYouMissedIt: Jonathan wants $1billion to tackle Boko Haram

by Kolapo Olapoju President Goodluck Jonathan says he needs at least $1 billion to fight the Islamic terrorist sect, Boko Haram. Jonathan sent a letter to the National Assembly on Wednesday, July 16, requesting that the lawmakers urgently approve an external loan of $1 billion to be used for acquiring equipment and to facilitate training... Read More

abduction, adams oshiomole, boko haram, Borno, Chibo, Godswill Akpabio, Goodluck Jonathan, Ibrahim Babangida, national assembly, olusegun obasanjo, shehu shagari, Yakubu Gowon

July 9, 2014

Kidnapped Chibok schoolgirls will be home soon – FG

by Kolapo Olapoju Eighty five days after their daring kidnap, the Council of State, made up of former Heads of State have promised Nigerians that the abducted girls from Government Girls’ Secondary School, Chibok, would be released soon. The girls who were taken from their school on April 14 by members of Islamic terrorist organization,... Read More

abduction, adams oshiomole, boko haram, Borno, Chibo, Godswill Akpabio, Goodluck Jonathan, Ibrahim Babangida, olusegun obasanjo, shehu shagari, Yakubu Gowon

March 20, 2014

Jonathan is the most incompetent minority to rule Nigeria – APC

by Akan Ido The All Progressives Congress (APC) has told the PDP that President Goodluck Jonathan is not the first minority to rule Nigeria and will not be the last, hence the frequent resort to his minority ethnicity is an attempt to cover up his poor leadership.In a statement issued in Ibadan on Thursday by its Interim... Read More

APC, boko haram, Goodluck Jonathan, nigeria, part, PDP, Yakubu Gowon

January 6, 2014

Why Obasanjo is upset with Jonathan – Edwin Clark reveals in 10-page open letter

by Oke Efagene Elder statesman and former Minister of Information, Edwin Clark, has also joined the league of open letter writing, as he has also penned his open letter to former President, Olusegun Obasanjo, over his 18-page letter to President Goodluck Jonathan. Clark, in his 10-page letter to Obasanjo, titled: ‘Let the truth be told before it... Read More

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September 5, 2013

Alkasim Abdulkadir: After Maibasira, it’s time to have a real Youth Minister (Y! FrontPage)

by Alkasim Abdulkadir With the increasing unemployment and frustration in the country, young people who make up 70 percent of Nigeria’s population need not only participate actively in politics, but must also be policy drivers…. I was anchoring an event at the Yaradua Centre earlier in the year, the theme of the event bordered on youth... Read More

Alkasim Abdulkadir, David Mark, Maibasira, president, Y! Frontpage, Yakubu Gowon, youth minister

August 13, 2013

Femi Fani-Kayode: A word for those who call me a tribalist

by Femi Fani-Kayode When the Igbo, or anyone else, find a real champion that can cross swords with me and give me a good run for my money someone should please let me know. I am itching for a real debate with a worthy adversary on this issue. Those that call me a tribalist are... Read More

Chief S.L Akintola, Femi Fani-Kayode, Festus Okotie-Eboh, hausa, nigeria, Obafemi Awolowo, olusegun obasanjo, Rejoinder, tribalist, Yakubu Gowon, Yoruba

August 6, 2013

Opinion: There is darkness looming over northern Nigeria

by Perry Brimah And with the lack of northern role models, the scarcity of northern activists and truthful historians, the famine of northern writers, the bankruptcy of true religious leaders and the predominance only of a wicked and selfish elite, the north is left with living a lie and having its history and future written... Read More

anambra, Bayelsa, boko haram, CBN, history, Obasanjo, opinion, Perry Brimah, PTF, Shekau, Yakubu Gowon, ynaija

April 29, 2013

Debo Adejugbe: There will be a country – Achebe’s last prophecy (Y! Politico)

by Debo Adejugbe Corruption is now a staple in our homes. Tribalism -acknowledged or not- is now a seam in our national fabric. I finally read Chinua Achebe’s “There Was a Country” and I have to admit it really is a work of art. The master storyteller, as we have come to know Achebe, did... Read More

Anthony Enahoro, chinua achebe, Christopher Okigbo, Debo Adejugbe, Emeka Ojukwu, Obafemi Awolowo, Theophilus Danjuma, Y! Politico, Yakubu Gowon

April 8, 2013

Opinion: Ending the poverty of aspiration in Nigeria

by Omozuwa Gabriel Osamwonyi A society that cannot awaken the creative imagination of succeeding generations and create enabling environments for them to attain stardom in their chosen endeavours, is at the cusp of social and cultural collapse. Nigeria is poor. We are poor in many ways: Materially, ethically and so forth. Material poverty is... Read More

development, MDGs, olympics, Omozuwa Gabriel Osamwonyi, Yakubu Gowon

April 1, 2013

‘NEPA’ strikes at church while President Jonathan gave an Easter message in Lagos

by Rachel Ogbu An Easter service at Our Saviour’s Church (Anglican Communion) in Lagos was interrupted following a power outage yesterday during President Goodluck Jonathan’s speech leaving him to use a battery-powered microphone. The incident was both embarrassing and funny as the President stood cut off about six minutes into his speech, he made a... Read More

power outage, President Goodluck Jonathan, Yakubu Gowon

December 20, 2012

“I was supposed to fly with Azazi, Yakowa” – Gowon (is there anybody who wasn’t?)

by Rachel Ogbu Former Head of State Gen. Yakubu Gowon was supposed to be in the helicopter that crashed and killed the Kaduna state governor, Governor Patrick Yakowa and ex-National Security Adviser, Andrew Azazi in Bayelsa State on Saturday. Yesterday, Wednesday December 19, Gowon recounted how he missed the flight that could have ended his... Read More

Andrew Azazi, helicopter crash, Navy helicopter, patrick yakowa, Yakubu Gowon

December 10, 2012

Tolu Ogunlesi: May things continue to fall apart in Nigeria (YNaija FrontPage)

They buy jets and fund projects from the sweat of the bottom-billion, who know that one day Jehovah Lojiji, the God of Suddenly, will make an Expressway where bushpaths used to be. Calm down, it’s not a curse. It’s a prayer. A prayer for the good of the country that we all love dearly but... Read More

Daboh, Emeka Ojukwu, Goodluck Jonathan, olusegun obasanjo, Rotimi Amaechi, Tarka, tolu ogunlesi, Yakubu Gowon, YNaija Frontpage

December 10, 2012

Opinion: Biafra and the Up-NEPA generation

by Hounge We should learn to tolerate each other and stand firm as one, just like we did during Occupy Nigeria. A crisis created by the ego trip of men must not dictate relations of today. As a Nigerian, I believe you know a little about Biafra, however lopsided the story is, you must have... Read More

chinua achebe, Emeka Ojukwu, igbo, Nigerian Civil War, Obafemi Awolowo, up Nepa, Yakubu Gowon, Yoruba

December 9, 2012

Igbos are their own enemies – Ayo Adebanjo

A close associate of late Chief Obafemi Awolowo, Chief Ayo Adebanjo in his interview with ALLWELL OKPI, refutes the claims of Chinua Achebe in his recent memoir. He speaks of Nigerian politics before and after the civil war and the relationship between the Yoruba and Igbo. Achebe’s ‘There was a country,’ accused late Chief Obafemi... Read More

Ayo Adebanjo, chinua achebe, Emeka Ojukwu, igbo, Nigerian Civil War, Obafemi Awolowo, Yakubu Gowon, Yoruba

November 27, 2012

Adewale Sogunro reviews Chinua Achebe’s ‘There was a country’

by Adewale Sogunro I was hoping that he would look beyond the ethnic divisions, while rendering language to heal the wounds between ethnic groups in Nigeria from the Biafra war. Upon hearing the public uproar sparked by Chinua Achebe’s book in various social circles, I immediately saw it befitting for me to purchase and reserve... Read More

‘There Was a Country’, biafra, chinua achebe, civil war, Emeka Ojukwu, Nnamdi Azikiwe, Obafemi Awolowo, olusegun obasanjo, Yakubu Gowon

November 23, 2012

“Highly irresponsible”: Gowon lets off on Obasanjo over the latter’s criticism of Jonathan

by Isi Esene Weeks after verbally slamming the renowned writer, Chinua Achebe, over his account of events during the Nigerian Civil War, former president and founder of the Nigeria Prays Initiative, Gen. Yakubu Gowon (rtd.), has fired another shot at former President Olusegun Obasanjo. Gowon described as “highly irresponsible” Obasanjo’s criticism of President Jonathan’s handling... Read More

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November 17, 2012

Ken Wiwa reviews Chinua Achebe’s ‘There was a country’

by Ken Wiwa “…I had to be careful about the way I handled someone else’s words or opinions… Even when there was strong disagreement, one had to remember to be discordant with respect.” Early in this long-awaited memoir of the Nigerian Civil War, Chinua Achebe, Nigeria’s most famous and respected writer, recalls a conversation between... Read More

‘There Was a Country’, chinua achebe, civil war, Emeka Ojukwu, Goodluck Jonathan, igbo, Ken Saro-Wiwa, nigeria, Obafemi Awolowo, T.C Okoli, Yakubu Gowon

November 4, 2012

Boko Haram ceasefire: Gowon urges Buhari to take mediator offer

by Isi Esene Several prominent Nigerians have called on former military president of the country, Muhammad Buhari, not to ignore the call of the militant Islamic sect, Boko Haram, to act as a mediator in proposed talks between it and the Federal Government. The group had on Thursday reportedly named “trusted Nigerians” who it believes... Read More

boko haram, ceasefire, Goodluck Jonathan, Jerry Gana, Muhammad Buhari, nigeria, terrorism, Yakubu Gowon

November 4, 2012

Simon Kolawole: Indeed, there was a starved country

Gowon and Awolowo could have done much more to help the dying and diseased civilians. And, clearly, Ojukwu fatally erred by refusing to accept the conditions for the delivery of relief materials. There has been some mayhem over Professor Chinua Achebe’s civil war memoir, There Was a Country: A Personal History of Biafra. Achebe accused... Read More

Biafran War, blockade, chinua achebe, Chukwuemeka Ojukwu, nigeria, Obafemi Awolowo, simon kolawole, starvation, Yakubu Gowon

October 31, 2012

Achebe’s book is propaganda, I did not starve Igbos to death – Gowon keeps talking

by Isi Esene Nigeria’s war-time military president, Yakubu Gowon, has been unequivocal in his reaction to the book titled, ‘There was a country,’ published by renowned author, Chinua Achebe. In the book, which detailed his experience during the Nigerian civil war, Achebe had accused Gowon and Obafemi Awolowo of using hunger as a weapon of... Read More

biafra, chinua achebe, civil war, memoirs, Obafemi Awolowo, Yakubu Gowon

October 28, 2012

Gowon on Achebe, “He is talking from a position of ignorance”

by Isi Esene Nigeria’s Civil War president, Gen. Yakubu Gowon (rtd.), has hit renowned writer, Chinua Achebe, very hard over the content of his recently released book on the Nigerian Civil War saying Achebe was writing from a position of ignorance. The ex-president reportedly said this yesterday while speaking to newsmen on a visit to... Read More

author, chinua achebe, civil war, Emeka Ojukwu, igbo, nigeria, Yakubu Gowon

October 26, 2012

Opinion: Prayer will not change Nigeria

by Emeka Oparah Meanwhile, some European countries, where less than 15% of the population recognise the existence of any gods and never bother to go to any place of worship, be it Sunday or Friday, are doing good, showing love and prospering as a people. In their famously controversial book, The Communist Manifesto, Karl Marx... Read More

Church, europe, Mohammed Buhari, nigeria, prayer, Religion, Yakubu Gowon

October 5, 2012

Firestorm: Yoruba leaders blast Achebe for “attacking” Awolowo

by Stanley Azuakola It was bound to happen. You don’t speak ill of one of the greatest Yorubas of all time and not expect a backlash. Not even if you are a legendary world icon like Prof. Chinua Achebe. The literary giant recently released his civil war memoir titled There was a Country last week, in... Read More

‘There Was a Country’, Ayo Opadokun, biafra, chinua achebe, genocide, Obafemi Awolowo, Yakubu Gowon

May 23, 2012

“Rogues, armed robbers are in the assembly,” Obasanjo blasts legislature

by Stanley Azuakola When ex-president Olusegun Obasanjo is in the mood to talk, there is simply no stopping him. He was in such a mood on Tuesday at the 4th Annual Conference of the Academy for Entrepreneurial Studies (AES) titled: “Strong systems: Necessity for building a virile nation”. In his speech at the event, Obasanjo mentioned... Read More

babatunde Fashola, Ernest Shonekan, olusegun obasanjo, Yakubu Gowon