Former Nigerian Head of State, Yakubu Gowon, has said that the Nigerian Civil War was not driven by hostility or ethnic resentment but was a difficult decision aimed at safeguarding the nation’s unity.
Gowon spoke during the 5th Convention of the Christian Men’s Fellowship (CMF), held at St. Matthew’s Anglican Church in Maitama yesterday in Abuja.
The 91-year-old statesman reflected on the burdens of leadership during one of Nigeria’s darkest periods.
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The event also saw him honoured with a Lifetime Integrity and Achievement Award.
“The civil war was one of the hardest phases of my life. I didn’t choose it, but I was placed in that position and had to act to prevent the country from falling apart,” Gowon said.
“It was never about hate. There was always love and mutual respect among our people.”
Recalling personal losses from the conflict, Gowon mourned the death of his friend, Major Arthur Unegbe, for whom he served as best man, noting the human toll the war took on both leaders and citizens.
He credited prayer and moral conviction as guiding principles throughout his time in office and beyond.
“Everything I do is through prayer,” he said. “I ask God for the wisdom to act justly, in line with His will and in love for the nation. At the end of it all, we said, ‘No victor, no vanquished.’”
Gowon commended Nigeria’s progress since the end of the war and urged citizens to continue striving for national harmony.
“I ask for your prayers—for this country to remain united, regardless of our religious differences, whether Christian, Muslim, or otherwise.”
Alongside Gowon, two other individuals were recognised for their contributions to the Church and society.
The Primate of the Church of Nigeria (Anglican Communion), Archbishop Henry Ndukuba, who presided over the ceremony, encouraged Christian men to embrace honour, integrity, and moral courage.
“The Lord is still seeking men of principle and truth,” the Archbishop declared, urging members to live out the ‘four Hs’—heart, head, habit, and humility.
Angela Ndukuba, President of the Mothers’ Union and Women’s Guild, praised the honourees as men who have remained steadfast in faith despite a changing moral climate.
“They have stood firm in service to God and the Church, even in old age,” she said.
In a message delivered on behalf of former President Goodluck Jonathan, Prof John-Kennedy Opara, former Executive Secretary of the Nigerian Christian Pilgrims Commission, hailed the awardees as vessels used by God to uplift the nation.
“These men have impacted lives positively and demonstrated integrity throughout their journeys,” Opara stated, quoting Psalm 25:14:
“The secret of the Lord is with those who fear Him, and He will show them His covenant.”
Professor Suleiman Bogoro, former Executive Secretary of TETFund, also paid tribute to Gowon, describing him as a man of rare integrity who declined to enrich himself during Nigeria’s oil boom.
“He left office without building a personal residence—something that set him apart from many of his contemporaries,” Bogoro said.
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The convention, which drew participants from across the Abuja Diocese and beyond, centred on the theme: ‘Men of Honour: Living with Integrity in a Culture of Deceit,’ based on Psalm 15:1–5.
The guest speaker was the Bishop of Ilesa, Rt Rev Professor Dapo Asaju, who challenged attendees to embody godly character in a morally compromised world.
