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Tag: Gowon

  • Promote national unity, patriotism, Gowon tells filmmakers

    Promote national unity, patriotism, Gowon tells filmmakers

    Former Head of State, Gen.Yakubu Gowon, has urged filmmakers and other stakeholders in the movie industry to use their works to promote national unity and patriotism.

    According to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), Gen Gowon made the call yesterday in his address as the Chairman of the Annual Film Lecture of the 2017 ZUMA Film Festival (ZUFF) holding in Abuja.

    The theme for this year’s edition is “Sustaining Socio-Cultural and Political Integration in Nigeria: The Film Perspective.”

    According to the retired General, the Nigerian motion picture industry is a veritable tool that can be used to drive nationalism, build values of love, peace and tolerance among.

    “Film should and must be used to sustain our conversations on issues that bind us together. Motion picture practitioners must sustain the current narratives with positive images and stories that cast Nigeria in good light and reinforce tendencies that promote our diverse cultures, economies, languages and dialects.

    “I believe that the industry has the power to encourage citizens to see themselves as friends of Nigeria, and friends are always loyal to one another, “he urged.

    Gowon, however, frowned at the practice of using films to put Nigeria and Nigerians in bad light, which was an increasing trend among many filmmakers in recent times.

    He lamented that such negative images often reinforce negative tendencies in people, and therefore urged film stakeholders to use their works as tools for positive social mobilization of citizens for national integration.

    “Through film, the vision of  a nation is articulated, opinions are shaped and characters are moulded. There are situations in which creative individuals have lent their talents to the propagation of hate and other divisive tendencies that threatened the unity of our nation.

    “Owing to the popularity of these people, ordinary citizens on the street have now tended to believe that the short term benefits of evil are to be preferred to the long term good of  society.”

    Gowon, therefore, urged relevant stakeholders to use films to shape opinions, propose and set agenda for government and mobilize citizens to work towards a better Nigeria.

    Also, the keynote speaker at the event, Femi Shaka, Professor of Film Studies, University of Port Harcourt, stressed the need for the establishment of Film Commission, and encouraging Industry-University Partnership, among other things, for effective development of the sector.

     

    NAN reports that the  Annual Film Lecture, now in its 9th edition, is a flagship component of the  ZUMA Film Festival holding from Dec. 1to 3.

    It provides opportunity for stakeholders in the movie industry to engage in narratives and conversations geared towards strengthening the sector.

    The lecture brings together filmmakers, captains of industries, the academia, relevant government functionaries and other stakeholders to share thoughts and brainstorm on contemporary issues of importance to the growth of  the Nigeria movie industry.

  • Live in peace, Gowon charges

    Former Head of State, Gen. Yakubu Gowon (Rtd), has called on Nigerians to continue to live in peace irrespective of their religious beliefs.

    He made the call at the opening ceremony of the 2017 Annual Meeting of the Barewa Old Boys Association yesterday in Katsina.

    Gowon, who is the Chairman Board of Trustees of the association, said Nigerians should continue to embrace peaceful coexistence for the development of the country.

    “Muslims and Christians should use dialogue to find out what divides them and should unite themselves in the interest of peace.

    “We need peace to move forward as a nation. People in position of authority should provide quality education for the pupils in public schools,” he said.

    Gowon said that the provision of quality education to pupils would address problems of societal miscreants and hoodlums that pose a threat to the nation.

    In a paper presentation titled: “Reviving the National Pledge on education for all”, Prof. Jibirn Ibrahim called on leaders in the country to do more in developing  the education sector.

    Ibrahim, who is also a member of the association, said governors should allocate more funds to public schools for functional and conducive learning.

    “Governors should set aside at least 35 percent of their total annual budget to promote the development of education in their states.

    “The children of the poor should be supported to get quality education because if neglected, they can become time bombs to the nation.

    “Efforts should be made to give all Nigerians the best of education so as to avoid pumping money into solving security challenges,” he said.

  • Gowon calls for sustainable economic development

    •Stockbrokers honour Gowon, Obasanjo, Babangida, Dangote

    Former Head of State, General Yakubu Gowon (rtd), has stressed the need to develop an enduring and sustainable national economic management framework that will be immune to political changes and transitions.

    Gowon spoke briefly with newsmen after he was conferred with the Honourary Fellow of the Chartered Institute of Stockbrokers (CIS) yesterday in Lagos.

    The Former Head of State said the road to Nigeria’s economic growth is for every government to continuously build on the groundwork laid by the previous government.

    “Economic planning is that when it starts today, it should continue into the future. I am requesting all in government, irrespective of which party is in charge, that they should continue to always build on what has been done before rather than abandoning it because of difference in ideology,” Gowon said.

    He noted that the economy appeared to have stabilised and there are expectations that the economy will continue to improve.

    He commended the performance of the stockbroking profession and the capital market, noting that with the quality of professionals within the CIS fold, Nigeria shall once more regain her place of eminence in the financial world and the comity of nations.

    “Between 1992 when the Institute received its Charter and now, it has grown through the twists and turns of the business of life to make meaningful contribution to the growth and development of Nigeria’s economy. The sum total of your efforts can be seen in the growing confidence in our economy, which can favourably compete with that of many in the Western world. That is patriotism,” Gowon said.

    Three other eminent Nigerians Chief Olusegun Obasanjo, General Ibrahim Babangida and Alhaji Aliko Dangote would also be conferred with Honourary Fellowships.

    Gowon was conferred with the award yesterday as part of the Institute’s commemoration of its 25th anniversary alongside the hosting of its 21st Annual Stockbrokers’ Conference with the Theme “Adapting to the Dynamic Changes in the Financial Market “. By this new status, the eminent Nigerians shall become members of the Institute.

    President, Chartered Institute of Stockbrokers (CIS), Mr Oluwaseyi Abe noted that Gowon’s conferment was on the strength of his enduring support for the Capital market, pointing out that Gowon laid a substantial part of the foundation for the exponential growth witnessed in the Nigerian capital market in the last four decades through the promulgation of the Nigerian Enterprises Promotion Decree, also known as the Indigenization Decree 1972.

    According to him, the enactment of that law was a bold step that radically changed the landscape of the Nigerian capital market as the sale of large state-owned enterprises and multinationals to private investors through public listing gave Nigerians their desired involvement in the commanding heights of the economy and created more employment for Nigerians.

    Abe said Obasanjo has been an advocate of private sector –led economy of which the capital market is the back bone noting that Obasanjo has consistently called out to the government to leverage long term funds from the market to drive growth and development.

    According to him, the banking consolidation exercise of 2004 under Obasanjo presidency was monumental and created a more diversified, strong and reliable banking sector, which recreated the capital market by stimulating activities both in the primary market and secondary market and attracted about $650 million into the banking sector.

  • Dickson felicitates with Gowon, Ekwueme

    Dickson felicitates with Gowon, Ekwueme

    Bayelsa State Governor Seriake Dickson has felicitated with former Head of State, Gen. Yakubu Gowon (Rtd), for attaining 83 years last week.

    He described Gowon as a symbol of national unity and great stabiliser.

    Dickson also paid glowing tributes to Former Vice President Alex Ekwueme on the occasion of his 85th birthday.

    While describing him as a quintessential statesman and fine gentleman, the governor said Ekwueme remains steadfast and solid at 85.

    In a statement by Francis Ottah Agbo, Dickson asked God to keep the two elderstatesmen in good health so that the younger generation of leaders can continue to tap from their fountain of knowledge and wisdom.

  • Why I chose Gowon to inaugurate Ijaw Academy-Dickson

    Why I chose Gowon to inaugurate Ijaw Academy-Dickson

    Governor of Bayelsa State Seriake Dickson at the weekend explained why he chose a former Head of State, Gen. Yakubu Gown (retd) to inaugurate the Ijaw National Academy (NIA), a free boarding secondary school his administration recently completed

    Dickson said Gowon was chosen to challenge and motivate the over 1000 boarding students of the academy following his sterling leadership qualities as a young man.

    Gowon and his wife, Victoria, spent two days in Bayelsa to inaugurate the NIA and the world-class ‘iconic’ Governor’s Office described by most of the guests as the best governor’s office in the country.

    The former Head of State also laid wreath at the tomb of the late Ijaw martyr, Major Isaac Adaka Boro, in the Heroes’ Park, Yenagoa.

    The governor said having studied the background of Gowon and how he steered the ship of a country in crisis at just 32, he decided to bring him to Bayelsa to interface with the children.

    Dickson indicated former President Goodluck Jonathan and other past presidents of Nigeria would also have their days with the students at the appropriate time.

    He described Jonathan as a lover of education saying that he had discussed the issue of the academy with him.

    Dickson spoke at “a day with the Nobel Laureate, Prof. Wole Soyinka and Ijaw literary icons”, which took place at NIA Kaiama, Kolokuma-Opokuma Local Government Area.

    The governor, as part of his efforts to motivate the students of NIA, one of the 15 boarding secondary schools built by his administration, brought Soyinka and other celebrated Ijaw literary giants to speak to them.

    Notable Ijaw icons, who attended the programme, are Prof. John Pepper Clark; 96-year-old Dr. Gabriel Okara said to be the oldest poet in Africa and a foremost historian, Prof. Ebiegberi Joe Alagoa.

    At the event, which witnessed performances of poems written by Soyinka, Clark and Okara, Dickson said: “I know I have asked a number of dignitaries before now to come and don’t be tired because many more dignitaries will continue to come. Literary icons are here today.

    “A foremost Head of State at a tender age of 32 managing a country in crisis was here and I chose him specifically to come and commission this to show young people what they can do if they have guidance and support.”

    He told the students that great men like Soyinka and other literary icons paid no attention to mundane things like birthdays and dressing but preferred living simply and profoundly.

    He said the reason his administration had so far spent over N55bn on education to groom a new generation of servants and leaders with the ability to stand up for “what is right and fair”.

    Addressing the students, he added: “Today, you have some of those who help to mould our minds.

    “When I was your age, we read their works and got inspired. So they are here to talk to you to expand your horizon.

    “If I have any charge to you at all is to ask you to fly as high as you possibly can, soar as high as your dreams can take you and conquer the world because you can do it. You are children of the world.”

     

  • Why I chose Gowon to inaugurate Ijaw Academy – Dickson

    Why I chose Gowon to inaugurate Ijaw Academy – Dickson

    The Governor of Bayelsa State, Mr. Seriake Dickson, explained at the weekend why he chose a former Head of State, Gen. Yakubu Gown (retd), to inaugurate the Ijaw National Academy (NIA), a free boarding secondary school his administration recently completed in the state.

    Dickson said Gowon was chosen to challenge and motivate the over 1,000 boarding students of the academy following his sterling leadership qualities as a young man.

    Gowon and his wife, Victoria, spent two days in Bayelsa to inaugurate the NIA and the world-class Governor’s Office described by most of the guests as the best governor’s office in the country.

    The former head of state also used the opportunity to lay wreath at the tomb of the late Ijaw martyr, Major Isaac Adaka Boro, in the Heroes’ Park, Yenagoa.

    The governor said having studied the background of Gowon and how he steered the ship of a country in crisis at the tender age of 32, he decided to bring the former head of state to Bayelsa to interface with the children.

    Dickson hinted that former President Goodluck Jonathan, who hails from Bayelsa, and other past presidents of Nigeria would also have their days with the students at the appropriate time.

    He described Jonathan as a lover of education, saying he had discussed the issue of the academy with him.

    Dickson gave the reasons at an event titled: “A day with the Nobel Laureate, Prof. Wole Soyinka and Ijaw literary icons,” held at INA Kaiama, Kolokuma-Opokuma local government area of the state.

    He said: “I know I have asked a number of dignitaries before now to come and don’t be tired because many more dignitaries will continue to come. Literary icons are here today.

    “A foremost political leader, head of state of our country at a tender age of 32, managing a country in crisis, was here and I chose him specifically to come and commission this to show young people what they can do if they have guidance and support.

    “We will have many more dignitaries. Business leaders will come, ambassadors will be here and any visitor of note that visits me I will request an opportunity to interface with you and many more of our leaders will come.

    “Former presidents will be here and you know in this great state we also have a former President too. He too loves education, I know that and we have discussed it and at the appropriate time, all of them one by one will be here to interface with you.”

     

     

  • Gowon urges Ijaw to work for Nigeria’s unity

    Gowon urges Ijaw to work for Nigeria’s unity

    A former Head of State, Gen. Yakubu Gowon (retd), on Thursday hailed the Ijaw for their contributions to the growth and development of the country.

    He also urged them to continue working for Nigeria’s unity.

    Gowon said some Ijaw people and leaders made sacrifices to keep the country as one and appealed to them not to give up in strengthening the unity of Nigeria.

    Speaking in Kaiama, Kolokuma/Opokuma local government area of Bayelsa State, shortly after inaugurating the Ijaw National Academy, one of the 15 boarding schools built by the state Governor, Mr. Seriake Dickson, the former head of state commended the governor’s strides in education.

    He said: “Ijaw has contributed so much for the unity of this country. You have been making contributions to keep Nigeria as one and this is what I want you to continue to do.”

    Gowon and his wife, Victoria, spent two days in the state to inaugurate some of the key projects initiated and completed by Dickson’s administration.

    The former head of state earlier inaugurated a world-class ‘iconic’ Governor’s Office described by most of the guests as the best governor’s office in the country.

    While interacting with the students of the academy, Gowon asked other leaders to understudy the institution and replicate it in their domains.

    At the occasion, which was attended by two literary icons, Prof. J.P Clark and Dr. Gabriel Okara, Gowon said every Nigerian in Ijaw land must be treated equally and appealed to the governor to invite his colleagues to tour the academy.

  • Gowon, Obasanjo warn against repeat of 1966 violence

    Gowon, Obasanjo warn against repeat of 1966 violence

    •’Why I retired military officers who held public office’

    Former Head of State Gen. Yakubu Gowon (rtd) and former President Olusegun Obasanjo yesterday warned Nigerians to avoid the repeat of the 1966 coup and the tragedies that followed.

    The two elderstatesmen sounded the warning at the launch of the biography of the late Brig. Zakariya Maimalari at the International Conference Centre, Abuja.

    The book was authored by Haruna Yahaya Poloma with the title: “The First Regular Combatant: Brigadier Zakariya Maimalari”.It was reviewed by Gen. Ike Nwachukwu (rtd).

    The book presentation was attended by eminent Nigerians and serving military officers among whom was the Chief of Army Staff, Lt.-Gen. Tukur Buratai.

    Maimalari was among top military officers killed during the nation’s first military coup on January 15, 1966.

    Obasanjo, who gave reasons for some of the decisions taken by his government in his second coming as civilian president in 1999, said the topmost lesson for Nigerians to learn from unfolding events was that the nation has had enough of tragedies.

    He said he decided to retire Maimalari’s son, who was the then Military Administrator of Jigawa State for certain reasons.

    Obasanjo said: “What lesson can we learn? The lesson we can learn is that we have had enough tragedies in this country.”

    “I have no apology, but I have explanation. It’s because it’s necessary to stop this sort of things that took the life of your father prematurely, that we had to take the decision that all those who have tasted power that they should never have tasted, that we should ease them out of the Army, so that we can have an Army that is free from political aberration.

    “So far, since 1999, it seems that we have got it right. Let us hope that we continue to get it right and learn that Nigeria has had enough of bloodshed, enough of sacrifices by those victims, that Nigeria deserves peace, unity and progress,” Obasanjo asserted.

    Gowon said: “Several of our institutions have been poisoned mostly by the virus of corruption. Our people are in pain and require deliverance. But the rot is not all round.”

    Gowon stated that Maimalarienjoyed steady professional advance and was favourably mentioned as one of the likely successors to ultimate authority on the departure of the colonial masters.

    “Many things happened and many things failed to happen. He (Maimalari) was denied the ultimate prize and this denial produced widespread consternation.

    “No one less deserved the sort of death visited on Brigadier Maimalari. I have sometimes wondered just what might have been had he survived the mutiny of that night.

    “To my mind, Maimalari would perhaps have used his huge influence to re-establish civic order and governance. Perhaps in which case, there might not have been any further killings.

    “Perhaps, maybe in the absence of the killings, the violence which became part of our nation’s vernacular would have been absent.

    “Perhaps, there would have been no Biafra, no Ojukwu, no Gowon as we know them; no war and our democratic governments would have grown in stature as vehicles of popular service.”

    Acting President Yemi Osinbajo, who was represented by the Minister of Water Resources, Suleiman Adamu, said: Often, the Nigerian landscape has been disfigured by appalling examples of poor leadership and bad governance.

    “So dominant has this been that our youth can be misled into feeling that there is a total absence of idealism and heroism in our society.

    “Yet, nothing can be further from the truth. In our past and in our present, we can find exceptional examples of selfless service and notable deeds with which we can inspire in our youth.”

    Osinbajo said: “The example of Maimalari, particularly, his growth from humble beginnings, through diligence and hard work, to the dizzy heights of public service success is worth sharing. History can thus be a useful tool in the propagation of good examples.

    “History as a subject in our schools has become fairly infamous, with students often feeling that the subject has no practical value.

    “Yet, without a grounding in history, how do we know we who we are, where we come from, and more importantly, as a people, where we are going to?

    “As a government, we have been concerned with the decline in the study of history and this has seen us recover history from the place where it has been ignored for too long and placed it back firmly in school curriculum.”

    Also, the Chief of Army Staff (COAS), Lt-Gen. Tukur Buratai paid glowing tributes to Maimalari and hailed the efforts of the book’s author for the documentation of events in the past.

  • Buhari condoles with Gowon over sister’s death

    Buhari condoles with Gowon over sister’s death

    President Muhammadu Buhari has commiserated with former Head of State retired Gen. Yakubu Gowon over the death of his younger sister, Madam Kande Marthe Audu.
    Mr Femi Adesina, the Special Adviser on Media and Publicity to the President, stated this in a statement yesterday.
    He said Buhari called from London to extend his deepest condolence to Gowon and his family.
    Adesina said President Buhari urged the family to take solace in the fact that Madam Audu lived a worthy and exemplary life.
    “Death is an inevitable end that must come to all mortals, and we must keep praying and working to ensure that we live a life that pleases our creator and benefits humanity,” he Buhari said.
    He also prayed God to comfort the family of the deceased and grant eternal rest to the soul of Audu.
    Adesina quoted Gowon as thanking the President for his gesture.
    Gowon, who assured that he would not relent in praying for the unity and progress of the country, said Nigerians had embarked on prayers for the president’s speedy recovery.
    Buhari also on Sunday had telephone conversation with former President Olusegun Obasanjo, where he congratulated him on his 80th birthday and Kogi State Governor Yahaya Bello.

  • Anyaoku, Akintoye renew calls for Nigeria restructuring

    Anyaoku, Akintoye renew calls for Nigeria restructuring

    Former Commonwealth Secretary General, Chief Emeka Anyaoku and a second Republic Senator, Prof. Banji Akintoye, on Monday warned the government on the danger in keeping its current federal structure.

    They said Nigeria’s federalism allows “too much power and resources” at the center to the detriment of the country’s ethnic nationalities.

    This, they argued, fueled political, ethnic and religious divisions which threatened the country’s survival.

    The duo stated these in Lagos at the 2017 Obafemi Awolowo Memorial Lecture organised by the Obafemi Awolowo Foundation (OAF) where Akintoye, an historian and Awoist, spoke on “The Awolowo legacy and its message to Nigerian youths.”

    The event, which marked the 108th posthumous birthday of the late Awolowo, was attended by former Head of State, Yakubu Gowon, Lagos State governor, Akinwunmi Ambode, represented by his deputy, Dr. Idiat Adebule, Osun State governor, Rauf Aregbesola and his Ogun State counterpart, Ibikunle Amosun, who was represented by his Chief of Staff, Chief Tolu Odebiyi.

    Other dignitaries included the Ooni of Ife, Oba Adeyeye Enitan Ogunwusi Ojaja II, Obi of Onitsha, Igwe Nnaemeka Achebe, former governor of Ogun State, Chief Olusegun Osoba and his Delta State counterpart, Dr. Emmanuel Uduaghan, among others.

    Gowon, the chairman of the OAF, said his government was able to keep Nigeria one through Awolowo’s expertise and advice which ensured that the country didn’t borrow to prosecute the civil war.

    Anyaoku, who heads the selection committee of the Obafemi Awolowo Prize for Leadership, regretted that no candidate was found suitable for the prize in 2017.

    He wondered how “Nigeria’s founding fathers,” Awolowo, Dr. Nnamdi Azikiwe and Sir Ahmadu Bello would feel about their country if they rose from the dead.

    Anyaoku said: “I have no doubt that lamentation and grievous disappointment would be their feeling, especially for Chief Awolowo, who championed the cause of true federalism, and as premier, invented the impressive socio-economic development of Western Nigeria.

    “Chief Awolowo would be disappointed to find that instead of a few viable federating units in which effective economic development can be planned and pursued with security, better policed and maintained, we now have what I would describe as a plethora of nonviable federating units with an all-powerful central government.”