Yakubu Gowon, the former military Head of State, says he does not mind being called the “Abraham Lincoln of Nigeria” due to similarities in their civil war experiences. Gowon, who reflected on the comparison of him to the former American president during the celebration of his 90th birthday, noted that his experience in the Nigerian civil war mirrored the dynamics of the American civil war. The Nigeria civil war was between 1967 and 1970 due to the south-east’s desire to secede. Gowon was the head of state between August 1, 1966 and July 29, 1975, while the American civil war took place from April 1861 to April 1865 during the presidency of Lincoln.
“So, sometimes I say to myself that I don’t mind being called the Abraham Lincoln of Nigeria because we had a similar situation and we were able to achieve the same result.”
Also, former President Olusegun Obasanjo says the 90th birthday of Yakubu Gowon is a “national celebration and he’s worthy to be nationally celebrated while still alive.
“I look at the galaxy of distinguished men and women around. Only very few of them can claim to be eyewitnesses to your time in government, not to mention your time in the army.”
The Sultan of Sokoto and Chairman of the occasion, Muhammadu Abubakar III said Gowon’s life and contributions to the country are worthy of emulation.