Former Nigerian Head of State Common Yakubu Gowon (retd) has defined the rationale behind the creation of 12 states throughout his administration.
Gowon said that the transfer was supposed to cut back regional tensions and handle fears of northern domination throughout the federation.
He shared this whereas receiving a delegation from the Senator Ibrahim Shekarau-led League of Northern Democrats on the Yakubu Gowon Centre in Abuja.
“It was because of this that I supported the creation of a number of states, to forestall anyone area from changing into too highly effective and threatening the nation’s unity,” Gowon mentioned.
He additionally urged Northern elites to deal with points that profit Nigeria as an entire, discouraging regionalism.
“My place has all the time been that regardless of the north does should serve the larger curiosity of Nigeria. Out of your speech, I perceive that that is your intention—to make sure the north focuses on nationwide unity,” he said.
Gowon additional highlighted the North’s function in selling democracy and unity, drawing on the instance of Nigeria’s first Prime Minister, Sir Abubakar Tafawa Balewa.
“I firmly consider that sustaining Nigeria’s true democracy rests on the north, and Baba Tafawa Balewa embodied this superb,” he mentioned.
The League of Northern Democrats visited Gowon to hunt recommendation on advancing the area’s pursuits in keeping with nationwide unity.
Common Gowon, who led Nigeria from 1966 to 1975, applied reforms such because the state-creation train to stabilize the nation throughout a essential interval.
