Former Nigerian Head of State, Gen. Yakubu Gowon, urged Northern leaders to prioritize national unity over sectional interests in a meeting with the League of Northern Democrats. He emphasized that Nigeria’s democracy depends on the North's actions and urged cooperation to address the region's challenges, including insecurity and poverty.
Former Nigerian Head of State, General Yakubu Gowon, has called on Northern Nigerian leaders to prioritize national unity and the collective interest of Nigeria. Speaking to members of the League of Northern Democrats (LND) in Abuja, Gowon urged the group, led by former Kano State Governor, Senator Ibrahim Shekarau, to focus on the greater good of the country, rather than sectional interests.
Gowon emphasized the importance of sustaining Nigeria's democracy, which he believes heavily depends on the leadership and actions of the North. Drawing from his military background and experience as a leader during the Nigerian Civil War, Gowon expressed his firm belief that the country’s unity should always take precedence. He recalled the tense political atmosphere of the 1960s, when regional divisions threatened the country’s cohesion, leading to his decision to create new states to prevent any one region from dominating the others.
The LND, which comprises over 200 political figures, including former top government officials and retired military officers, has expressed its intent to field a presidential candidate from the North in the 2027 elections. While Gowon acknowledged the group’s efforts to address the North’s challenges, he urged them not to let regional ambitions divide the country.
Shekarau, who clarified that the LND is not an opposition group but a platform aimed at supporting national unity, agreed with Gowon’s call for a unified approach to solving the region’s pressing issues, including poverty, insecurity, and disunity.
