Percy Onyeka
Former Military Head of State, General Yakubu Gowon, retd, has appealed to Nigerians to give President Bola Tinubu time in his bid to solve the challenges facing the country.
Gen. Gowon made the appeal after he met behind closed-doors with President Tinubu at the Presidential Villa, Abuja, yesterday.
Gowon said he was at the seat of power to discuss with the President on the crisis tearing apart the Economic Community of West African States, ECOWAS, and the economic challenges bedeviling the country.
Fielding questions on his advise to the president on how to tackle the economic situation in Nigeria, he said: “Well, I was telling him that there is no Nigerian leader who will get there and not have all the report of what is being said about him. But certainly, there’s no doubt from what one hears and sees in the various media.
“I think the government is trying its best to deal with the various problems of the country but with Nigerians, you will get criticised. People who get there know better than you know. I think all one can say is Nigerians, we’ve got to give the president time for things to be really done.
“It is too early to sort of say absolute result, perfect result will be achieved now. That is my opinion. I know and if I can remember when I was fighting the war, I was told I was too slow and that probably Nigeria cannot make it and that we should now seek discussion. Well, did we do it or not? They probably do not know the problem underground, so that is where we are.”
On his mission at the Villa, Gowon said: “This is my first visit to Mr President since the inauguration but I was there at the inauguration to wish him well and all success. If you remembered how busy he was after that, with visitors, members of government, various personalities, so it was not possible for me to be able to see him.
“After the time, I had to travel abroad where he was able to reach me on my birthday and after that interesting social media report that I was dead.
“But when I came back I made a number of efforts but unfortunately I think because of his busy programme, it was not possible for me to see him.
”Luckily, this time, he was able to give me the opportunity to see him and to discuss various matters, especially the issue of the ECOWAS problem at the moment, which I think needs to be resolved.”
Gowon urges end to sanctions on Burkina Faso, Mali, Niger
Meanwhile, barely hours after the meeting with the President, General Gowon called on Heads of States and government of ECOWAS to immediately withdraw the sanctions imposed on Burkina Faso, Mali and Niger.
Gowon in a letter presented yesterday to the President of ECOWAS Commission, Dr. Omar Alieu Touray at the ECOWAS headquarters in Abuja, pleaded with the top echelon of ECOWAS and the three aggrieved countries, Burkina Faso, Mali and Niger Republic, to put aside their differences for the sake of peace and unity and prosperity of the region.
He asked that ECOWAS lift its sanctions on the three countries, and equally urged the three countries to withdraw their notice to leave the community.
Gowon, who is also one of the founding fathers of ECOWAS in an open letter he delivered to the President of the ECOWAS Commission, for onward transmission to the 15 heads of member States, called for a dialogue among heads of states to include the three aggrieved countries to fashion a way out of the crisis.
The former Nigeria Head of State said this was imperative for the unity and stability of the region, in line with the dreams of the founding fathers.
Gowon, who expressed sadness over the development in the sub-region, also said he was prepared to engage with leaders of member states to ensure the countries rescind their decisions.
The letter read: “I have noted with deep concern and sadness the past and recent developments unfolding in the West African sub-region, particularly the pronouncement by Burkina Faso, Mali and Niger of their intention to exit from the Economic Community of West African States, ECOWAS.
“As one of the founders of our regional economic community, it is incumbent upon
me to speak on behalf of the 14 Heads of State and Government who joined me in Lagos, on May 27,1975, to establish ECOWAS.
”Since its inception, the regional bloc has made a number of major accomplishments, including trade liberalisation, right of West Africans to live legitimately in any country within the Community, as well as successful peacekeeping operations in Liberia and Sierra Leone. ECOWAS, despite its shortcomings, has become an example of regional integration for the wider continent.
“Having achieved all of the above, it saddens me to learn that ECOWAS is threatened with disunity, following the announcement by Burkina Faso, Mali and Niger, three important member states, of their intention to leave the community.
”The impact of such a decision will have far-reaching implications for the ordinary citizens who have been the major beneficiaries of regional integration.
“Therefore, on behalf of all the founding fathers of the Community and myself, I urge the ECOWAS Authority of Heads of State and Government, including the leaders of Burkina Faso, Mali and Niger, to put aside their differences and reunite for the peace, stability and prosperity of our sub-region. I call on all West African leaders to immediately consider the implementation of the following: “Lifting of all sanctions that have been imposed on Burkina Faso, Guinea, Mali and Niger.
“Withdrawal by Burkina Faso, Mali and Niger of their notices to leave ECOWAS; and participation of all 15 ECOWAS Heads of State in a summit to discuss the future of the community, regional security and stability, as well as the role of the international community given the current geopolitical context.
“I wish to once more reiterate to regional leaders that ECOWAS is more than a
coalition of states; it is a community established for the good of our peoples, based on shared history, culture and tradition.
”Neither my generation, nor present or future generations will understand or forgive the breakup of our Community.
“I thank you all for giving due consideration to this appeal, which has been made with sincerity and a deep sense of moral responsibility. I urge all other elders in the sub-region to join me in this campaign to immediately restore unity and shared purpose within ECOWAS.
