In 1972, I was a pupil at the then Anglican Central Primary School in Ilare, Ile Ife. I was among the many people who lined the route to welcome General Gowon to Ile-Ife. During that time, it was customary for the head of state to travel with a long convoy of cars and expert motorcycle riders from the police force.
Approximately 50 motorcycle riders would arrive in intervals, showcasing their mastery and expertise in riding the motorcycles through various acrobatic maneuvers. Each time one of these skilled riders arrived, with sirens blaring and their dexterity on full display at high speeds, we couldn’t help but react with ecstasy and joy.
After a few hours, General Gowon’s Rolls-Royce car finally made its appearance. The joy we felt on that day was beyond words. As he waved at us, I was the sole observer who noticed his hand and the fact that he was wearing white gloves. Filled with excitement, I promptly shared this observation with my teacher. The news quickly spread, and my classmates hoisted me on their shoulders, celebrating my rare glimpse of General Gowon’s hands. From that moment on, my aspiration to join the military and live a life resembling General Gowon’s grew exponentially.
Consequently, meeting the General in London over lunch and recounting this story to him was an immense personal victory. I expressed my disbelief at the situation, never imagining that I would be sitting across from him. To my surprise, he responded by saying that he wasn’t surprised at all, as it is only natural for children to grow up with aspirations and dreams.