•Says he never turned down FG, ECOWAS’ invitation to speak on crisis
From Juliana Taiwo-Obalonye, Abuja
Nigeria’s former Head of State, General Yakubu Gowon, has called for patience, while assessing the outcome of President Bola Tinubu’s policies.
He made the plea after meeting with President Tinubu at the State House, in their first meeting since Tinubu assumed office as President.
Drawing comparison with his leadership throughout the Nigerian Civil War, Gowon underlined the critical need of achieving concrete outcomes, while acknowledging that government criticism was inevitable.
Gowon, who as a surviving founding father of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), discussed President Tinubu’s plans as the chairman of ECOWAS and sought ways to address lingering matters affecting the region, was responding to a question on what advice he would give to the president in the face of the current economic challenges.
He said: “Well, I was telling him that there is no Nigerian leader that can get there and will not have all the reports of what is being said about him. But, certainly, there’s no doubt from what one hears and sees on the various media. I think the government is trying its best to deal with various problems facing the country but with Nigerians, don’t you worry, you will get criticised but people who get there know better than you know.
“I think all that one can say is that Nigerians have got to give the president time to get things really done. And it is too early to sort of say that 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 seek for discussion. Well, did we do it or not? They probably do not know the problem underground, so that is where we are.”
Gowon said the meeting with the President also centred on the issue of the challenges facing the ECOWAS subregions, adding that it must be settled amicably.
“Being the surviving leader, or founding fathers of the ECOWAS, I think we had to discuss some of his plans in order to see what can be done to bring the matter under control,” Gowon said.
He debunked claims on social media that he refused to attend an event organised by ECOWAS, adding that this was probably due to miscommunication.
“I think there was a miscommunication but then, it gave the opportunity for the President to call me so that we can discuss what I was to do.”
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs, in collaboration with the ECOWAS Commission, had invited newsmen to a press conference with Gowon at the ECOWAS Commission Headquarters, Abuja.
He was to speak on the current state of affairs at the regional level, with regards to coups and subsequent threat by the Republic of Niger, Mali and Burkina Faso, to exit the organisation and perhaps, proffer lasting solutions to the challenge.
The three military juntas in Burkina Faso, Mali and Niger, on January 28, announced their intention to exit ECOWAS over allegation that the regional body was becoming a threat to its members, being “under the influence of foreign powers and betraying its founding principles.”
They also accused the regional body of not supporting them in their fight against terrorism and insecurity, while imposing illegal, inhuman and irresponsible sanctions against them, following the coups.
ECOWAS had repeatedly called on the three countries to return to civilian rule by imposing sanctions and denying them plans for lengthy democratic transitions.