KEY POINTS

• Gowon does state that the actions of the north must be for the good of Nigeria.
• There is the need for unity and national integration for Nigeria to make it to the development and stability league.
• According to Gowon, Regional policies, must be in consonant with the overall interest of the nation.

Any action that the North takes should be in Nigeria’s best interest states Gowon.

He has noted that any move that the northern region of the country makes it will have to be for the overall benefits for the country as a whole as served by the former head of state Gen Yakubu Gowon. Gowon was addressing a ceremony to commemorate a national event; fortunately, he kept referring to the need for all regions and the North in particular to follow the new track of working for unity and progress of the nation.

The military head of state of Nigeria from 1966 to 1975, Gowon, advocated for policies that is out rightly geared towards the higher national interest rather than regional interests for Nigeria to look beyond the perpetual sores that has bedeviled her. He stressed that one should not be made to suffer for the gain of the other and opined that any developmental blue prints this nation should always do so with the welfare of the nation at large .

Gowon demands a single set of goals for the nation

Speaking in his remarks, Gowon said it was imperative that the Nigerian nation had learnt from history as it seeks to chart its future path. He said that although each area of the country may have different concerns and interests, it must be positive for the country as a whole. The statement comes when there has been emerging debates over the resource allocation and how power should be shared between the various regions in Nigeria.

What Gowon said has a lot of bearing with appeals for more political integration and healing of the nation, especially given the simmering tension along ethnic and regional lines across Nigeria. It was also important as the former leader also appealed the masses to embrace each other and for the various regions in Nigeria not to undermine the interest of the others in the progress of the region through policies as the common aim and goal is to achieve stability and success in Nigeria.

Regional challenges and the rational for the need for national cohesion

For instance, the Nigeria nation is confronted with several socio-economic issues like; insecurity, economic inequality, etc which Gowon strongly urged people to engage in activities that are in the best interest of the country. His words also referred to the rising need to encourage various policies for the unity of the county without having to consider the regions.