Gowon: Jonathan’s Gesture was Well Received Across Africa
Former head of state, General Yakubu Gowon, has described as well received by many African leaders, President Goodluck Jonathan’s decision to concede defeat in the March 28 presidential election.
“I was in Addis Ababa and the news was well received by the rest of the African leaders who were congratulating Nigerians. Only God knows what would have happened if there was any delay in President Jonathan’s accepting defeat.”
According to Gowon, “The leadership of both parties accepting the outcome of the elections sent a sense of relief to the rest of Nigeria, everywhere.”
Gowon who led Nigeria during the civil war was the chairman of the first diamond jubilee lecture of the Foursquare Gospel Church in Nigeria, held at the church’s headquarters in Lagos yesterday.
An event to mark the 60th anniversary of the church including a lecture titled ‘The Church and the Nigerian Nation: Impact, Challenges and the way Forward’, delivered by the Vice-Chancellor of McPherson University, Ogun State, Professor Adeniyi Agunbiade.
During his chairman’s speech, Gowon attempted to draw parallel relations between the church and the nation. “My relationship with the church is hinged on a common interest, peace in our land.
“Faith and national interest cannot easily be separated. I am a man of faith who can be situated in two contradictory situations. First as a soldier of war and second as a child of God to make peace with all men.”
Gowon told a story of how even as a Christian he had to make hard choices to lead the country to war. “My brother Emeka Ojukwu said, I know Gowon, he does not like to fight. He said what I carried in my suitcase all the time was a bible. He was wrong. As a soldier of Christ, with a duty to keep my country together, I had to go to war, reluctantly.
“During the civil war, it was the prayers of the church and bravery of the citizens that kept this country, and after the war, it was the wisdom of God that helped steer this country. Even the predicted breakup by 2015, it was the prayers of Nigerians that has kept the country together.
“We cannot cease to pray for our nation so that God will continue to take charge and give us leaders who have the interest of the masses at heart. The body of Christ must remain united in prayer so that God can always guide our leaders to distinguish between right and wrong.”
Admonishing church leaders, the former head of state said: “The church leaders must never cease to speak truth to power. They must have the leadership to correctly interpret policies to the people.”
In his lecture, Agunbiade said “Politics is one area that the church had been found wanting,” but went ahead to describe as a good development “The participation of men of God in politics in Nigeria today.”
Speaking further, he said, “Prosperity gospel should be re-examined.
For democracy to survive in Nigeria, the church must be revived and complement the efforts of government and the leaders must preach the message of the gospel and not stomach infrastructure.”