2015: Gowon Cautions Against Playing Dirty Politics

gowonAhead of the 2015 general election, former military ruler, General Yakubu Gowon (retd), on Tuesday, cautioned Nigerian politicians against engaging in character assassination that would make the international community think that the country was incapable of producing credible leaders.

He, rather, requested them to embrace prayers “instead of trying to condemn themselves in such a manner that outside world would think that we are not good”.

The former Head of State made this known in Abuja at the 10th anniversary celebration of the Leadership newspapers where the media house gave various awards to deserving individuals, groups and corporate institutions.

Gowon, specifically charged the political class to focus more on policies and not individuals, in the course of their campaign.

“When we complain about people calling us all sort of names, where do you think they get it? They get it from us, either from our magazines, or from our newspapers and some times, some of our public speeches.

“What is important is that let all of us love Nigeria that you have no doubt about it. Honestly, unless you love and accept your country as a nation, then whatever you do is not worth it and that is what I am going to ask all Nigerians, all political parties to do”, he said.