Former Nigerian leader Yakubu Gowon releases memoir and defends his civil‑war decisions.

Former Nigerian head of state Yakubu Gowon said his newly released autobiography aims to clarify the decisions and policies of his administration during the Nigerian Civil War, emphasizing that the book is not intended to revive painful memories of that conflict.

Gowon made the remarks ahead of the public launch of the 881‑page autobiography, scheduled for 19 May 2026 at the Bola Ahmed Tinubu International Conference Centre in Abuja, according to a statement from Havilah Group, the book’s publisher, released on Tuesday.

The ceremony is expected to draw senior political leaders, military veterans, diplomats and government officials, with President Bola Tinubu slated as the special guest of honour.

Former defence minister and ex‑Chief of Army Staff Theophilus Danjuma will formally unveil the book.

Speaking about why he wrote the memoir, Gowon said, “The autobiography became necessary because many accounts of the civil war era had been written from different perspectives over the years without fully reflecting his own reasoning as Nigeria’s leader at the time.

“By choosing to write, I took a conscious decision not to reopen old wounds but to clarify my thinking on policies and plans at a period often narrated by others,” Gowon said.

He added, “My story is one of conviction evaluated by circumstances at the crossroads of expectations and reality.”

The autobiography is expected to contain Gowon’s personal reflections on several defining moments in Nigeria’s post‑independence history, especially the thirty‑month civil war that lasted from 1967 to 1970.

The conflict, triggered by the attempted secession of the then Eastern Region as the Republic of Biafra, remains one of the nation’s most sensitive and consequential periods, resulting in millions of displaced persons and countless deaths.

Gowon, who assumed office on 1 August 1966 at the age of 31, led the country through the war and later introduced the post‑war policy of “No Victor, No Vanquished,” intended to promote reconciliation, reintegration and national unity.

The former military leader is also expected to recount his early years, military career and the unexpected rise to power that followed the political crises and coups of 1966.

Born in 1934 in present‑day Plateau State, Gowon became one of Nigeria’s youngest leaders and remained in office for nine years before being removed in a bloodless military coup in July 1975 while attending an Organisation of African Unity summit in Uganda.

Beyond his time in government, Gowon has built a reputation as a statesman devoted to peacebuilding, interfaith dialogue and humanitarian work.

After leaving office, he earned a doctorate in political science from the University of Warwick in 1984 and later founded the Yakubu Gowon Centre to promote peace, leadership and national development.

Through initiatives such as the “Nigeria Prays” movement, Gowon has also championed campaigns against diseases including guinea worm, HIV/AIDS, tuberculosis and malaria, while serving as national goodwill ambassador for the control of viral hepatitis in Nigeria.

Group chief executive officer of Havilah Group Lanre Adesuyi described the autobiography as an important contribution to Nigeria’s historical documentation and national discourse.

“We consider this project a significant milestone in our journey, one that reflects our commitment to preserving history, promoting thought leadership, and contributing meaningfully to national discourse,” Adesuyi said.