Gowon and the ‘Old Wounds’

Yakubu Gowon, Nigeria’s head of state from 1966 to 1975, authored the memoir *Old Wounds* (published 2015). In it he reflects on the country’s turbulent post‑independence period—especially the 1967‑70 civil war—and examines the lingering political, ethnic and economic scars that continue to affect Nigeria. The book combines personal recollections with analysis of how those “old wounds” have shaped the nation’s subsequent history and calls for reconciliation and reforms to heal the divisions. Views Nigeria