Nigeria’s former Head of State, General Yakubu Gowon (Retired) has launched his memoire titled, “My Life of Duty and Allegiance” in a State event that took place on Tuesday, May 19th 2026 at the Bola Ahmed Tinubu International Conference Centre, Abuja.
The event was attended by Vice-President Kashim Shettima who represented President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, former President Goodluck Jonathan, former Defence Minister Theophilus Danjuma, numerous top government officials, military veterans, diplomats, business moguls and other dignitaries from across the country.
The 881-page book, published by Havilah Group, offers a personal account of General Gowon’s life, leadership journey and reflections on some of the most defining moments in Nigeria’s history, including the 30-month Nigerian Civil War between 1967 and 1970.
“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. My story is one of conviction evaluated by circumstances at the crossroads of expectations and reality.” The former Head of State explained.
On his part, President Tinubu, speaking through his vice, Shettima, described the memoire as “a compass for Nigeria’s future”, urging that the memoir be widely circulated to preserve historical memory and strengthen national unity. He added that accounts from leaders who lived through defining moments are essential to deepening democratic stability. “A nation that misplaces its memory soon begins to quarrel with its own reflection. A society without memory becomes an orphan in time.”
“The decisions of that period cannot be understood by those who examine them with the arrogance of comfort. Every generation that inherits peace must learn to speak gently about the choices made in the season of peril.”
Former President Jonathan, who chaired the event, said Gowon’s post–civil war declaration of “no victor, no vanquished” laid the foundation for national reconciliation and healing after the 1967–1970 conflict. He described Gowon as a leader who demonstrated courage during one of Nigeria’s most difficult periods.
The book presenter, General Theophilus Yakubu Danjuma launched the book with N3 billion for copies to all 20 universities that have awarded him honorary doctor of philosophy degree.
Africa’s richest man, Aliko Dangote, purchased copies of the book for N500 million.
Catholic Bishop of Sokoto Diocese, Mathew Hassan Kukah, reviewed the book and said it is a narrative open to future contestation, shaped by memory, perspective, and incomplete historical records.
“All that General Gowon has done is to tell the story as he saw it. So he was literally writing from memory. So the result is that it’s a book that is literally storytelling but largely from the heart and out of heart. My argument is that no book has any finality, and field history has no finishing post. So it is the business and responsibility of others—it’s a pity that Ojukwu is dead, for example. It’s a pity that some of the key actors are not here with us, because their contestation and resetting those narratives would have been what would help us to get closer to what the real issues are,” he said.
Addressing concerns over the absence of sensational revelations, Kukah argued that a memoir’s value lies in preserved perspectives and experiences, while noting it still offers meaningful insight into Nigeria’s history through personal reflection.
“It doesn’t—nothing takes away the seriousness of the book. And that’s why I said if you look at the book, it gives you different angles of Nigeria’s history,” he noted.
Rt. Hon. Henry Nwawuba, the Executive Secretary of the National Assembly Library who also attended the event stated, “moments like this remind us of the importance of preserving history, documenting leadership journeys and drawing lessons that can guide future generations.”
