- BRAC Coastal Aborigines affirm staunch support for retired General Yakubu Gowon, expressing gratitude for his role in forming BRAC states
- Group praises Gowon’s historical significance and heroism, rejecting calls for apology over comments related to Nigerian Civil War experience
The Bayelsa, Rivers, Akwa Ibom, and Cross River states (BRAC) Coastal Aborigines have voiced unwavering support for the former military head of state, General Yakubu Gowon (rtd).
In a statement released by Doris McDaniels, the General Coordinator of BRAC Coastal Aborigines, the group expressed gratitude towards Gowon for his role in creating BRAC states from the former Eastern Region government.
This declaration comes in response to recent calls for Gowon to apologise for what some perceive as “inflammatory” comments regarding the Nigerian Civil War experience.
BRAC emphasized Gowon’s significance as a pivotal figure in the region’s history, hailing him as a hero for his contributions to the formation of the BRAC states.
Gowon urges Nigerians to give Tinubu time to address Nigeria’s challenges
Retired Gen. Yakubu Gowon has encouraged Nigerians to afford more time to the President Bola Tinubu-led administration to address the country’s numerous challenges.
He emphasized that it is too early in the administration’s tenure to expect the resolution of all inherited crises across various sectors.
Mr. Gowon conveyed these sentiments after a meeting with Mr. Tinubu at the Presidential Villa in Abuja on Wednesday.
“Well, I was telling him that no Nigerian leader gets there and will not have all the reports of what is being said about him.
“But certainly, there’s no doubt from what one hears and sees on the various media. I think the government is trying its best to deal with the country’s various problems.
“Don’t you worry, you will get criticised, but people who get there know better than you do.
“I think all what one can say is that Nigerians, we’ve got to give the President time to get things really done. And it is too early to say absolute result, perfect result will be achieved now.”
Mr Gowon said the meeting with the president also centred on the issue of the challenges facing the ECOWAS subregions, adding that they must be settled amicably.
“Being the surviving leader, or founding fathers of the ECOWAS, I think we had to discuss some of his plans in order to see what can be done to bring the matter under control,” Mr Gowon said.