Yakubu Gowon, former military head of state, says that despite democracy’s flaws, the era of military rule should never return to Nigeria.
He said this while introducing a new history book in Abuja on Wednesday. The book covers Nigeria’s military from 1960 to 2018.
Gowon admits the military helped Nigeria in some ways, but says it should now stick to its main job.
“The era of military governance is and must remain behind us; democracy, despite its imperfections, provides the best framework for national development and popular participation,” Gowon said.
“The armed forces must fully embrace their constitutional role as defenders of the nation’s territorial integrity, not as administrators or political actors.”
As the event’s chairman, Gowon explained that the military’s impact on Nigeria isn’t black and white – it’s complicated, BusinessDay reports.
People still argue about whether the military helped or hurt Nigeria’s growth over time.
“With the wisdom that comes from age and reflection, I believe the answer lies somewhere in between,” he said.
Gowon points out good things the military did, like keeping Nigeria together during the civil war and building new infrastructure. But he also admits the downsides.
“On the other hand, I must acknowledge that military rule stifled democratic development, sometimes violated civil liberties, and created structures that enabled corruption.”
He mentioned how the military takeovers in 1966 and 1983, plus the cancellation of the 1993 election, hurt Nigeria’s progress.
“However, by acknowledging these mistakes, we pave the way for a brighter, more democratic future,” the former military ruler said.
BusinessDay reports that looking back at the civil war, Gowon called it Nigeria’s hardest time, but said it showed how important unity is.
For today’s security problems, he thinks the military needs better technology and intelligence.
“The military should be seen as an essential component of the national fabric, working in tandem with civilian authorities,” Gowon said.