|
Gowon urges Obasanjo to lift
Plateau emergency rule
From Onoja Audu
Special
Correspondent, Jos
Former Head of State Yakubu
Gowon, who recently turned 70, is unsatisfied with all the birthday gifts
he has received from friends and well wishers.
To make his day, he has asked
President Olusegun Obasanjo to lift the state of emergency clamped on
Plateau State, which will be the most important gift to him as a
septuagenarian.
Gowon made the request on
Sunday at a colourful reception in his honour, held at Hill Station Hotel,
Jos after a thanksgiving service at St. Pirans Anglican Church.
He said his joy at attaining
the age of 70 would be complete if democratic structures that were
suspended in the state are restored now that peace has returned, saying
his wish was that Obasanjo should have attended the reception.
Gowon said if peace had not
returned to his state of origin � Plateau - he would not have invited all
the dignitaries at the church service to Jos.
He charged Sole Administrator
Chris Alli to pass the news on to the President that peace has returned to
the state.
His comments drew applause
from the dignitaries at the occasion.
Gowon thanked God that every
part of Nigeria is his home, having lived and fought for the unity of the
country while in service.
He recalled one of his
encounters with the Emir of Zaria who told him that a true indigene is
someone who has two homes in the event that if one is in trouble, he could
run to another. He stressed that although he was born in Wusasa, Zaria,
Kaduna State, Plateau is his home state.
The church service was
attended by two former heads of state. President Olusegun Obasanjo,
accompanied by his wife Stella, said he met Gowon during his early
military career when Gowon was a Captain in Ibadan.
Later, Gowon, who was also
turbaned as Sarkin Yaki of Plateau State at the
reception by traditional rulers, was presented with a decorated
horse.
Present at the occasion were
former Heads of State Ibrahim Babangida and Ernest Shonekan.
Also in attendance were former
Vice-President Alex Ekwueme Deputy Senate President Ibrahim Mantu, Bauchi
State Governor Adamu Muazu, Alli, Ooni of Ife Okunade Sijuade,
Gwom Gwom Jos Victor Pam, Solomon Lar
and Joshua Dogonyaro.
| 
