A former military Head of State, Gen. Yakubu Gowon (rtd), during an interview with Daily Trust, spoke on some of his experiences while he was in office, what transpired before and after the civil war, and restates his belief in a united Nigeria.
When he was talking about the civil war Nigeria fought during his military administration, Yakubu Gowon claimed after the war ended, an English journalist asked him why he thought the war was over and that the people might continue with guerrilla warfare. Gowon said he thanked God there was no guerrilla after the war.
He said, “Let me deviate a little bit. I thank God that when the war ended, I did not capture Chief Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu because I would have probably found it very difficult to handle with public opinion that would have encouraged me to deal with him.”
Further talking, he said, “This is because I knew that I would have done everything to save his life. But would it be the same thing if it was the reverse?”