“Yakubu Gowon Reveals That Only Two Individuals Close to Him Were Named as Plotting Against Him”

In a recent interview with *Daily Trust*, former military Head of State General Yakubu Gowon (rtd) discussed his experiences during his time in power, particularly regarding the circumstances leading to his eventual overthrow. He reflected on the political turmoil of that era, addressing some of the challenges he faced and his responses to claims of a coup being planned against him.continue Reading>>>

Gowon shared that his security team alerted him to a potential coup involving individuals from his inner circle. He was specifically informed that two key members of his administration were at the heart of the conspiracy.

While this raised concerns, he found it hard to accept that those he considered close allies would betray him.The two individuals implicated were important figures in Gowon’s government. Despite the allegations, he hesitated to fully believe them, as both were from his home state of Benue-Plateau. Their common background made it difficult for him to take decisive action based on the information he received.

Adding to his doubts was the fact that both individuals shared his Christian faith, which Gowon suggested played a role in his reluctance to view them as threats. He wrestled with the idea that people so closely connected to him—by both location and religion—could be plotting his downfall.Gowon attempted to investigate the matter further by trying to contact one of the implicated individuals, but he was unable to reach him.continue Reading>>>

The other person involved strongly denied any wrongdoing, complicating Gowon’s ability to discern the truth behind the allegations.In reflecting on the coup that eventually led to his ousting, Gowon expressed feelings of betrayal but also recognized the complexities of trust and political alliances during a tumultuous time in Nigeria’s history.

He emphasized, “Who said I didn’t do anything about it? When my security team informed me that something was in the works, the only two names given to me were individuals who were supposed to be very close to me—my commander, brigade of guards, Joe Garba, and Tony Ochefu.”