Gowon reveals why he did not choose Jos as Nigeria’s capital
- Yakubu Gowon, former head of state has disclosed why he didn't make Jos Nigeria’s capital
- Gowon said did not make the choice because he thought that he would have been accused of favoritism
- He, however, said he was the brain behind the present country federal capital territory
Yakubu Gowon, former head of state on Tuesday, December 12, said he chose not to make Jos Nigeria’s capital because he didn’t want to be accused of “parochialism and favouritism”.
The Cable reports that Gowon made this known on Tuesday, December 12, at the 26th anniversary exhibition and commemoration of the movement of the seat of government from Lagos to Abuja.
According to him, ''One of the places I saw that attracted me was somewhere in Plateau, those of you who know the place, especially close to Jos forest, will agree that the area is beautiful and I thought that place was beautiful for the capital city.
''But I did not make that choice because I would have been accused of parochialism and favoritism, because it was very close to my original place where I come from. So I said no, I must look at other places.
''The search for a new capital took me around the north-west, and in my state, I continued to look for other places. When I came to Abuja, I was attracted.''
Gowon said although he was the brain behind the present federal capital territory, successive governments failed to name a street in the city after him.
He said: ''I had to officially complain to General Ibrahim Babangida when he was the military president, that I have been excluded from getting a street named after me in Abuja, while all other members of the military council who nurtured the idea, had got streets name after them.’’
Meanwhile, NAIJ.com had reported that the former military head of state asserted that the current composition of Nigeria made it impossible for the country to be restructured.
Gowon said Nigeria is made up of over 500 ethnic groups and equal number of ideas about restructuring; therefore, instead of agitating for restructuring, the people must have faith in the indivisibility of the country.
Do you prefer a restructuring of Nigeria or should we just split-up? - on NAIJ.com TV:
Source: Naija.ng