Colonel Abubakar Dangiwa Umar’s narration of the aftermath of General Yakubu Gowon’s overthrow highlights Gowon’s humility and modesty following his removal as Nigeria’s Head of State in 1975. Despite leading the country for nine years, Gowon handled his ouster by General Murtala Muhammed with grace, demonstrating a lack of entitlement to the privileges he once enjoyed as head of state.
The story reveals that after the coup, Gowon refused to use the presidential plane to return to the UK and requested a commercial flight instead. His financial state was so modest that he couldn’t even pay his wife’s hotel bills in London. General Murtala, upon hearing of this, ensured her bills were covered, and other African leaders attending the OAU meeting offered monetary support to Gowon. Gowon’s humble actions continued when, despite offers to return to Nigeria with the status and benefits of a former leader, he chose to pursue studies at Warwick University in the UK.
Dangiwa Umar also describes a personal visit in 1987 to Gowon’s family home in Wusasa, Zaria, where Gowon’s mother lived in a simple mud house. This narrative paints a picture of Gowon as a leader who embodied humility and selflessness, even after his time in power, living in modest circumstances and focusing on personal growth rather than wealth or status.
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