Upon assuming office in July 1966, the first thing Yakubu Gowon did was sign the instruments for Awolowo’s release. I hope Bola Tinubu does likewise granting Nnamdi Kanu a presidential pardon on May 29 as soon as he leaves Eagles Square

Ayo Akinfe

[1] Winston Churchill once said: “Those that fail to learn from history are doomed to repeat it.” I hope everyone associated with Nigeria’s immediate future bears this in mind as dark clouds hover on the horizon

[2] What we have at the moment is a situation similar to what prevailed in 1966. Unhappy with the results of the 1964 federal elections and its aftermath, a group of young officers decided to take matters into their own hands

[3] I for one shudder at the rhetoric coming out of the Obedient Movement at the moment. some of their hotheads have made it clear they are prepared to burn Nigeria to the ground just to express their grievance

[4] Those of you students of history know that World War One was sparked off by a hotheaded Serbian nationalist who shot Archduke Franz Ferdinand, the heir to the Austro-Hungarian throne and his wife, Sophie, Duchess of Hohenberg in Sarajevo

[5] Yakubu Gowon was a consummate gentleman who always sought to build bridges and make peace. He believed in extending the olive branch to those who felt aggrieved and at the moment, Nigeria needs people like this

[6] Upon assuming office on July 30 1966, the first thing Gowon did was sign the instrument releasing Obafemi Awolowo from prison. It has been drafted by General Thomas Aguiyi-Ironsi, so all Gowon had to do was sign it. Ojukwu was part of Ironsi’s Supreme Military Council too so he had no objections as they all took the decision together. Gowon passed the message to Ojukwu and Awolowo was set free from Calabar prison

[7] Realising he needed Awolowo’s expertise, Gowon brought him into his government as the finance minister and vice chairman of the National Economic Council (NEC)

[8] Gowon’s NEC remains one of the best in Nigeria’s history. It was made up of some of the best brains in Nigeria at the time, including the likes of Aminu Kano, Joseph Tarka, Abubakar Waziri, Anthony Enahoro, etc

[9] I hope Bola Tinubu follows in Gowon’s footsteps and releases Nnamdi Kanu on May 29. I would then love it if he appoints him as the head of a South East Investment Corporation with a mandate to expand manufacturing dramatically, aiming for at least 20% annual economic growth

[10] When I look at the economic growth figures of the Gowon era, I want to tear the hair out of my head - 1969 (24.2%), 1970 (25%), 1971 (14.24%), 1974 (11.16%). How were we getting such massive GDP growth then but cannot even manage 3% today? Maybe working with Nnamdi Kanu, Tinubu must just be able to turn things round