Former Nigerian Head of State, General Yakubu Gowon, has shared emotional details about his struggles with love, relationships and marriage during his time as the country’s leader.
In his newly launched autobiography titled My Life of Duty and Allegiance, Gowon revealed that becoming Nigeria’s Head of State at just 31 years old made it difficult for him to know who genuinely cared about him and who was only attracted to power.
The former military leader explained that he remained unmarried for years because he was deeply focused on building his military career.
According to him, some of the women he met during that period either complicated relationships or showed attitudes that discouraged him from settling down.
Gowon admitted that life as a bachelor also brought certain advantages, especially in the military, because he was always available for international courses and assignments that many married officers avoided due to family responsibilities.
However, things changed after the political crises and civil war began in the 1960s.
The former Head of State said he became more conscious of life and death after surviving dangerous situations, including the Congo crisis, the 1966 coup and the Nigerian civil war.
He explained that those experiences made him begin to think seriously about marriage and starting a family.
Still, Gowon said marriage was difficult because of the pressure and attention that came with being Nigeria’s young bachelor Head of State.
According to him, many women and families tried to get close to him, making it hard to know who truly liked him for himself.
He even recalled how a friend’s wife once brought her younger sister to meet him in what later turned out to be a matchmaking attempt.
But Gowon said he was never attracted to the lady and eventually chose someone else — a decision that reportedly upset the woman years later.
The former military ruler also narrated how he eventually met his wife, Victoria Gowon.
He revealed that when they first met in 1964, Victoria barely paid attention to him and seemed completely uninterested.
At the time, she was still younger and focused on her education, while Gowon himself was interested in another woman.
But years later, after Victoria visited him alongside her sister and friends, he began noticing her maturity, personality and calm nature.
According to Gowon, something about her kept occupying his thoughts, eventually leading to their marriage in 1969 during the Nigerian civil war.
He said some people criticised the timing of the wedding and falsely accused Victoria of “snatching” him from other women.
However, Gowon strongly defended his wife, praising her loyalty, love and faithfulness throughout their 57 years together.
The revelation from the former Head of State has generated conversations online, with many Nigerians reacting to the rare personal stories from one of the country’s most prominent military leaders.
Source: My Life of Duty and Allegiance / Daily Trust
