Former Head of State, General Yakubu Gowon (retd), has shed light on the rationale behind his decision to create 12 states during his time as Nigeria's leader.
Gowon made this revelation on Wednesday during a meeting with the Senator Ibrahim Shekarau-led League of Northern Democrats.
The former leader, who governed Nigeria from 1966 to 1975, stated that the move was primarily aimed at reducing regional tensions and addressing the widespread fear of northern domination in the country.
Gowon emphasized that his decisions were always guided by the need to serve the greater good of Nigeria, explaining that regional prioritization threatened national unity.
“I firmly believe, as I have always said, that the responsibility of maintaining Nigeria’s true democracy rests on the north, and Baba Tafawa Balewa embodied this ideal,” Gowon stated.
He continued, “Let me also say that I hope your visit is not just about returning to the old thinking where the north prioritises the north, the west prioritises the west, and the east prioritises the east—until, of course, the Mid-West emerged to think for itself.
“My position has always been that whatever the north does must serve the greater interest of Nigeria. It was for this reason that I supported the creation of multiple states, to prevent any one region from becoming too powerful and threatening the country’s unity.”
Gowon further applauded the League of Northern Democrats for their focus on fostering national unity, reiterating that unity was critical for Nigeria’s progress.
The creation of 12 states under Gowon’s leadership marked a significant turning point in Nigeria's history. Since then, the country has evolved into its current structure of 36 states through further subdivisions by successive administrations.
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