Nigeria's Former Head of State Embroiled in Scandal

Nigerians were left stunned by the revelation that former Head of State General Yakubu Gowon has been caught lying in his autobiography. Gowon, who served as the country's Head of State from 1966 to 1975, has been accused of fabricating a story about evacuating General Aguiyi-Ironsi using a helicopter.

According to Gowon's account, he called the airport at Ikeja to instruct Major Paul Dickson to send a helicopter to Ibadan to evacuate the Supreme Commander. However, sources have revealed that there was no Major Paul Dickson in the Nigerian Armed Forces at the time. The only Paul Dickson was an Air Force staff sergeant who controlled other ranks on sentry duty within the airport's perimeter.

Gowon's lie is not just a simple fabrication, but an artfully crafted one. He claimed that he called the airport to instruct Major Dickson to evacuate Ironsi, but conveniently omitted the fact that there was no Major Dickson to carry out the task. This is not just a case of embellishment, but a clear attempt to deceive readers.

### A Conversation Revealed

But what makes Gowon's lie even more astonishing is that it has been corroborated by another source. A biography of Lieutenant General Theophilus Danjuma reveals a conversation between Gowon and Danjuma moments before Ironsi's abduction and assassination. In the conversation, Danjuma assures Gowon that Ironsi is in the bag, and Gowon sanctions the treasonous act.

Gowon's recollection of the events reads like a fairy tale, with him suggesting that Ironsi be evacuated to a safe place like Bida or Ilorin. However, this is not just a case of poor memory, but a clear attempt to rewrite history. Gowon's tale is full of inconsistencies, and it is clear that he is trying to cover up his involvement in the coup.

### A Non-Commissioned Officer's Impossible Task

But what makes Gowon's lie even more astonishing is that he claimed that a non-commissioned Air Force officer would be able to orchestrate the evacuation of Ironsi from Ibadan or Ilorin. Not only was Paul Dickson not a pilot, but he was also not in a position to control any aspect of the country's air fleet.

It is clear that Gowon is trying to cover up his involvement in the coup, and his lie is a thinly veiled attempt to deceive readers. But the truth is finally out, and Nigerians are left to wonder what other lies Gowon has told in his autobiography.

The Real Story

General Yakubu Gowon's autobiography has been exposed for containing blatant lies about the coup that led to the death of General Aguiyi-Ironsi. The truth is that Gowon was involved in the coup, and he tried to cover it up by lying about his role in the events. It is a shocking revelation that has left many Nigerians stunned and questioning the credibility of Gowon's account of history.