Former Head of State of Nigeria, Yakubu Gowon has warned, through a letter read by George Akume, that Nigeria is on the brink of division. At a recent Thanksgiving Service in Abuja organized by the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) in honor of the newly appointed Executive Secretary, Nigerian Christian Pilgrim Commission (NCPC), Rev. Yakubu Pam, Gowon asked all attendees to pray for President Buhari. The 85 years old leader, was formerly head of state from 1966 to 1975 and oversaw the civil war of that era that killed over 3 million Nigerians.

At the event, George Akume, Minister of Special Duties and Inter-governmental Affairs, read out Gowon’s letter which stated in part that:

“We need peace to succeed. I know President Muhammadu Buhari is doing a lot but the challenges are still there. There are people with sinister motives, who wouldn’t want peace. But through prayers, I appeal to CAN to continue to pray not only for Yakubu Pam but for the president and all of us, and for your dear country, so that Nigeria will not go asunder. I once made a comment that this country is too big and versed with a population of over 200 million.”