President Goodluck Jonathan, yesterday, explained why his government is not using force against the Boko Haram sect.

Jonathan said he was following the principle of former Head of State, General Yakubu Gowon, who did not crush his enemies during the 1967-1970 civil war.

The President made this observation during the service to mark the 80th birthday of Gowon at the National Christian Centre, Abuja.

Jonathan, who described the former warlord as a great example of a genuine elder statesman, hailed Gowon’s commitment to Nigeria and his disposition during and after the civil war, especially with his pursuit of the three Rs- reconstruction, rehabilitation and reconciliation.

According to him, “As a patriot and head of government then, prosecuting the civil war, he did not see the Biafran side as a thing that must be crushed. He saw the war as the struggle of Nigerians and his emphasis was ‘how do we keep Nigeria together?

“It was not ‘we must crush them or we must defeat them’. Of course, that was why the slogan, ‘To keep Nigeria one is a task that must be done,’ came up and of course, ‘Go on with one Nigeria’.

“That is, his commitment is to unite this country, to keep Nigeria one. Not to win a war, not to defeat an opponent, not to crush a rebellion but how do we bring this nation as indivisible body”.

The Archbishop of Jos, Anglican Communion, Dr. Ben Kwashi, in his sermon also referred to Gowon as a complete gentlemen with amiable disposition.

He observed that the former Head of State meant well for Nigeria and did his best to make life easy for Nigerians.

Kwashi recalled Gowon’s mantra “To keep Nigeria one is a task that must be done” during the civil war and his effort at national integration at the end of the war.

He observed that God would never punish the righteous but would judge and punish the wicked even as he warned that the day of judgment was very near when all would account for their deeds.

Among prominent personalities at the occasion were Senate President David Mark, Governors Jonah Jang (Plateau), Olusegun Mimiko (Ondo) and Seriake Dick­son (Bayelsa); Dr. Alex Ekwueme and wife, Beatrice ; Lt.Gen. Theophilus Danjuma; General Oladipo Diya, Brig-Gen. Jones Arogbofa.