Former Nigerian Head of State Yakubu Gowon has revealed that his total savings from when he joined the military in 1954 as a young officer to when he was removed from power in 1975 amounted to about N41,000.
According to a report by Punch on Saturday, May 23, 2026, he shared this in his autobiography, where he explained that life became very difficult for him and his family after the July 1975 coup. He said his pension was stopped and his family struggled financially while living in London, with no steady access to money from Nigeria at the time.
Gowon explained that after leaving office, he and his family moved between temporary accommodations before settling in the United Kingdom. He also said he had to rely on support from friends and sympathetic leaders in Africa to survive the early years after his removal.
Among those who helped him were then leaders such as Gnassingbé Eyadéma, Ahmadou Ahidjo, and Idi Amin, who reportedly provided financial and moral support.
He also noted that years later, he even had to seek assistance from Nigeria’s military leader at the time, Muhammadu Buhari, to help with his children’s school fees.
Gowon said his experience after leaving power became a lesson about life after leadership and the importance of honesty in public service.
In his words, “My life savings from when I was a 2nd Lieutenant (backdated to 1954) to when I was overthrown as a General and Head of State in 1975 was about ₦41,000….See More
