General Yakubu Gowon, former Nigeria Head of State and a founding father of ECOWAS, has emphasised the need for the creation of a West Africa Government.

This is contained in a statement issued by ECOWAS Acting Director of Communication, Mr Hruna Warkani, in Abuja on Tuesday.

The statement quoted Gowon as saying that a government that would work for the common good of the 15 ECOWAS countries was necessary.

“All ECOWAS countries must come together to deal with any potential or real threat to the community, while at the same time ensuring respect for everyone no matter how high or low.

“The objective when we founded ECOWAS in May 1975 was for an organisation that would work for the benefit of all people in the community,’’ he said.

Gowon said that ECOWAS objectives might not have been fully met but expressed delight at the achievements made so far by ECOWAS in its four decades of existence.

He listed the achievement to include the common passport and the free movement of persons, goods and services under the organisation’s flagship visa-free protocol.

According to the statement, Gowon also commended the just-ended Nigeria’s general elections, which have been adjudged to be generally peaceful and orderly.

Gowon expressed optimism that the measure would enable the country to resume its leadership role in the region and in Africa.