The apex Igbo socio-cultural organization, Ohanaeze Ndigbo, has commended former Military President, General Ibrahim Babangida, for his bold and historic revelation that the January 1966 coup d’état was not an Igbo coup.
Ohanaeze said this courageous acknowledgment, stands as a crucial milestone in altering the narrative that has unjustly painted the Igbo people as antagonists within the broader scope of Nigeria’s tumultuous political landscape.
The lgbo body stated that lBB’s revelation on the 1966 coup, signals a potential cessation of the entrenched vindictiveness, cruelty, and deep-seated animosities directed toward the Igbo nation over the past five decades.
The former military president, had last week during his book launch titled: “A Journey in service,” clarified by revealing that the 1966 coup, wasn’t an Igbo coup as was generally believed.
In a statement issued on Sunday by Ohanaeze’s factional Deputy President -General, Okechukwu Isiguzoro, the organization noted that the ramifications of the erroneous classification of the 1966 January coup as an Igbo insurrection, have been detrimental, and has led to catastrophic consequences not only during that tumultuous period, but has extended into the present day.
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“Specifically, this mischaracterization incited the July 1966 counter -coup against the then military head of state of Igbo descent, and precipitated violent uprisings, targeting Igbo citizens residing in the north, and sowing seeds of discord that ultimately, contributed to the tragic Biafra war, in which three million Igbo, predominantly women and children, lost their lives.
“In the wake of this tragic history, the Igbo people continue to suffer from systemic injustices and marginalization. Our demographic representation in terms of least number of states within the federation remains the least of any ethnic group, the political conspiracies to deny Igbos from ascending to Nigeria’s presidency, and we face deliberate omissions of federal government presence in the South-East.
“The tragic closure of the eastern economic corridor, characterized by the permanent shutdown of the Calabar seaport and other critical infrastructure, underscores the extent of our exclusion.
“Additionally, the implementation of the federal government’s discriminatory policies, exemplified by the quota system and the absence of functional international airports in the South-East, serves to reinforce the barriers to our equitable participation in the socio-political fabric of Nigeria.
“In light of these grievous injustices, Ohanaeze Ndigbo reiterates our demands, articulated during the 1999 Justice Oputa-led panel.
“It is imperative that the current federal government, under the leadership of President Bola Tinubu, must confront the shadows of our historical traumas.
“We demand a public and unreserved apology from the president on behalf of past military regimes, particularly that of General Yakubu Gowon, who orchestrated unprovoked bombardments, and shellings over Igbo territory during the Nigeria-Biafra war that resulted in immense human suffering and loss.
“Furthermore, we maintain our resolute stance that the federal government must dispel the long-standing inequities perpetrated against the Igbo nation, by paying reparations amounting to N10 trillion.
“This demand is not merely a demand for financial restitution or restitution; it is a necessary acknowledgment of the value of human lives lost, and the cultural and infrastructural devastation endured by our people, which remains evident even 55 years post-conflict.
“In an ideal society, the implications of General Babangida’s confession would prompt accountability, among those who endorsed the odious actions against the Igbo.
“However, embodying the spirit of forgiveness that defines our identity, the Igbo people have extended our pardon to General Ibrahim Badamasi Babangida and others for the grievous sins committed against our community during the Biafra War spanning from 1966 to 1970.
“We earnestly call upon President Tinubu to embrace this opportune moment for genuine reconciliation and restorative justice, thereby laying the foundation for a united and harmonious Nigeria, where the scars of the past give way to a brighter future for all citizens,” Ohanaeze said.
