The apex Igbo socio-cultural organisation, Ohanaeze Ndigbo, has refuted the recent statements made by the former military Head of state, General Yakubu Gowon that the Nigerian/Biafran civil war was not targeted at the Igbo people.
Gowon stated that rather, it was instead the secessionists who revolted against the Nigerian government in 1966.
Ohanaeze said such claims are not only gross misinformation, but also a blatant misrepresentation of historical facts, describing Gowon’s representation as an affront to the collective memory and dignity of the Igbo nation.
The pan-lgbo group noted that it is a moral obligation to address the pervasive biases and distorted narratives perpetuated by General Gowon, who, as a 91-year-old former military head of state, was tragically manipulated by colonial powers and the Fulani oligarchy.
In a statement issued on Sunday by its factional Deputy President-General, Okechukwu Isiguzoro, Ohanaeze accused General Gowon of failure to protect the lives of Nigerians, especially the Igbo residing in the North during the crisis which led to the civil war.
Ohanaeze said the unimaginable atrocities committed against the Igbo people, following the 1966 northern riots, pushed the Igbo into a position of strategic self-defense, a response to a war they did not initiate against the Nigerian government.
The organisation declared that history will judge Gowon harshly, if he neglects this final opportunity to redeem himself by discarding the military mentality and outdated rhetoric of national unity.
“He must have the courage to disclose the truth about the influences that led him to abandon the Aburi Accord, a peace agreement that could have averted the tragic escalation of the Nigeria/Biafra war.
“Gowon’s military aggression towards the Igbo was not merely a reaction to secessionist desires, but a strategically calculated action driven by British economic interests in the oil-rich Eastern Region of Biafra and the retaliatory motives of the Fulani oligarchy.
“It is indeed lamentable that Gowon’s recent self-aggrandizing statements, possibly designed to sanitize his image, instead continue to perpetuate a façade that insults the deeply felt grievances of the Igbo nation.
“Rather than embrace this moment for personal and national healing, he has insulted the memories of the 3 million innocent Igbo civilians who lost their lives during the civil war.
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“His military pride and an oath of silence have tormented him for over five decades, leading to a deeply personal struggle that he must now confront.
“Ohanaeze’s unwavering advice to General Gowon is straightforward and urgent:
“As time passes, he must cease his evasive tactics, confront his conscience, and abandon the falsehoods surrounding this grave chapter of Nigeria’s history.
“With only limited time remaining, it is imperative that he speaks the unvarnished truth and seeks forgiveness from the Igbo people and Nigerians at large.
“The curses resulting from the atrocities committed, such as the Asaba massacre, and the tragic toll of 3 million lives must be lifted.
“The painful repercussions of Gowon’s actions continue to resonate today, affecting even communities in the Middle Belt, where violence perpetrated by Fulani militias persists.
“This is a poignant moment for his associates to create yet another opportunity for him to come forward, unburden himself, and speak the truth.
“The world is watching and waiting for General Gowon to rise to the occasion for the sake of posterity,” Ohanaeze said.
