Ohanaeze Ndigbo has called on Yakubu Gowon, former military head of state, to “surrender to his conscience” and apologize for his role in the Nigerian civil war.
In a statement issued on Sunday, the apex Igbo socio-cultural group criticized Gowon’s recent comments suggesting the 1967-1970 war was not directed at the Igbo but at secessionists.
“The assertion that the Biafran War was not targeted against the Igbo people is not only a distortion of history but an affront to the collective memory and sensibilities of Ndigbo,” the group said.
Signed by Okechukwu Isiguzoro, deputy president-general of Ohanaeze Ndigbo, the statement accused Gowon of being used by colonial powers and the Fulani oligarchy to wage “an unjust war” that resulted in the death of millions of Igbo civilians.
Isiguzoro said: “Gowon failed in his responsibilities as commander-in-chief to protect the lives of Nigerians, particularly the Igbo, during the 1966 northern pogroms.
“His inaction forced the Igbo into self-defence, while his military response was not a reaction to secession but a calculated move to protect British economic interests in the oil-rich eastern region.”
Ohanaeze said Gowon’s refusal to honour the Aburi Accord, a peace pact that could have averted war, further betrayed his role in the conflict.
The group stated: “General Gowon must renounce the military mentality and confront the truth with honesty.
“He should disclose how he was misled into abandoning the Aburi Accord, and accept that his actions were not about preserving national unity but advancing imperial interests.”
Ohanaeze said it believes Gowon’s longevity is divinely granted so he can seek forgiveness and promote healing for the atrocities committed during the war.
“At 91, there is little time left for Gowon to amend the narrative. He must speak honestly for the sake of posterity.
“The recent interview he granted may have been intended to exonerate the Igbo, but it instead deepened the wounds. His silence on the Asaba massacre and the death of over three million Igbo people speaks volumes,” Isiguzoro said.
The group added that Nigeria continues to suffer from the fallout of the war, citing ongoing violence in Plateau, Benue, and Taraba states.
Ohanaeze urged Gowon’s associates to offer him another opportunity “to speak the truth and unburden his conscience”.
“The world is watching,” the statement concluded.
