The socio-cultural organization, Ohanaeze Ndigbo, has urged former head of state, Retired Gen. Yakubu Gowon, to issue an apology to the Igbo community for his recent “inflammatory” remarks regarding the Nigerian Civil War.
In a statement issued on Sunday, Okechukwu Isiguzoro, the Secretary-General of Ohanaeze, expressed that Gowon’s recent remarks during a visit to President Bola Tinubu were a deliberate affront to the collective Igbo consciousness and demonstrated a lack of empathy towards the suffering caused by the 1967-1970 war.
The Nigerian Civil War, also known as the Biafran War, commenced on July 6, 1967, and concluded on January 15, 1970. It was a conflict between Nigeria and the Republic of Biafra, a secessionist state that proclaimed its independence from Nigeria in 1967. Nigeria was under the leadership of Gowon, while Biafra was led by Lieutenant Colonel Chukwuemeka “Emeka” Odumegwu Ojukwu.
Ohanaeze further asserted that Gowon’s comments have reignited deep-seated wounds within the Igbo community.
In “We challenge Gowon to reflect on his actions and recognise the need for reconciliation and repentance,” Isiguzoro said. “His steadfast refusal to acknowledge the pain and suffering caused by the war displays a failure to grasp the gravity of his role in that dark period of our history.”
The group asserted that Gowon’s survival for over five decades, despite an estimated 3 million Igbo lives lost in the war, gave him a “unique opportunity for redemption and reconciliation.”
“As a professed Christian, we implore Gowon to heed the call of conscience and take necessary steps to seek forgiveness from the Igbo people by acknowledging his mistakes, revealing the truth behind the Aburi Accord, and issuing a sincere apology,” he added.
Isiguzoro said Gowon’s “repeated insensitive comments” undermined Igbo reconciliation efforts despite their “demonstrated forgiveness and commitment to national development.”
He called on the former head of state to “seize this pivotal moment to discard the relics of the past, embrace humility, and offer a long-overdue apology”, saying it would pave the way for “genuine reconciliation” and “lasting peace and harmony.”