Senator Victor Umeh, who represents Anambra Central, has strongly rejected former Head of State General Yakubu Gowon’s recent comments about the Nigerian Civil War.
Umeh accused Gowon of distorting facts and attempting to rewrite history, particularly regarding the cause and conduct of the 30-month conflict.
Gowon, in a recent interview, blamed the late Biafran leader, Dim Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu, for initiating the war. He also claimed the war was not aimed at the Igbo people.
In response, Umeh, speaking in Awka, said Gowon’s statements were false and insulting to the memory of those who died.
Umeh remarked, “We will not allow Gowon to lie or twist history. All that he said are false. At 91, I will not want to join issues with him, except of course if he is suffering from dementia.”
He said Gowon had failed to show the courage to speak truthfully about the past and called on him to write a personal account like other military leaders, including former President Ibrahim Babangida.
“It is time for him to speak the truth to heal the pains of that war,” Umeh said. “He said the war was to keep Nigeria one, but is Nigeria truly united today?”
Calls for Apology and Truth from Gowon
Umeh said current violence in parts of Nigeria, including Benue, which is in Gowon’s region, contradicts Gowon’s claim of national unity. He accused Gowon of deepening Nigeria’s ethnic mistrust and causing lasting damage to Igbo-Yoruba relations through economic policies introduced during the war.
He urged Gowon to apologise to the Igbo people and document his side of the story through a book. “If he wants to say the truth, let him go and write his own book,” Umeh stated.
He accused the former Head of State of using Chief Obafemi Awolowo for political purposes during the war and implementing financial policies that worsened Igbo suffering.
“Gowon laid the foundation for all the problems Nigeria is having today,” Umeh continued. “His actions created deep mistrust, and we don’t want him worsening the wounds with these statements.”
Senator Blames Gowon for Breaking Aburi Accord
Umeh also accused Gowon of breaking the Aburi Accord, a peace agreement reached between the Nigerian government and Biafra in Ghana. He said this betrayal led directly to the war.
“What happened after Aburi was a complete betrayal,” he said. “His attempt now to rewrite history is an insult to the memory of those who died.”
He further rejected Gowon’s claim that the war was not against Igbos, saying the suffering experienced by Igbo people during the war tells a different story.
“Igbo soldiers were targeted, Igbo businesses destroyed, and our people were starved and marginalized,” Umeh declared.
He concluded by saying that leaders must stop distorting history if the country truly wants healing and national reconciliation.
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