An elder statesman and convener of Igbochukwu Organisation, Dr Chike Obidigbo, has accused former Head of State, General Yakubu Gowon (retd.), of withholding key truths about the 1967–1970 Nigerian civil war and the killings of Igbo people during the conflict.
In a statement issued on Monday, Obidigbo said Gowon’s recently released autobiography, “My Life of Duty & Allegiance,” failed to adequately explain the events that led to the collapse of the Aburi Accord and the eventual outbreak of the Biafra war. He argued that Gowon should have used the opportunity to clear lingering doubts surrounding the crisis, similar to recent disclosures by former military president Ibrahim Babangida.
Obidigbo claimed that the late Biafran leader, Lt-Col Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu, did not originally intend to secede from Nigeria but was forced into difficult circumstances following the killings of Igbo people in Northern Nigeria. According to him, British officials and oil executives allegedly pressured Ojukwu to declare Biafra and promised support, including funding and weapons.
He further alleged that Ojukwu later realised he had been drawn into a war he was unprepared for, while Britain and other foreign interests benefitted from the conflict. Obidigbo maintained that both Gowon and Ojukwu were manipulated into the war, which he described as disastrous for both Nigeria and Biafra.
The elder statesman called on Gowon to publicly reveal the full truth about the civil war and seek reconciliation with Nigerians, especially the Igbo people. He also urged the former leader to support the release of detained pro-Biafra agitators, including Nnamdi Kanu and Simon Ekpa.