A former Military Head of State, Gen. Yakubu Gowon (rtd), said on Wednesday that an Igbo president would help heal the civil war wounds, maintaining that he supports the idea of rotational presidency
Gowon said this while delivering a lecture entitled “No Victor, No Vanquished: Healing the Nigerian Nation” to mark the 6th Convocation ceremony of the Chukwumeka Odumegwu Ojukwu University (COOU), Igbariam, in Anambra.
He explained that the civil war was not out of hatred for the late Igbo leader Odumegwu Ojukwu or the Igbos, but was based on the principle of a commitment to a robust Nigeria.
“It is wrong to conclude that the civil war broke out following the failure of the Aburi Accord but was the direct result of a unilateral decision of independence for Eastern Nigeria.
“If there was no seccession, there would have been no war.
“It was a reluctant war waged to unite the country,” Gowon explained.
He acknowledged that many people died of hunger and diseases during the period but maintained that the Federal Government ensured that starvation was not used as a weapon of war.
Gowon said that Nigerians should be proud of the gains of the war through the healing balm of “no victor, no vanquished.”
According to him, the three Rs of reconciliation, rehabilitation and reconstruction were adopted to enhance national unity.
He also argued that the abandonment of the development plan drafted immediately after the war by successive governments, resulted in the infrastructural decay in the country.
The former head of state, however, lauded Ojukwu for his courage in defending his people during the war, saying: “if Ojukwu were in my shoes, he would have equally waged the war.”
He also commended the Anambra government and management of the university for honouring Ojukwu with the change in name of the institution from Anambra State University to COOU.
Gov. Willie Obiano of Anambra, who lauded Gowon for honouring the invitation, said education was dear to his administration.
Represented by the state Commissioner for Education, Prof. Kate Omenugha, Obiano said that a blue print for the development of higher education would soon be implemented in the state.
“Infrastructure, students’ welfare as well as teachers and lecturers’ welfare are important tools for developing the education sector of the state.
“This administration has increased the salaries of teachers in rural areas by 20 per cent and has approved extra N3, 000 for teachers who teach core subjects,’’ Obiano said.
Earlier, the Vice Chancellor of the University, Prof. Fidelis Okafor, said that the lecture was designed to honour Ojukwu and give opportunity to Gowon to clear the air on the civil war.
The university will, on March 26, hold its convocation ceremony at the Igbariam campus. (NAN) Click to signup for FREE news updates, latest information and hottest gists everyday
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Gowon you are a liar
ReplyDeleteThey planned to kill us all, but God was, will always be on our side. The Saul of the late BIAFRA'S will always disturb thim. You did nothing to Igbos after the war(were do rebuild after the war). Liar
ReplyDeleteLiar liar liar.No gowon in anambra,he would have not go back alive if he feet make the attempt to step in.Again what war are they talking about ? That is not a war, but genocide in highest level of humanity against biafrans.You diabolical entity called it war right?Did the war fought in hausa land or yoruba?The answer is capital NO.It would have called a war if all parts of the nation experienced the actions.But there was know any firecrackers throw in yoruba and hausa land.They connived together with their barron biritish empire and came into biafrans land and manslaughter innocence people.For mutual benefit to keep thieving and control oil in Biafran land.Again that was reasons they don't teach the historical.But we had learned all that happened and by God willing there will be pay back time.Finally as this world continues nigeria can never never have peace.Biafrans will exit and still there will be no nation called nigeria near future and the our is around the corner.
ReplyDeleteThe igbos complain of maginalization and civil war but you never tell the truth about where the real problem of Nigeria started from. The igbos killed tafabalewa, ahmedu bello, akintola the senior leaders from the north and south but none from the east and expect the rest to just sit down and sing kumbaya. Six months after the north staged their own revenge coup with led to the bad blood until it led to civil war. You can't start a fire and say someone added to it or did not put it out. North , south, west need to stop teaching their children how to hate other tribes from childhood cos it won't allow us to tell ourselves the truth in times when they are needed but instead hatred would blind us even till we destroy our self like supporting GEJ even with the mess we are In out of hatred for another candidate but rather will chose suffering over solution
ReplyDeleteThe igbos complain of maginalization and civil war but you never tell the truth about where the real problem of Nigeria started from. The igbos killed tafabalewa, ahmedu bello, akintola the senior leaders from the north and south but none from the east and expect the rest to just sit down and sing kumbaya. Six months after the north staged their own revenge coup with led to the bad blood until it led to civil war. You can't start a fire and say someone added to it or did not put it out. North , south, west need to stop teaching their children how to hate other tribes from childhood cos it won't allow us to tell ourselves the truth in times when they are needed but instead hatred would blind us even till we destroy our self like supporting GEJ even with the mess we are In out of hatred for another candidate but rather will chose suffering over solution
ReplyDeleteIBB is a fool , He refuse to hand over to MKO Abiola after he win , Now you people has come again fool, GEJ will be there till 2019 . APC change there father sincere 1960 till OBJ hand over you did not remember your father statement change .
ReplyDelete