By Sunny A. David, Awka
Following General Ibrahim Babangida’s admission in his recent book that the 1966 coup d’état was not orchestrated solely by Igbo officers, Senator Victor Umeh (Anambra Central) is urging former Head of State General Yakubu Gowon to apologize to the Igbo people.
Senator Umeh, speaking on ARISE NEWS and was monitored by our correspondent from Onitsha, argues that Gowon’s inaction during the pogroms against Igbos in the North, followed by the Nigerian Civil War, necessitates a public accounting and apology.
The widespread false belief that the coup was an Igbo plot fueled the violence, leading to the war and the deaths of an estimated three million people.
Despite Gowon’s post-war promises of reconstruction, rehabilitation, and reconciliation, Umeh contends that the Igbo people have faced persistent marginalization and denial of equal opportunities.
Chief Umeh cites Babangida’s book as a crucial step towards reconciliation, urging Gowon to follow suit by writing his own account of the war, including his role in its escalation and aftermath.
He criticizes Gowon’s failure to implement his post-war promises and his role in restructuring Nigeria, which Senator Umeh believes exacerbated existing tensions.
Chief Umeh highlights the numerous breaches of the Aburi Accord, a peace agreement that Gowon allegedly failed to uphold, as a contributing factor to the war and emphasized that Gowon’s account should include a frank discussion of the massacres of Igbo people and a formal apology for his government’s actions.
While acknowledging the Ohanaeze Ndigbo’s call for N10 trillion in compensation, Senator Umeh prioritizes a change in attitude and a commitment to genuine reconciliation over monetary reparations.
The Senator believes that ending the perception that the Igbo people were responsible for the 1966 coup is paramount to healing the deep wounds of the past and integrating the Igbo people fully into the Nigerian project.
He advocates for addressing historical injustices through infrastructure development in the South-East and a complete shift in the government’s attitude toward the Igbo people.
