[b]It is with a sense of nostalgia that I constantly read this erroneous assumption that Ojukwu started or caused the civil war. Nothing could be further from the truth. I blame this misinformation on the Goverment for not educating the younger generation on their history. I have read over 20 books about the civil war and recieved first hand account of the hostility from my own father who was a Captain in the Biafran Army so I think I'm in a position to discuss this issue.

To blame Ojukwu for the war is like trying to blame the Wright brothers (Inventors of Air planes) for all the people that have died from plane crashes.

Ojukwu watched as over 50,000 of his fellow easterners, men,women and children were massacred all over Nigeria in cold blood. Just this alone was enough reason for him to declare Biafra,after all, Nigeria in its self was the illegal creation of the White man. However, Ojukwu, despite the overwhelming demand for secession by the easterners, still sat down with Gowon in Aburi, Ghana for the sake of peace. Both men agreed that the best thing for Nigeria was a confederation. Both men signed the agreement and shook hands in front of the president of Ghana and Ojukwu pledged that as long as Gowon kept to the agreement, he (Ojukwu) would accept the leadership of Gowon in a united 'one Nigeria'. Gowon returned to Nigeria and broke the agreement he signed by abolishing the regions, creating States, taking away resource control and introducing unitary rule. Ojukwu was left with no choice than to declare Biafra. Gowon could have returned to the negotiating table, Gowon could have called for a referendum, Gowon could have done many things to avoid war. But what Gowon did was to order troops down to East to start a killing spree that was to last 3 years. Gowon started shooting first, therefore, he started the war.

So my dear people, stop this misinformation that Ojukwu started a war when it was Gowon that came looking for Ojukwu. Stop this talk that Ojukwu led his people to be slaughtered when the same easterners were being slaughtered long before Ojukwu came on the scene. If anyone should be blamed for the war, the blame lies squarely with Gowon and his power hungry Northerners.[/b]

This is exactly as it happened. All these yolobastards don't read. I thank my father for introducing me to books at an early age as I was able to read so many books written by locals and foreigners about the civil war.

@Op, point of correction: More than 60,000 Igbos (and the rest ran back to the east) were killed before Ojukwu declared Baifra not 50,000.

You really thought you are making sense

To blame Ojukwu for the war is like trying to blame the Wright brothers (Inventors of Air planes) for all the people that have died from plane crashes.

sic



It's the wrongest of all wrong comparims


Ojukwu started the war , As a military leader , if he reprimanded those who were involved in the first coup , his kinsmen to be precise , The north would have stopped retaliating


When Ojukwu was invited to a meeting in an African country , all he needed was a little patience , agree the terms set aside and come back home peacefully , Ojukwu said no


When Ojukwu got back, he declared Eastern Region as Biafra , without referendum, without any formal or legal support from anyone in the world

Ojuwku called every Ibo to come back home in Eastern region cum Biafra ,

You can't declare a republic just like that , it's never done , there's due process which is why Nigerian Army was forced to Invade


Bottom line , Don't declare a republic without legal support

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